Jesus drives out the sellers in the temple area

November 20, 2015

Friday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time

Saint of the Day: Saint Edmund Rich 

Reading 1

1 Maccabees 4:36-37, 52-59

36Judas and his brothers said, “Now that our enemies have been crushed, let us go up to purify the sanctuary and rededicate it.”[1] 37So the whole army assembled, and went up to Mount Zion.

52Early in the morning on the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month, that is, the month of Chislev, in the year one hundred and forty-eight,[2] 53they arose and offered sacrifice according to the law on the new altar of burnt offerings that they had made.

54On the anniversary of the day on which the Gentiles had defiled it, on that very day it was reconsecrated with songs, harps, flutes, and cymbals. 55All the people prostrated themselves and adored and praised Heaven, who had given them success.

56For eight days they celebrated the dedication of the altar and joyfully offered burnt offerings and sacrifices of deliverance and praise. 57They ornamented the facade of the temple with gold crowns and shields; they repaired the gates and the priests’ chambers and furnished them with doors. 58There was great joy among the people now that the disgrace of the Gentiles was removed.

59Then Judas and his brothers and the entire congregation of Israel decreed that the days of the dedication of the altar should be observed with joy and gladness on the anniversary every year for eight days, from the twenty-fifth day of the month Chislev.[3]

Responsorial Psalm

1 Chronicles 29:10bcd, 11abc, 11d-12a, 12bcd

R. (13b)   We praise your glorious name, O mighty God.

10b“Blessed may you be, O LORD, 10cGod of Israel our father, 10dfrom eternity to eternity.”

R. We praise your glorious name, O mighty God.

11a“Yours, O LORD, are grandeur and power, 11bmajesty, splendor, and glory. 11cFor all in heaven and on earth is yours.”

R. We praise your glorious name, O mighty God.

11d“Yours, O LORD, is the sovereignty; you are exalted as head over all. 12aRiches and honor are from you.”

R. We praise your glorious name, O mighty God.

12b“You have dominion over all, 12cIn your hand are power and might; 12dit is yours to give grandeur and strength to all.”

R. We praise your glorious name, O mighty God.

Alleluia John 10:27 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;

I know them, and they follow me.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel 
Luke 19:45-48

45Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things,[4] 46saying to them, “It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.”

47And every day He was teaching in the temple area.  The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile, were seeking to put Him to death, 48but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on His words.

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Notes on Readings:


[1] 1 Maccabees 4: 36 - The sanctuary: the whole temple area with its walls, courts and outbuildings, to be distinguished from the temple proper, the oblong edifice with porch, main room and inner shrine.

[2] 1 Maccabees 4: 52 - Twenty-fifth day of the ninth month . . . in the year one hundred and forty-eight: December 14, 164 B.C.

[3] 1 Maccabees 4: 59 - Days of the dedication . . . Chislev: institution of thefeast of Hannukah, also called the feast of Dedication (John 10:22). Josephus Flavius calls it the feast of Lights.

[4] Luke 19: 45-46 - Immediately upon entering the holy city, Jesus in a display of his authority enters the temple (see Malachi 3:1-3)  and lays claim to it after cleansing it that it might become a proper place for His teaching ministry in Jerusalem (Luke 19:47); 20:1; 21:37; 22:53. See Matthew 21:12-17;  Mark 11:15-19;  John 2:13-17 and the footnotes there.