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Manila Bulletin

Opinion

A house of prayer... A den of thieves

Opinion

A house of prayer... A den of thieves

By Manila Bulletin

REFLECTIONS TODAY

Reflections today

In driving out the merchants in the temple, Jesus is moved by two prophetic oracles. The first is from Isaiah: “For my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples” (56:7). Trito-Isaiah foresaw the day when God would gather the dispersed children of Israel to his holy mountain. Even more surprising, the foreigners would join God’s people in worship and their offerings and sacrifices would be acceptable to God. The second part of the oracle is from Jeremiah: “Has this house which bears my name become in your eyes a den of thieves? I too see what is being done, says the Lord” (7:11). In his temple sermon, Jeremiah condemned the injustice, crimes, and idolatry committed in the city, that landed him in prison. Jesus’ action is not just directed to the merchants, but to the “thieves” that dishonor God. The religious leaders may take pride in the strength and beauty of the temple, but it has ceased to be “a house of prayer for all peoples” as they dishonor it by their misdeeds.

GOSPEL • LUKE 19:45-48

Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, saying to them, “It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” And 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, but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words.

SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2021,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.

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