At later times, the Presentation of Mary in the Temple is paired with that of the Child Jesus. As a baby girl, though immaculately conceived, Mary, too, was presented by Joachim and Anna.

The Gospel reading today is not about the presentation, but about Jesus’ “cleansing” of the Temple. The reaction of the chief priests, scribes, and leaders of the people is severe. His simple reminder, “My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves,” hurts them to the core so that they seek to kill him. Jesus rightly accuses them of misusing the Temple and of allowing thieves to operate in that sacred place, all for economic gains.

The First Reading describes the rededication of the Temple which was desecrated by the Hellenists, the enemies of the Jews. This is made possible by Judas Maccabeus and his brothers after defeating them in many battles. The Temple must be respected at all times. No one should use it for other purposes. Only the God of Israel should be worshipped there.

The priests and the servers in the Temple must be found holy and blameless. The Jews celebrate the rededication of the Temple on the feast of Hanukkah (feast of Lights), when we, Christians, celebrate Christmas.

Judas and his brothers said, “Now that our enemies have been crushed, let us go up to purify the sanctuary and rededicate it.” So the whole army assembled, and went up to Mount Zion. Early 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, they arose and offered sacrifice according to the law on the new altar of burnt offerings that they had made. On 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. All the people prostrated themselves and adored and praised Heaven, who had given them success.

For 88 days they celebrated the dedication of the altar and joyfully offered burnt offerings and sacrifices of deliverance and praise. They ornamented the façade of the temple with gold crowns and shields; they repaired the gates and the priests’ chambers and furnished them with doors. There was great joy among the people now that the disgrace of the Gentiles was removed. Then 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 25th day of the month Chislev.

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.