11/20/2026 (Friday) Today’s Gospel reading: Luke 19:45-48
45 Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things,
46 saying to them, “It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.”
47 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,
48 but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words.
11/20/2026 (Friday) Today’s Gospel reflection / homily / sermon: Luke 19:45-48
Theme: Restoring the Temple Within
In the Gospel reading above, we witness Jesus entering the temple in Jerusalem and driving out those who had turned a sacred place of worship into a marketplace. The temple, which was meant to be a house of prayer, had become a place of business and personal gain. Jesus confronted this corruption because He wanted to restore the true purpose of God’s house. Meanwhile, the religious leaders became angry and sought to destroy Him, but the people were drawn to His teachings and listened attentively.
This Gospel challenges us to examine not only our places of worship but also our own hearts. Each of us is a temple where God desires to dwell. Perhaps it is time to ask ourselves: Have we allowed unnecessary distractions, selfish ambitions, resentment, and worldly desires to occupy the space that should belong to God?
Let us use the word TEACH as our guide.
T – TRANSFORM YOUR HEART
Before we can change the world around us, we must allow God to transform the world within us. Sometimes, we become so concerned about correcting other people’s mistakes that we forget to examine our own. We carry anger, jealousy, pride, and bitterness while expecting others to live according to God’s teachings. True transformation begins when we honestly recognize our weaknesses and invite God to cleanse our hearts. Let us not simply appear holy before others; let us become sincere in our relationship with God.
E – ELIMINATE WHAT SEPARATES YOU FROM GOD
Jesus did not hesitate to remove what was destroying the sacred purpose of the temple. Similarly, we must have the courage to eliminate anything that separates us from God. It could be a destructive habit, an unhealthy relationship, excessive materialism, dishonesty, or an unforgiving heart. We cannot expect our lives to be filled with God’s peace when we continuously make room for things that steal it. Sometimes, letting go is not losing something valuable; it is making space for something far greater.
A – ANCHOR YOUR LIFE IN PRAYER
Prayer must never become merely a religious routine or something we remember only when difficulties arise. It should be the foundation of our daily lives. Through prayer, we find direction when we are confused, strength when we are weak, and hope when circumstances seem impossible. A life anchored in prayer does not mean a life without problems. It means having God beside us as we face every challenge. Make prayer a priority, not an afterthought.
C – CHERISH THE TRUTH OF GOD’S WORD
The people listened attentively to Jesus because His teachings awakened something within them. We, too, must develop a hunger for God’s wisdom. The world constantly offers opinions, promises, and distractions, but not everything that sounds appealing leads us toward what is right. God’s Word teaches us to distinguish truth from deception, humility from arrogance, and genuine love from selfish interest. More importantly, we must put what we learn into practice.
H – HONOR GOD THROUGH YOUR ACTIONS
Our faith becomes meaningful when people can see it through the way we live. We honor God not only inside churches but also in our homes, workplaces, communities, and relationships. Every act of kindness, every sincere apology, every decision to forgive, and every opportunity to help someone in need becomes an expression of our faith. Let our actions reflect the goodness of the God we profess to love.
A FINAL REFLECTION
The Gospel reminds us that God’s house deserves reverence, but it also challenges us to recognize the sacredness of our own lives.
Let us not allow our hearts to become marketplaces filled with worries, greed, resentment, and unnecessary distractions. Instead, let us make them places where prayer, faith, love, and compassion flourish.
Remember, God is not asking us to become perfect overnight. He is asking us to become willing: willing to change, willing to surrender, willing to listen, and willing to follow.
Let us allow Jesus to cleanse our hearts, TEACH us His ways, and transform our lives into living testimonies of His love.
Go here to read further Gospel reflection.
