Go Unlimited with Magzter GOLD

Go Unlimited with Magzter GOLD

Get unlimited access to 10,000+ magazines, newspapers and Premium stories for just

$149.99
 
$74.99/Year

Try GOLD - Free

A house of prayer

Manila Bulletin

|

November 21, 2025

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.

MORE STORIES FROM Manila Bulletin

Manila Bulletin

US creative sector warns on IP reforms

The American creative sector has expressed alarm over proposed legislative measures that seek to overhaul the Philippines' Intellectual Property (IP) Code, with an influential lobby group warning that the move could erode the country's copyright protection.

time to read

2 mins

November 21, 2025

Manila Bulletin

No internal probe in Cabinet; calls for Zaldy Co's return snowballs

Malacañang said there is no internal investigation in the Cabinet over the flood control anomalies after some of its members resigned while some are being linked to the massive infrastructure corruption.

time to read

3 mins

November 21, 2025

Manila Bulletin

Manila Bulletin

Domestic demand lags regional peers

Singapore-based Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp. Ltd. (OCBC) sees the Philippine economy as a laggard in the region in terms of domestic demand, forecasting that yearly growth will miss government targets.

time to read

2 mins

November 21, 2025

Manila Bulletin

Manila Bulletin

Bomb threats probed

Police Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr., acting chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), ordered all police commanders, especially in urban areas, to increase police visibility and other proactive response in areas of convergence across the country as cases of bomb threats targeting schools spiked this week.

time to read

1 min

November 21, 2025

Manila Bulletin

Manila Bulletin

Gov't workers, beware

SC rules wealth gained beyond lawful income presumed ill-gotten

time to read

4 mins

November 21, 2025

Manila Bulletin

Palestine keen on leveling up ties with PH on agri, healthcare

As Palestine moves to become a \"normal state,\" its foreign minister underscored her country's interest in learning from the Philippines' expertise and experiences in the agriculture and healthcare sectors.

time to read

2 mins

November 21, 2025

Manila Bulletin

Manila Bulletin

Omoda and Jaecoo go off-road

A tour of the factory and off-road driving

time to read

3 mins

November 21, 2025

Manila Bulletin

Solon seeks ₱2-M fine vs fake news peddlers

Parañaque City Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan is eyeing the passage of a measure that would impose hefty penalties of up to 12 years in prison and fines of up to P2 million on those found guilty of deliberately spreading fake news.

time to read

2 mins

November 21, 2025

Manila Bulletin

Manila Bulletin

PH economy remains strong, says Balisacan

The Philippine economy remains on solid footing despite recent domestic challenges and global uncertainties, according to the country’s chief economist.

time to read

2 mins

November 21, 2025

Manila Bulletin

Manila Bulletin

Alice Guo, 3 others found guilty of human trafficking

Dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo and her three co-accused were found guilty on Thursday, Nov. 20, by the Pasig Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 167 of qualified human trafficking linked to an illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operation (POGO) in Tarlac and were sentenced to reclusion perpetua or up to 40 years imprisonment.

time to read

2 mins

November 21, 2025

Listen

Translate

Share

-
+

Change font size