DEDICATION OF THE LATERAN BASILICA (FEAST)
1st Reading: (Ezekiel 47: 1-2.8-9.12)
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 46:2-3. 5-6. 8-9 (R.5)
2nd Reading:
(1 Corinthians 3:9c-11. 16-17)
Gospel Acclamation : 2 Chronicles 7:16
Gospel: John 2:13-22
The readings of tomorrow weaves a picture of God’s living presence flowing into our lives.
In the book of Ezekiel, the river that springs from the temple brings fort healing to everything it touches just as the Psalmist celebrates God as our refuge when the waters rage in every situation of our lives. In the second reading Paul reminds us that our bodies are God’s temple, and we should treat it as such and build it on the cornerstone which is Jesus Christ, and that the Spirit dwells within us, calling us to holy living.
The Gospel shows Jesus clearing the temple, declaring that he will raise it up again in three days, pointing to his own body as the true sanctuary, not the physical temple they all taught about.
Finally brethren these readings invite us to see our own lives as the place where God’s life‑giving water flows, where we are both the temple and the worshippers. When we open ourselves to that river, it transforms the barren places inside us and equips us to be a source of healing for not just for ourselves also for others.
I also invite us to Ponder on these questions 1.Where do I sense the “river” of God’s grace moving in my daily routine?
2.How am I caring for the “temple” of my body and spirit?
3.In what ways can I help others experience the refreshing flow of God’s presence?
Let these reflections stir a deeper awareness of the living water that sustains us and the holy space God has placed within each of us. Amen.
May God bless his words in our hearts through Christ our Lord
"I saw water running from the temple, and all those to whom the water came were saved”
I asked myself - where is this Temple that the water is running out from? And one tiny voice told me that the temple is my body and your body. Wow!!! I was thinking it's the church where I go to worship God and the voice said, 'yes of course but the first temple is my body and the church is the extension of it'. So I asked again, how can water be running from my body? And the voice told me again that it's not just physical water, rather virtues that flows from me to others.
Now I understand that my body is the temple and the water that's supposed to flow from me are in the form of; LOVE, TRUTHFULNESS, etc.
And it said that to all those to whom the water touched will be saved. Therefore I asked myself, do people receive healing through my relationship with people or they receives sickness??
IF I AM MET
Everyone is created good and nice, that is why, the default setting we have is normally in a good state. It is hard for one to say outrightly that I am a bad person when met at first. We always want to portray ourselves good before others but when people get close to us, they begin to see the undisclosed flaws that we have. But then, our liturgy today invites us to see ourselves as the real Temple of God's dwelling.
As we celebrate the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, we are called to reflect on personal assertion of IF I AM MET. What will be the impact we radiate to those we meet?
In the first reading, the water that flowed from the Temple gave life to every creature that got in contact with it. Trees blossomed and bear fruits, stagnant water flowed and became fresh, fishes swarmed. That is how our life should reflect. Let people see and meet us and then get a better experience of what is good, and not the other way round. If we can do this, then, our world will be a better place.
St. Paul tells us in the second reading that we are the Temple of the Holy Spirit and as such we should not destroy it, so that anyone who comes to this temple may be edified for good than for bad. In so doing, we are admonished to make sure that the temple is clean, in order, organized and sacred for God's worship. We should reflect God's dwelling place to those who see us or meet us.
It is because of the corruption going on in the Temple that made Jesus chase all the money changers and traders in the Temple today. because God's Temple is supposed to be a House of Prayer and not for trading. It is harvest season and some parishes may have bazaar, then you will see someone with open eye sub-pricing the items brought for bazaar, is that not cheating? The Bazaar is meant to be used to support the development of the church but you decide to do otherwise. Or you think Bazaar is a trade fair? Just imagine the kind of mindset you brought to church with. And then, it may be the first time someone is meeting or knowing you, and that will be the first impression he or she will have about you.
Let us always examine ourselves and recognize that we are the true Temple of God on earth and as such, if we are met, it should be an encounter for good. Let us today rededicate ourselves again to God, and not only today but daily, so that we may continue to be a better version of who Christ wants us to be, the true Temple of the Holy Spirit. So that, at any point in time, if we are met by anyone, the encounter may reflect Christ and the true Temple of the Holy Spirit.
May God bless his word in our hearts through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Shalom
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We are told by St Paul that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. And that Christ Jesus laid the foundation and we should mind how we build on it. So how do we build on this foundation? We can build on this foundation by abiding the rules of He who laid the foundation which is summarized by Love of God and Love of one's neighbor.
We build our body as the temple of the Holy Spirit by doing what pleases God through the guidance of the Holy Spirit which lives in us. The Holy Spirit guides us through our conscience because anytime we want to do what is wrong, our conscience warns us that what we're about to do is wrong. But the big question is, do we heed the warning?
So, Saint Paul is letting us know that if we destroy our body by not keeping to the commandments of God and the Church that God will destroy us.
We pray that the Grace of God will help us to mind our actions as we relate with people, our utterances as we interact with people, so that all will be pleasing to God and thereby avoid eternal damnation, Amen 🙏
"I have chosen and consecrated this House, says the Lord, that my name may be there forever"
For me, the three readings describe the temple of God as that which brings life, healing, restoration etc, and because the temple is consecrated, we must guard against anything that would defile it.
However, we are in the era of 'Emmanuel - God with and IN us'.... that is why the 2nd reading reminds us that we are God's temple and His Spirit dwells in us.
As a temple and dwelling of the Holy Spirit, what emanates from me? Are the fruits of the Holy Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control - seen in me? Do people encounter me and see Jesus? Or do i allow entrance to any sin or worldly standard, such that i get defiled?
Today, it is a call to wake up from our lackadaisical attitude and guard our hearts, lives and bodies for our aim is to bring honor and glory to God with them.
Glory to Jesus!
