Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome
Listening the Spirit
Lord, thank you for the gift of Your Word so that all your people may know and love You more and understand You better. As I go about my day may I not forget the scriptures you have opened up for me.
Help me to recognize how You want for me to apply Your Word to my daily life. Holy Spirit, guided by Your Word, may You enlighten my mind and enkindle in my heart a greater love for You and for others in my family and in the world.
Amen.
Listening the Word: John 2:13-22
Since the Passover of the Jews was near,
Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves,
as well as the money-changers seated there.
He made a whip out of cords
and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen,
and spilled the coins of the money-changers
and overturned their tables,
and to those who sold doves he said,
"Take these out of here,
and stop making my Father's house a marketplace."
His disciples recalled the words of Scripture,
Zeal for your house will consume me.
At this the Jews answered and said to him,
"What sign can you show us for doing this?"
Jesus answered and said to them,
"Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up."
The Jews said,
"This temple has been under construction for forty-six years,
and you will raise it up in three days?"
But he was speaking about the temple of his Body.
Therefore, when he was raised from the dead,
his disciples remembered that he had said this,
and they came to believe the Scripture
and the word Jesus had spoken.
Reflection
It was from the side of Christ as He slept the sleep of death upon the cross that there came forth “The wondrous sacrament of the whole Church” S. Augustine. Through baptism, Eucharist and confirmation, we receive the new life in Christ. We become one spirit and one Body in Christ. This Feast is a sign of the unity of the Church led by the Pope Leo, Successor of St Peter. It is to invite us to respect sacred spaces, not only churches, but also our private places for prayer, our body, because we are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit.
Therefore,the beauty of the liturgy should be the expression of our love for Him. In Him, we bring our joys and our distress, our disappointments, our hopes and trusts. Since we honour the Church today, we honour you as you are a part of the Body of Christ.
Actually, we are not worthy to enter the house of God. The beginning of every celebration reminds me who I am, a sinner, asking me to confess my sin, and trusting to my brothers and sisters to implore the Blessed Virgin Mary, the angels and saints.
In our society, we remain among those who work against the Kingdom of God.Looking at our world, people here on earth cry out because of injustice, war, and lack of consideration. In today’s gospel, Jesus is not indifferent with what he saw in the Temple. The House of God became a business place, a market place. That is why he cleansed it to remind the Jews the purpose of the Temple, that is to worship God with our lives.
Jesus does not want his Father’s house to be turned into a marketplace.This is the prophetical dimension of His ministry. A prophet cannot close his mouth in front of injustice, violence, disrespect of the Body of Christ. He cannot be indifferent to the suffering of God s children.He should bring hope, even if it is in the midst of tears, even if it is hard to accept it. That is why Ezechiel, the prophet whose name means God gives strength is describing in today’s first reading, the Temple as the place from which the water overflows for purification, for abundance and for haling. God gives to us freely, ‘‘Freely you have received; freely give.” (Matt. 10:8).
Indeed, Jesus’ desire is to cleanse our sins, our Church so that we may have great zeal for the House of the LORD.
2) Jesus, the Priest of the New Law of Love
Brothers and sisters,Jesus does not become angry simply to destroy the evil he sees.His aim is to establish a new order, a New Law, the Law of love, that is greater and more beautiful than the old. It is the Fulfilment of the First covenant. In fact, in the Book of Revelation, we can read: “Behold, I make all things new” (Rev. 21:5).By His Resurrection, everything starts anew, and we build on Him. Behind Jesus’ punishment, there is an important message. We should never be in complicity with everything that destroys the Glory of God, and in consequence, our society, and the human dignity as well. We should not work against unity and reconciliation.
Brethren, in the Old Testament, the temple, is the place of God’s presence, the place of the manifestation of his glory, the place where his Word given to the prophets is preciously preserved.But now,there is a special movement: Jesus is the presence of God, the splendor of his glory, the Word of God made flesh, the Priest of the New Covenant. He teaches us to worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:23).
In the second reading, Paul reminds us of our identity: “Do you not know that you are God’s temple?” (1 Cor 3:16) Do you not know that you are the Father’s house?It is important to give a good formation about how to take part in the liturgy, to observe silence, receiving the Eucharist with devotion and respect.
In fact, whenever we pray, we should give Glory to God for he allowed us to celebrate in His presence here on earth. That is why saint Irenaeus said: “The Glory of God is man alive, and the life of man consists in seeing God”, the Word of God made flesh that we should serve through our brothers and sisters, and also through the whole creation.
From this gospel, after the Jews asked him to show them a sign justifying his punishment, Jesus said something that they did not understand: “Destroythis temple, and in three days I will raise it up”. This is also our situationtoday. We do not understand the trials we face, our difficulties. We may ask ourselves: Why this happens to me, o Lord? Let me tell you now that God allows us to face some situations to test our faith, to see whether we trust in Him at all times. Then, an impossible hope from a human perspective must arise within us!Jesus was talking about his Resurrection, the proof that hope does not disappoint. In other words, evil or injustice cannot prevail. when we feel ourselves lost, disappointed, let us remember that nothing is impossible with God. In Him, there is a new beginning, a new chance to grow and to experience his care and consolation. Ther is a new occasion to show and to receive more love.His love is deeper than our betrayal.
We can ask to ourselves these questions:
What are the things in my life that prevent me to burn of a great zeal for the House of the Lord? Help me to recognize them clearly and cast them down. Lord, hasten to come into me and destroy what displeases you.
Prayer: “O God of compassion,help us to rescue the abandonedand forgotten of this earth,who are so precious in your eyes…; show us our place in this worldas channels of your lovefor all the creatures of this earth”. Lord, we are so fragile. Increase our hope, strengthen our faith, and grant us the joy of serving your house!
Reflection Questions
- How can I allow Jesus to cleanse the “temple” of my heart, removing whatever keeps me from living with zeal and purity before God?
- In what ways am I called to be a living temple of God’s presence—honoring Him through my prayer, my body, and my actions toward others?
