FEAST OF THE DEDICATION OF THE LATERAN BASILICA IN ROME - GOSPEL (John 2:13-22) THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
- NHA CHUA CHA
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FIRST READING - Ezek 47:1-2, 8-9, 12
"I saw water flowing out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, and all who are cleansed by it receive salvation."
A reading from the Book of Ezekiel
[a] 1 Then he brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and there! I saw water flowing out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple faced east. The water flowed out toward the right side of the temple to the south of the altar. 2 He brought me by way of the north gate and around the outside to the outer gate facing east; there I saw water trickling from the southern side. 8 He said to me, “This water flows out into the eastern district, runs down into the Arabah and empties into the polluted waters of the sea[a] to freshen them. 9 Wherever it flows, the river teems with every kind of living creature; fish will abound. Where these waters flow they refresh; everything lives where the river goes. 12 Along each bank of the river every kind of fruit tree will grow; their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fresh fruit because the waters of the river flow out from the sanctuary. Their fruit is used for food, and their leaves for healing.”
SECOND READING - 1 Cor 3:9c-11, 16-17
"You are the temple of God."
A reading from the First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians
9 For we are God’s co-workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.
10 [a]According to the grace of God given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But each one must be careful how he builds upon it, 11 for no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there, namely, Jesus Christ. 16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for the temple of God, which you are, is holy.[a]
GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Jn 2:13-22
"He was speaking about the temple of his body."
✠From the Gospel according to John
13 [a]Since the Passover[b] of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 [c]He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves,[d] as well as the money-changers seated there. 15 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, 16 and to those who sold doves he said, “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.” 17 [e]His disciples recalled the words of scripture, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” 18 At this the Jews answered and said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” 19 Jesus answered and said to them,[f] “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years,[g] and you will raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 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.
FEAST OF THE DEDICATION OF THE LATERAN BASILICA IN ROME - GOSPEL (John 2:13-22)
THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
Dear people of God,
Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of St. John Lateran.
The Word of God today teaches that we must be aware that our soul and body are the Temple of the Holy Spirit.
God creates humanity with both soul and body, and He creates humankind in His own image.
God does not want His image within each of us to be stained or defiled by sin. Rather, He desires that we keep His image in us pure, radiant, and holy before Him.
In today’s Gospel, God once again reminds us of His death and Resurrection. This is a true and historically justified event that took place in the Person of Jesus Christ: He truly died and rose again on the third day.
His Resurrection brings salvation to humanity and restores happiness to us, so that we no longer die in darkness, sin, or the captivity of Satan.
Yet when Christ came into the world, He was rejected, opposed, and put to death, giving Satan the opportunity to influence and harm human souls and bodies.
However, the love and mercy of God the Father is stronger than death and stronger than any temptation of Satan. Christ conquered death through His Passion, Death, and Resurrection.
Today’s Word of God reminds us that the human body is the temple of God, and the human soul is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
Human bodies are created in the image of God; He wants us to maintain both our bodies and our souls in purity. We must not allow the things of this world to defile our bodies. Otherwise, the evil one will gain ground in our hearts and obscure God’s image within us. That is displeasing to God.
Thus, we must remain vigilant in our thoughts, words, actions, and deeds so that we do not defile the Temple of the Holy Spirit by allowing hatred, killing, envy, rivalry, or sin to enter.
Today’s physical temples are the places where God dwells, calling everyone to come and receive His Body and Blood through the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.
God reminds us that He Himself is the Temple, the place where His people gather to receive His grace.
God calls everyone to come to Him, to the Temple of the Holy Spirit, where nothing impure, defiled, or sinful should be allowed.
He Himself was a temple. People destroyed it by killing Him. Christ also foretells His own death and Resurrection: the Temple of His Body would be destroyed, but after three days He would rise, a glorious and eternal Resurrection that brings everlasting happiness to humanity.
Through the Holy Eucharist, when we receive the Body and Blood of Christ into our hearts, which are the temple of God, we must cast all hatred, jealousy, selfishness, division, and sin out of our souls and bodies.
Just as Christ, in today’s Gospel, drove the money changers and all that defiled the place out of the Temple, The Temple is meant as a place for people to worship God the Father with love above all things, and with charity toward our neighbors. But when they bring sin and impurity into the Temple, they diminish our reverence for God the Father.
Therefore, God the Father desires that we keep both soul and body pure, cleansing away everything that is stained by sin, impurity, or corruption.
For our very selves are the temple of the Holy Spirit.
Only then can we worthily receive the Body and Blood of Christ into our hearts.
Let us be vigilant and live according to the teachings of God, so that both our souls and bodies may radiate His love and spread His Heart to others.
Let us offer both our bodies and souls to God.
Let us rejoice as He cleanses, purifies, and prunes us, so that both our souls and bodies may be refined and made perfectly pure.
From this, both the soul and body are united as one, so that the light and grace of God may truly come and dwell within us, giving us the strength to fight against Satan and to worship and fear God alone. Otherwise, there will be no place in us for God to dwell.
Today’s Word of God calls His children to remain watchful and to keep and guard our souls and bodies pure so that God the Father may dwell within our hearts. From this, His light and grace will nourish both our bodies and souls in His love.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
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