Reading 1 Ez 47:1-2, 8-9, 12
The angel brought me
back to the entrance of the temple,
and I saw water flowing out
from beneath the threshold of the temple toward the east,
for the façade of the temple was toward the east;
the water flowed down from the southern side of the temple,
south of the altar.
He led me outside by the north gate,
and around to the outer gate facing the east,
where I saw water trickling from the southern side.
He said to me,
"This water flows into the eastern district down upon the Arabah,
and empties into the sea, the salt waters, which it makes fresh.
Wherever the river flows,
every sort of living creature that can multiply shall live,
and there shall be abundant fish,
for wherever this water comes the sea shall be made fresh.
Along both banks of the river, fruit trees of every kind shall grow;
their leaves shall not fade, nor their fruit fail.
Every month they shall bear fresh fruit,
for they shall be watered by the flow from the sanctuary.
Their fruit shall serve for food, and their leaves for medicine."
Responsorial Psalm Ps 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9
R. (5) The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!
God is our refuge and our strength,
an ever-present help in distress.
Therefore, we fear not, though the earth be shaken
and mountains plunge into the depths of the sea.
R. The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!
There is a stream whose runlets gladden the city of God,
the holy dwelling of the Most High.
God is in its midst; it shall not be disturbed;
God will help it at the break of dawn.
R. The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!
The LORD of hosts is with us;
our stronghold is the God of Jacob.
Come! behold the deeds of the LORD,
the astounding things he has wrought on earth.
R. The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!
Reading 2 1 Cor 3:9c-11, 16-17
Brothers and sisters:
You are God's building.
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,
for no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there,
namely, Jesus Christ.
Do you not know that you are the temple of God,
and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
If anyone destroys God's temple,
God will destroy that person;
for the temple of God, which you are, is holy.
Gospel Jn 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.
Meditation: 1 Corinthians 3:9-11,16-17
The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica
Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16)
Anniversaries are important to all of us. Some of those anniversaries are even connected to a particular place: the church where we were baptized or married, the new house we moved into, our parents’ gravesite. Being in these special places stirs up memories and sometimes inspires us to rededicate ourselves to a special person or cause.
But why is this church in Rome so important that the anniversary of its dedication is celebrated throughout the world? For a thousand years, the Lateran Basilica was the residence of the Bishop of Rome, and it still contains the “cathedra,” the chair that symbolizes his office. Even though the pope today celebrates more official functions at the larger St. Peter’s, St. John Lateran is still “the mother and head of all churches of the city and of the world,” as the inscription on its façade proclaims.
When we step into a sacred space like a church, especially if we take time to quiet our spirits, we become aware of the presence of God. But St. Paul reminds us that we are also God’s dwelling-place. He tells us that we should be just as aware of his presence in us, and in every other believer.
St. Augustine puts it well: “As often as we celebrate the dedication festival of a … church, if we worship attentively, what is done in temples made with hands is done also in us spiritually. For he lied not who said, ‘The temple of God, which you are, is holy.’ Therefore, since we are the temple of God —not because we deserve it but only by his grace —let us work hard, with his help, to be a fitting place for the Holy One to dwell.”
Those charged with keeping a great cathedral clean and in good repair take this responsibility very seriously. We should work at least as hard at polishing God’s image in ourselves, letting his love shine out from us! And while we’re at it, let’s look at every fellow believer with the same awe, as a holy dwelling place of the Holy Spirit.
“Holy Spirit, thank you for coming to live in me. Make me into a worthy temple for your presence.”
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