November 9, 2013

Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome 

Lectionary: 671

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.

 Ezekiel had a vision of heaven. He was brought to the temple by an Angel and saw water flowing out from the East and from the South.

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.

 Then the angel said the water flows out from the Temple into the ocean and makes the water fresh. The saltwater represents  sin. The freshwater represents the grace of God washing away sin.

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.”

 The fruits of the trees represent the fruits of the spirit  which are produced by man and in man by the grace of God.

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!

 The grace of God and the Holy Spirit are frequently represented by water.  In the New Testament the Holy Spirit is called living water. And as living water is given to us in the sacraments.

Reading 2 1 COR 3:9C-11, 16-17

Brothers and sisters:

You are God’s building.

We are the temple of God

According to the grace of God given to me,

like a wise master builder I laid a foundation,

and another is building upon it.

 Those who teach us the gospel lay the foundation of Christ and we must build 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.

 But we must be careful to build upon the foundation of Christ which is already there.   Because many fallaway and built upon a foundation of their own making.

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.

 Therefore we must not destroy the temple of God by dwelling in sin. If we do, then God will destroy us.

Gospel JN 2:13-22

Since the Passover of the Jews was near,

Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

 Since the Passover was near Jesus went to the Temple in 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.”

 There he found the money changers people make in a prophet of God's word. In anger he made a whip out of cords and chased them are the temple. 

His disciples recalled the words of Scripture,

Zeal for your house will consume me.

 His students remembered what it says in 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?”

 At this the Jews requested a sign.

 Jesus answered and said to them,

“Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.”

 Jesus responded, "destroy this temple and in three days I will restore it."

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.

 The Jews didn't realize that he was speaking about Temple of his body.