Bible Diary

Daily Reading

Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome

LECTIONARY
671

FIRST READING

Ezk 47:1-2,8-9,12

Then he brought me back to the door of the temple, and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar. Then he brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate that faces toward the east; and behold, the water was trickling out on the south side. And he said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, and enters the sea; when the water flows into the sea, the water will become fresh. And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes. And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.”

PSALM

PS 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9

Response: 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.

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.

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.

SECOND READING

1 Cor 3:9-11,16-17

For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.

GOSPEL

Jn 2:13-22

The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade.” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

Daily Reflection

The Lateran Basilica in Rome is the mother and head of all the churches of Rome and hence holds a place of importance for us as Roman Catholics. The dedication of this Basilica is celebrated as a sign of unity of the Church of Rome and all Churches. The Pope and the Bishops are a living example of the unity of faith and, through them, we too as believers are united in the One, True, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

Today’s Feast reminds us that the Church is a home rather than an institution. The Church is a community, a family. Christ forms the Church in the human community as a sign of His presence among us. It is easy to overlook this understanding of the Church and think of the Church as a huge structure which makes it impersonal.

Jesus cleansing the Temple, in today’s Gospel, is a good example for us to clear our wrong notions of the Church. The ideas of an institution should never replace the family or community aspect of the Church. Jesus restored the Temple by removing the unwanted elements from the Temple precincts.

Which part of me resists unity and needs to be cleansed by the Lord?