The Lateran Basilica, the mother and head of all churches in Rome and in the world.

The Church is much more than a building, the Church is the Body of Christ,

founded on Christ, called to be his presence in the world.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

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

The man brought me

Back to the entrance of the temple and I saw water coming out from the threshold of the temple and flowing eastward. The temple faced the east and the water flowed from the south side of the temple, from the south ide of the altar. He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside, to the outer gate facing the east; and there I saw the stream coming from the south side.

 

He said to me, "This water goes to the east, down to the Arabah, and when it flows into the sea of foul-smelling water, the water will become wholesome. Wherever the river flows, swarms of creatures will live in it; fish will be plentiful; and the seawater will become fresh. Wherever it flows, life will abound. Near the river on both banks, there will be all kinds of fruit trees, with foliage that will not wither; and fruit that will never fail; each month they will bear a fresh crop, because the water comes from the temple. The fruit will be good to eat and the leaves will be used for healing.

 

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

The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High.

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

1 Corinthians 3:9c-11, 16-17 

We are fellow-workers with God, but you are God's field and building. I, as a good architect, according to the capacity given to me, I laid the foundation, and another is to build upon it. Each one must be careful how to build upon it. No one can lay a foundation other than the one which is already laid, which is Jesus Christ. Do you not know that you are God's temple, and that God's Spirit abides within you? If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him. God's temple is holy, and you are this temple.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

John 2:13-22

As the Passover of the Jews was at hand, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple court he found merchants selling oxen, sheep and doves, and money-changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple court, together with the oxen and sheep.

 

He knocked over the tables of the money-changers, scattering the coins, and ordered the people selling doves, "Take all this away, and stop making a marketplace of my Father's house!" His disciples recalled the words of Scripture: Zeal for your house devours me like fire.

 

The Jews then questioned Jesus, "Where are the miraculous signs which give you the right to do this?" And Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up." The Jews then replied, "The building of this temple has already taken forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?" Actually, Jesus was referring to the temple of his body. Only when he had risen from the dead did his disciples remember these words; then they believed both the Scripture and the words Jesus had spoken.

 

Gospel Reflection ：

 “Jesus’ offering of his life”

Today's Gospel narrates the cleansing of the Temple of Jerusalem by Jesus. The event of the cleansing of the Temple is reported by all the four evangelists (Mk 11:15-19; Mt 21:12-17; Lk 19:45-48; Jn 2:13- 16). While the Synoptic Gospels put the event of the cleansing of the Temple toward the end of their respective Gospels, the Johannine account is found at the beginning.

 

The Gospel for today is taken from the Gospel of John. We may reflect on the point that the Gospel of John placed the event prominently at the beginning, highlighting the association of the Temple with Jesus' body. Jesus' physical body would be destroyed and be rebuilt after three days.

 

In John's Gospel, the community of disciples that eventually became the Church was born while Jesus was hanging on the cross. The offering of the life of Jesus, therefore, is the very foundation of the Church, which is the people of God. We are reminded of Jesus' offering of his life whenever we enter a church.