Sunday ReadingsCommentary and Reflections

9 November 2014Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome

In preparation for this Sunday’s Liturgy

As aid in focusing our homilies and sharing

Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM

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

1 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 facade of the temple was toward the east; the water flowed down from the southern side of the temple, south of the altar. 2 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. 8 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. 9 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. 12 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 focus is on the temple.

1st reading: Ezekiel 47:1-2,8-9,12Temple and water 1 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 facade of the temple was toward the east; the water flowed down from the southern side of the temple, south of the altar. 2 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.

Water and sea creatures 8 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. 9 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.

Water and fruit trees 12 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."

A simple outline!

1st reading: Ezekiel 47:1-2,8-9,12Temple and water 1 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 facade of the temple was toward the east; the water flowed down from the southern side of the temple, south of the altar. 2 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.

Water and sea creatures 8 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. 9 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.

Water and fruit trees 12 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."

Commentary Ezekiel prophesied in

Babylon during the Exile (597-537 BC).

He had visions on the restoration of the Temple.

Vv.1-2 talk about the angel bringing Ezekiel back to the Temple where water is flowing.

They flow to the sea and make the fish multiply. Vv.8-9 remind us of the rivers in Gen 2.

V.12 reminds us also of the rivers in Gen 2. They water the fruit bearing trees along the banks.

The waters from the Temple will make fecund (fruitful, productive) all sea creatures and trees.

There is hope after the Exile.

Reflections on the 1st reading The Temple in Jerusalem is a sign of God’s

blessing. Temporarily, the operations in the Temple stopped

because of the Babylonian invasion. But God gives signs of hope. There will be restoration. The imageries of the Temple and the water gushing

forth from each side are signs that life will be coming back.

The exilic people will return to the promised land and be re-created.

People will live normal lives again.

Responsorial 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!2 God is our refuge and our strength,an ever-present help in distress.3 Therefore, we fear not, though the earth be shakenand mountains plunge into the depths of the sea.

5 There is a stream whose runlets gladden the city of God,the holy dwelling of the Most High.6 God is in its midst; it shall not be disturbed;God will help it at the break of dawn.

8 The LORD of hosts is with us;our stronghold is the God of Jacob.9 Come! behold the deeds of the LORD,the astounding things he has wrought on earth.

Responsorial 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!2 God is our refuge and our strength,an ever-present help in distress.3 Therefore, we fear not, though the earth be shakenand mountains plunge into the depths of the sea.

5 There is a stream whose runlets gladden the city of God,the holy dwelling of the Most High.6 God is in its midst; it shall not be disturbed;God will help it at the break of dawn.

8 The LORD of hosts is with us;our stronghold is the God of Jacob.9 Come! behold the deeds of the LORD,the astounding things he has wrought on earth.

Commentary The psalm is classified as Zion

Hymn. V.2 contains metaphors that refer to

God. V.3 exhorts us not to fear in times of

calamities (impossible situations). Vv.5-6 describe the feeling in the

Temple: glad, not disturbed because of God’s presence.

V.8 affirms God’s presence (immanence, closeness) to us.

V.9 invites all to witness God’s astounding deeds.

Reflections on the Psalm

It is always good to be in God’s Temple. It is a place of refuge. When in trouble, it can secure our safety. God is in the Temple. When we go to church, do we feel God’s

presence? Churches are special place (space) of

encounter with the mighty and merciful Lord.

2nd reading: 1 Cor 3:9c-11,16-17

9 You are God's building. 10 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.

The focus is on God’s Temple

2nd reading: 1 Cor 3:9c-11,16-17

We are God’s building; Paul the master builder 9 You are God's building. 10 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.

Christian identity: God’s Temple 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 simple outline!

2nd reading: 1 Cor 3:9c-11,16-17We are God’s building; Paul

the master builder 9 You are God's building. 10

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.

Christian identity: God’s Temple

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.

Commentary In v.9, Paul reminds that Christians

are God’s building. In v.10, Paul claims to have laid the

foundation of the Christian church in Corinth.

Anyone who becomes incorporated into the church he founded must be careful for he would be stepping on the foundation itself, who is Jesus Christ himself. V.11

In vv.16-17, Paul reminds the Christians that they are temples of God.

They are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit.

No one should dare destroy the Christians.

God has made holy all Christians.

Reflections on the 2nd reading

St. Paul reminds us of the sanctity of each Christian.

We Christians are sacred in the eyes of God. Since we are his dwelling place, Christians

must give due respect to one another. There is a threat to those who want to

destroy us. God will destroy them. We see to it also that we revere our own

bodies for God is dwelling in each of us.

Gospel reading: John 2:13-22 13 Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to

Jerusalem. 14 He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, 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 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, "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, 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.

The focus is on the cleansing of theTemple of Jerusalem

Gospel reading: John 2:13-22Cleansing of the Temple 13 Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14

He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, 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."

Two different responses 17 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?"

Jesus’ response 19 Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple and in three days I

will raise it up." Misunderstanding 20 The Jews said, "This temple has been under construction for forty-six

years, and you will raise it up in three days?" Correct understanding 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.

A simple outline!

Gospel reading: John 2:13-22Cleansing of the Temple 13 Since the Passover

of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, 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."

Commentary V.13 indicates that Jesus observes a Jewish

law: to attend a passover feast in Jerusalem annually.

The passover in Jerusalem celebrates the liberation of Israel from Egypt.

V.14 indicates the presence of vendors and money-changers. These were needed to make it easier for the

pilgrims coming from afar to procure objects of sacrifices.

Vv.15-16a describe how Jesus manifests his anger over the commerce going on in the temple area.

At this point, the readers are still wondering what’s wrong.

V.16b explains Jesus’ predicament. “Stop making the Temple a marketplace.” The Temple is a house of prayer (a place to gain

closer relationship with God). It is not a marketplace (a place to gain money).

Gospel reading: John 2:13-22Two different responses 17 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?"

Jesus’ response 19 Jesus answered and said to

them, "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up."

Misunderstanding 20 The Jews said, "This temple

has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?"

Correct understanding 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.

In v.17, the disciples show their approval on what Jesus did.

In v.18, the Jews (enemies of Jesus) challenge him. They demand for a sign (a miracle) so

that they will believe. V.19 is the answer. We readers

understand the Temple as his body and his rising up as his resurrection.

V.20 reveals that the Jews have not understood him. They take him literally. Jesus’ answer is unacceptable.

V.21 picks up what we understand in v.19.

V.22 immediately affirms that this sign has happened.

The sign is the resurrection of Jesus after he died (was destroyed).

The sign made the disciples believe in the scripture and the words of Jesus himself.

Reflections on the gospel reading

It is important to believe in Jesus. All his actions (signs, miracles) must lead us to

believe in Jesus. We should not question his authority. We should not dare to ask for signs, if ,after all, we

do not believe and we continue with our business as usual.

What is a better sign than his resurrection? Faith in the resurrection allows us to understand

who Jesus is. It helps us to appreciate why he wants respect in God’s house.

It helps us to believe in his words.

Tying the 3 readings and the Psalm

The first reading tells us about the restoration of the Temple. (It was destroyed by the Babylonians).

The psalm tells us that we can find the presence of God in the Temple and take refuge in it.

The second reading makes us realize that our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit.

The gospel reading tells us about the Temple as the Body of Christ.

Historical note: The Temple of Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD, long before the writing of John’s gospel.

How to develop your homily / sharing

This Sunday is the Feast of the Dedication of St. John Lateran Basilica in Rome.

This basilica is important in the history of the Church.

It was given to the Church by Constantine the Great when he legalized Christianity in the Roman Empire in 313 AD.

Before this time, the Church went underground for 3 centuries. It was not easy then to be a Christian.

The three readings are carefully chosen for this feast. The first reading refers to the Temple of Jerusalem,

the center of spiritual life of the Jewish people. The second reading recognizes each baptized

Christian as Temple of the Holy Spirit. We are the center of God’s activities.

St. Paul warns that those who destroy the Christians will be destroyed by God because they are his dwelling places.

The gospel reading shifts the understanding of the concrete Temple to the body of Jesus. The resurrected body of Christ is the center of God’s activities to man and man’s activities to God.

What is there to reflect upon today? We give importance to the building which houses

the faithful when they worship God. Based on the first reading, the church edifice must

serve as a sign of God’s presence where God gives his blessings.

The imagery of water gushing forth from the Temple is a symbol of hope. There is life if the Temple is restored.

There will be food everywhere coming from the sea and the land.

Based on the second reading, we Christian believers are given a new identity.

We are God’s dwelling places. Hence, we must be sacred. Let no one destroy us, or do us violence. Let each Christian be a place of prayer, where the

Holy Spirit dwells and prays. Our holy bodies remind other people of God’s

presence. Let us revere and give due respect to one another.

Based on the gospel reading, we must put our faith in Jesus.

We should not look for any other sign than his resurrection.

His resurrection is the key to understand Jesus himself and our own identity as his followers.

We should not make Jesus (Temple) a source of money, but a source of spiritual inspiration.

We must cleanse ourselves from seeking material gains out of our service for God.

Today we should be reminded to take care of our church buildings.

They should be well maintained and respected to attain its purpose.

Its purpose is to provide a good venue for communal worship, meaningful liturgical celebrations, and a decent place for the administration of the sacraments especially the celebration of the eucharist.

It should not become a battleground for competing groups fighting to gain control over it.

One should not use it to advance business interests. The liturgy must match the beauty of our altars and

churches.

In the eucharist, we express our faith in Christ. We thank God that we have a building where we

can celebrate the eucharist. Truly God considers us his temples when he enters

our bodies, when we receive the eucharist. We don’t have to spend much, we have no need of

money changers in order to offer acceptable sacrifice to the Lord in the eucharist.

In the eucharist, Jesus takes the place of the lamb at the same time the priest-offerer.

In the eucharist, we join Jesus in offering himself to God.

Our Context of Sin and Grace Dilapidated churches Old churches, tourist spots Abandoned churches High cost of maintaining luxury churches (aircons, personnel) Irreverent church goers (not in proper attire) Dirty altar linens Undisciplined children eating, running around and shouting inside

the church Littering in the church Ugly bulletin boards Noisy surroundings (basketball court and along busy roads and markets)

Well-maintained churches and sound system

Not over decorated with images, candles and flowers

Conducive to prayer and devotion

Visits to the Blessed Sacrament

Generous donors and benefactors

Good church servant leaders Good liturgies and liturgical

ministers Formed and learned choirs

Suggested Song

Come Build My Church http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZugkzkgjDk

Restore My Church https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUx03GBL_Bo

Buhay Maging Maligaya http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hh0VyqcYK3I