Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12, 1 Corinthians 3:9-11, 16-17, Psalm 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9,
John 2:13-22
Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12
My Beloved, from Your holy Temple, Your holy Church, the place where flows streams of Living water. The cleansing, healing waters of baptism has the power to take away the foul stench that accompanies death and decay due to sin and bring with it renewal, revival and life. It has the power to take what is stale and refresh it and make what was only lifeless teem with a life of grace which brings with it a plenitude of virtues.
The Sacraments make it possible to cause life in fullness and abundance to flourish for it brings with it healing and nourishment for body and soul.
Thank You Lord for Your Church.
1 Corinthians 3:9-11, 16-17
My Beloved, each one of us as members of Your Body build the Church according to the gifts we have received. To some are given greater gifts depending on the the work they are called to do but no matter how great or small the gift each is important and must be used, if not the Church suffers for it will lack that particular facet that makes it beautiful and complete.
We build not according to our own whims and fancies but we build upon the foundation that has already been laid which is Yourself. We are also reminded that each one of us who belongs to the family of God is a temple for God has sent His own Spirit to dwell in us. This is why we are called to respect one another and recognize the immense value of each of God's children. If we dare to deface and destroy His temple we can expect God to destroy us for God's temple is holy and it belongs to Him alone.
Psalm 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9
God is our foundation, He is the cornerstone, He is our pillar and high tower. He is our rampart from Him we receive strength and protection which never fails. In fear He brings courage, in despair hope in sorrow joy in anxiety peace. We need never be afraid no matter how high the waves or how savage the wind for with Him at our side no harm can approach to harm us.
He provides us with all that we need. Living water through Baptism Gifts and fruits through confirmation, healing health and wholeness in Reconciliation Food and drink through the Eucharist. God lives in His temple, it will stand forever. His help is always at hand. Before our cry leaves our lips it reaches His ear and He hastens to help us.
All the work accomplished by the Church shines forth as a testimony of God's grace for she is God's Light in the world.
John 2:13-22
Verse 16 "Take all this away and stop turning my Father's house into a market place!"
My Beloved, ever since Your Presentation Your parents Mary and Joseph brought You faithfully to the temple once a year. When You were 12 years old You deliberately stayed behind because You were aware that You were in Your Father's house.
Growing up You would have observed how the temple was being desecrated by the buying and selling that went on and You were unable to do anything then but zeal for Your temple would have burned in You on each of those occasions. You waited until the appointed time had come. At the wedding in Cana You revealed Your divinity through the performance of Your first miracle and now You enter the temple to begin Your Ministry of preaching, teaching and healing. The first order of business though is the cleansing from all the unholy works that were going on there with the tacit approval of those in authority. Your righteous anger burned as You overturned the table of the money changers and you drove out the cattle as well as the sellers with a whip made of cords.
I am the temple of the Holy Spirit. God dwells in me. How have I made His temple a market place for buying and selling worldly things and in what ways have I contaminated, sullied and desecrated God's holy temple? The Sacrament of Reconciliation is given to the Church in order that we may receive cleansing, pardon and restoration.
The Temple of Your Body was destroyed and You restored it in 3 days so also can the temple of my body be restored to grace and beauty once more in the wonderful Sacrament of Reconciliation.
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