Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12, Psalm 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9, 1 Corinthians 3:9-11, 16-17, John 2:13-22

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

I have chosen and consecrated this house, says the Lord,

that my name may be there forever. Chr 7:16

Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12,  Psalm 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9, 1 Corinthians 3:9-11, 16-17, 

John 2:13-22

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

My soul's beloved, we believe that One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church founded by You on the Rock that is Peter and You the Cornerstone, is the House of God and the Gate that opens to heaven.

Today the Church celebrates this House and the Church which is represented by the Chair of Peter. Long before You established Your Church, the prophet Ezekiel gives a beautiful description of it as we read in today's first reading. It is here that the streams of life giving water flow out springing forth from the Cross on Calvary, streams into the empty tomb and flows in torrents through Your Resurrected Body which is the Church and the life giving Sacraments dispensed by her. 

In these waters the sinful soul is washed clean and is regenerated. Life overflows from her and here the dead come to life and begin to bear good fruit in abundance. Here sinners are healed from every disease and they in turn bear fruit for the glory of God.

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

My soul's beloved, every faithful Catholic has experienced new life that comes from You and from forgiveness of our sins. In Your Church, Your Body to which we are grafted we have found You to be our refuge and strength, our ever present help in times of trouble. In You we are unshaken no matter what troubles assail us. We are grounded in You, our roots are deeply embedded in You so even if the mountains plunge into the sea we will be unshaken. You gladden our hearts with the Wine of Joy, the Cup of our Salvation, and the Bread of Life. No harm can come to us, nothing can disturb our peace for our hope and our confidence come from You. We rejoice because not only did God send You into the world to save us, God feeds us with Himself and we are made children of the Most High and heirs to the Kingdom. 

1 Corinthians 3:9-11, 16-17

My soul's beloved, thank You for the privilege and the free gift of being part of Your Body, the Church. You are its foundation and grace upon grace is poured upon us and we take part in the life of the Church, the life of Grace, a life in Your Holy Spirit. Only in You and through You are we saved, salvation comes from no other. This is how the Father desires that it will be and so it is.

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.

Thank You my souls' beloved, keep me safe in the cleft of the Rock.

John 2:13-22

My soul's beloved, it must grieve You so to see how even today we make a market place of God's holy dwelling. We buy, sell, barter, we are irreverant of things that are holy and sacred and we make a mockery of divine teaching. 

Help us who are faithful to be pray without ceasing, to be vigilant, and to do what we can to clear out the rubbish that accumulates due to false teaching, false interpretation, leading to to a distorted practice of the faith. God's house is always a house of prayer, a place where all things holy are treated as holy. You died for Your Church and You raised her up. She has a divine call, and she a divine mandate. May all who are born of her do their part in cleansing her by cleansing themselves of all that is evil through the Gifts of the Sacraments.