Being the temple of God (readings for Nov. 9, 2018)

Key:

What these passages tell us about God

What these passages tell us to do

What these passages tell us not to do

Commentary

Hyperlink

Reading 1 EZ 47:1-2, 8-9, 12

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 façade of the temple was toward the east; the water flowed down from the southern side of the temple, south of the altar. 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. 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. 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.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."

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

R. 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.
R. The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!
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 helpit at the break of dawn.
R. The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!
The LORD of hostsis with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob.
Come! behold the deeds of the LORD, the astounding things he has wrought on earth.
R. The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!

Reading 2 1 COR 3:9C-11, 16-17

You are God's building. 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, for no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there, namely, Jesus Christ.

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.

Alleluia 2 CHR 7:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I have chosen and consecrated this house, says the Lord, that my name may be there forever.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel JN 2:13-22

Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money-changers seated there. 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, and to those who sold doves he said, "Take these out of here, and stop making my Father's house a marketplace." His disciples recalled the words of Scripture, Zeal for your house will consume me.

At this the Jews answered and said to him, "What sign can you show us for doing this?"

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

The Jews said, "This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?" But he was speaking about the temple of his Body. 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.

1.   Today’s first reading paints a wonderful picture of the goodness that flows from God, in this case through his temple. Life and blessing, in multiple forms at multiple times, come from Him.

2.   Today’s second reading tells us the we are part of that temple. That means that blessing should flow from us too. We should be sources of freshness, life, regular but ever changing fruitfulness. 

3.   We are not all going to be major streams like the Amazon, Nile, Mississippi, Mekong or Danube, but we can each let God’s living water flow from us to some extent or another. Indeed, if you think about it, far more of the Earth is irrigated by small streams, creeks and rivulets than by large rivers. We each have influence/impact upon some areas; we should be sources of freshness, life, regular but ever changing fruitfulness in those areas, regardless of the size of those areas.

4.   We can do that in multiple small ways: being kind and encouraging to those we come in contact with, cleaning up messes we come across (particularly ones we did not make), and being attentive to whatever vocation God called us to, doing it with the attitude of trying to please God. See Colossians 3:23.

5.   So how do we accomplish that? Today’s readings give us some directions:

A.   Trust God, look to Him for living water, the things that will flow through you. (psalm) He provides it if we will simply receive it and let it flow from us.

B.    Do not be afraid (psalm). God will provide enough for you and enough to share, and will give us what you need to do the sharing. God has chosen and consecrated you (alleluia verse): He will provision and empower you to irrigate the parts of the world He wants you to serve.  We can overcome fear by recalling His great deeds/faithfulness as recounted in the scriptures (psalm, gospel), recalling His past works in our own lives (psalm), and by watching for His actions as we go forward.  Always remember that He has the power to do what seems impossible (gospel).

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C.    Do not be drawn into the corruption so rife in the world (gospel). That corruption obstructs the streams of blessing God want to flow through us, greatly reducing the flow. We avoid that be being focused on God (psalm), evaluating actions against his word (gospel), and being careful about what how our choices measure up against that word (second reading).