Be God’s Holy Temple

November 9, 2024 Saturday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome
Daily Readings: Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12; 1 Corinthians 3:9c-11, 16-17; John 2:13-22

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome. This such a significant feast to us Catholics because when centuries of persecution ended with Constantine's 313 edict granting Christians the right to publicly practice their faith, St. John Lateran became the first basilica where Christians were able to worship freely in public.

Today’s readings also speak of temples but not only the temple as the structure of the Lateran Basilica but Christ being the temple. Clearly, Jesus is the foundation of our Church. Without our faith deeply rooted in Him, all our church structures are nothing but buildings. 

Being followers of Christ, we are the temple of God because the Spirit of God dwells in us. How beautiful is that! We are holy people because God dwells in us.

Are we true to this beautiful identity? Is our life a reflection of this temple of God?

In the Gospel, Jesus was angry at the people who made a market place of the temple. When we sin, we do the same thing. We desecrate the temple of God in us. We destroy the holiness in us. The temple crumbles.

Call to Action for Catholic Living: How do we rebuild this temple in us? When we seek and receive God’s forgiveness, and with the grace of the Holy Spirit amend our lives, we allow God to rebuild His temple in us. 

May we be God’s public temples for others to experience His abundant love and mercy.
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