First Reading: Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12
And he brought me again to the gate of the house, and behold waters came out from under the threshold of the house toward the east, for the front of the house looked toward the east, but the waters came down to the right side of the temple to the south part of the altar.
And he led me out by the way of the north gate, and he made me go around by the way outside to the outer gate that looks toward the east, and behold waters were running out on the right side.
And he said to me: These waters that go forth toward the desert hills to the east and go down to the plains shall go into the sea, and shall go out, and the waters shall be healed.
And every living creature that moves wherever the river comes shall live, and there shall be fishes in abundance after these waters come there, and they shall be healed, and all things shall live to which the river comes.
And by the river on the banks on both sides shall grow all kinds of trees bearing fruit, their leaves shall not fall off and their fruit shall not fail, every month shall they bring forth first fruits, because the waters come out of the sanctuary, and the fruits shall be for food and the leaves for medicine.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 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!
Second Reading: First Corinthians 3:9c-11, 16-17
You are God's field, you are God's building. According to the grace of God that is given to me, as a wise architect I have laid the foundation, and another builds upon it. But let every man take heed how he builds upon it. For no other foundation can a man lay but that which is laid, which is Christ Jesus.
Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? But if anyone violates the temple of God, him shall God destroy. For the temple of God is holy, which you are.
Alleluia: Second Chronicles 7:16
Gospel: John 2:13-22
And the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers sitting.
And when He had made a sort of scourge of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, the sheep also and the oxen, and the money of the changers He poured out and the tables He overthrew. And to those who sold doves He said: Take these things away, and do not make the house of my Father a house of buying and selling.
And His disciples remembered that it was written: Zeal for your house has eaten me up.
The Jews therefore answered and said to Him: What sign do you show us, seeing you do these things? Jesus answered and said to them: Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
The Jews then said: Forty-six years was this temple in building, and will you raise it up in three days? But He spoke of the temple of His body. When therefore He was risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this, and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had said.
Reflection
Ezekiel sees water flowing out from under the temple. Wherever that water goes, it brings life - the sea is healed, fish abound, trees bear fruit every month, and even the leaves are medicine. It is a picture of what comes from God's dwelling.
Jesus shows us where that true temple is. He enters the temple in Jerusalem and drives out the buying and selling - Do not make my Father's house a marketplace. Then He says: Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. He was speaking of the temple of His own Body.
Christ is the foundation. No other foundation can be laid. And you, Paul says, are the temple of God, and the Spirit dwells in you. Today the Church celebrates the mother church in Rome, the Lateran Basilica, but she also reminds us - God is our refuge, the river that gladdens the city of God is flowing from Christ. Let Him cleanse whatever in your heart has become a marketplace, so that your life can be a place where His healing water flows to others.
Prayer
Father, you have chosen and consecrated your house so that your name may be there forever. Make my heart a worthy dwelling for your Spirit. Cleanse me of whatever turns worship into business and self-interest. Build my life firmly on Christ, the only foundation, and let your healing river flow through my words and actions so that others may find life. Amen.
Readings are taken from the Douay-Rheims Bible, rendered in modern English for easy reading.
