Daily Readings - Thu Nov 09 2017

First Reading - Ezekiel 47.1-2, 8-9, 12

¹And he turned me back to the gate of the house. And behold, waters went out, from under the threshold of the house, toward the east. For the face of the house looked toward the east. But the waters descended on the right side of the temple, toward the south of the altar²And he led me out, along the way of the north gate, and he turned me back toward the way outside the exterior gate, the way which looked toward the east. And behold, the waters overflowed on the right side⁸And he said to me: "These waters, which go forth toward the hillocks of sand to the east, and which descend to the plains of the desert, will enter the sea, and will go out, and the waters will be healed⁹And every living soul that moves, wherever the torrent arrives, will live. And there will be more than enough fish, after these waters have arrived there, and they will be healed. And all things will live, where the torrent arrives¹²And above the torrent, on its banks on both sides, every kind of fruit tree will rise up. Their foliage will not fall away, and their fruit will not fail. Every single month they will bring forth first-fruits. For its waters will go forth from the sanctuary. And its fruits will be for food, and its leaves will be for medicine.

Gospel - John 2.13-22

John

Chapter 2

¹³And the Passover of the Jews was near, and so Jesus ascended to Jerusalem¹⁴And he found, sitting in the temple, sellers of oxen and sheep and doves, and the moneychangers¹⁵And when he had made something like a whip out of little cords, he drove them all out of the temple, including the sheep and the oxen. And he poured out the brass coins of the moneychangers, and he overturned their tables¹⁶And to those who were selling doves, he said: "Take these things out of here, and do not make my Father’s house into a house of commerce.¹⁷And truly, his disciples were reminded that it is written: "Zeal for your house consumes me.¹⁸Then the Jews responded and said to him, "What sign can you show to us, that you may do these things?¹⁹Jesus responded and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.²⁰Then the Jews said, "This temple has been built up over forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?²¹Yet he was speaking about the Temple of his body²²Therefore, when he had resurrected from the dead, his disciples were reminded that he had said this, and they believed in the Scriptures and in the word that Jesus had spoken

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter powerful visions of life, renewal, and the presence of God. Ezekiel describes a river flowing from the temple, symbolizing the life-giving Spirit of God that heals and nurtures all it touches. This vision, set during the Babylonian exile, offers hope to the Israelites of God's restoration. The river's abundance and the fruit trees along its banks represent the vibrant life that comes from God's presence. In John's Gospel, Jesus cleanses the temple, restoring its sacred purpose by driving out commerce. His prophecy about rebuilding the temple in three days points to his resurrection, linking the physical temple to the spiritual temple of his body. Both readings highlight the temple as a symbol of God's presence. Ezekiel's river prefigures the Holy Spirit's outpouring, while Jesus' actions in the temple emphasize the new life and purification he brings. This connection underscores the temple's role as a source of divine life—Ezekiel's vision is a future hope, while John's narrative is its fulfillment in Jesus. In our daily lives, we are called to view our bodies and communities as temples of the Holy Spirit. We must ensure our lives and communities are places of worship, free from worldly distractions. Just as Jesus cleansed the temple, we should cleanse our hearts from sin, making room for God's presence. The moral lesson is clear: we must zealously maintain the sacredness of our relationship with God, focusing on spiritual renewal through reflection, prayer, and a life that honors Him.