9 November, 2023 | Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome

 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.

Reflections:

Today, Both the Gospel passage and the celebration of the Feast of the Lateran Basilica invite us to reflect on our own lives. Just as Jesus cleansed the temple, we are called to purify our hearts and lives, making them fitting "temples" for the Holy Spirit. This  feast reminds us the sanctity of sacred spaces and the need for personal and communal purity. It's a reminder of the importance of  promoting unity, holiness, and renewal in the lives of every Christian, as to how Jesus sought to restore the temple's sanctity. This day invites us to consider our own lives as temples and to maintain its sanctity and integrity.

Activity:

 Reflect on your own life, whether there are areas of your life that need cleansing or purification. Are there behaviours, attitudes, or actions that are not aligned with your faith or personal values?

Reflections: Sr Adaha Dorothy FSP
Voice-over : Manuella Cardoso
Technical creativity : Francis Cardoso
Digital Creativity: Joeyanna D'Souza FSP

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