Today is the Feast of the Dedication of the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran in Rome, dedicated by Pope Sylvester I in 324 AD to Christ the Savior. It is the cathedral of the Roman Bishop, the Pope and as such holds the primacy over the four major papal basilicas.
But the Bible readings for today all point to the fact that more important than a basilica is the Lord God, the Almighty and the Lamb, Jesus Christ, who is the Temple which was destroyed on the cross and raised again in three days. Rev 21:22-23
“Zeal for His Father’s house” consumed Jesus on this Passover feast day as recorded in today’s gospel. He had fashioned a whip of cords and drove the animals out of the court of the Gentiles in the temple and overturned the tables, spilling the coins of the money changers over the floors. The three other gospels recorded this scene but at the end, not the beginning of His ministry. Jesus was furious that His Father’s house, the closest place to heaven for a Jew, had been turned into a souk, full of bleating sheep, cooing pigeons and the smell of dung and urine. When asked by what authority He interfered with the temple business of providing sacrifices for the Passover, He said “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” This was indeed the prophecy of the resurrection of His body. Jesus was pointing toward the end of temple sacrifice after His Passion. After His resurrection, His disciples “came to believe the Scripture and the word Jesus had spoken.” John 2:22
Many times we zealously and frequently proclaimed this good news
St. Paul, in I Cor 3, amplifies this Gospel reading by saying that Christians are “God’s temple”, and that Jesus Christ is the foundation stone. “Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? The temple of God, which you are, is holy” 1 Cor. 3:16-17. Later in I Cor 6:20 Paul says: “You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
Jesus Christ, who drove the animals out of the temple areas with a whip of cords, severely scourged and died for our sins so that our hearts might be cleansed of our sins and healed. The NKJV of Heb 12:6 says, “For whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.” The prophetess Judith said, “but the LORD scourges those who draw near to Him in order to admonish them.” Judith 8:27. We must never forget that we are God’s temple, members of the Body of Christ. Allow the water and the blood and the Spirit to cleanse your temple so that you might offer praise and glory to Christ the Savior.
He zealously longs to rule our whole hearts and lives.
For further reflection:
What is Jesus trying to correct in our lives or hearts today?
How will we receive His discipline?
