The Temple of the Body

Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome

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Gospel of John 2:13-22

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.

Today is the feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome.  Why does the Church celebrate a basilica?  Seems odd considering it's a building and not a Saint.  However, the Lateran Basilica in Rome is one of the first major churches (ca. 324 A.D).  The building withstood many natural disasters, including earthquakes, and rebuilt over and over again.  It is considered the "mother" church of the Catholic Christian world.

The gospel reading from John describes Jesus' classic cord whipping  in the temple.  He pitches a "hissy fit" when he sees the temple area converted into a marketplace.  (Can you imagine the odor and the filth around this beautiful place of worship? Watch your step! Animal dung on the floor.  Yuck!....)  Merchants sold animals for ceremonial sacrifice.  They marketed to the pilgrims who traveled many miles to the temple, often unable to carry with them an unblemished lamb.  The temple-area market place reminds me of concession stands at movie theaters, concerts, and sporting  events.  The products "for sale" are often expensive.  Merchants know people will buy such items for convenience sake.

Jesus cleanses the temple of animal sacrifices in preparation for his own sacrifice on the Cross.  He wishes for followers to have zeal for God and not zeal for material goods.  He desires the temple to be treated as a holy and sacred place, not defiling it with extortion and greed.

As I meditated on this gospel, I couldn't help but think of Catholic churches comprised of living stones.  These living stones are made up of the faithful.  We go to mass each week, celebrating the Eucharist, in remembrance of Christ crucified.  We are all one body, one spirit in Christ Jesus!  As members of the Christian community, we are called to sacrifice for one another as the Lord sacrificed.  These "sacrifices" don't involve animal sacrifices but spiritual sacrifices.   We help the sick and the needy through ministries such as St. Vincent de Paul.  We teach our children as volunteer catechists. We serve as liturgical ministers.  We give our tithes to our parish. We help prepare for the celebration of the liturgy.  Each one of us are important members of the Church community. When we fail to care for our fellow members, one by one living stones become loose.  Cracks begin to form when we fight among ourselves on what we should or should not do as a parish.  Our pastor is in charge of keeping the "living stones" in full working order!  If we allow all of the stones fall out, then our church no longer remains a holy place.

There is so much to glean from this Sunday's mass readings!  I encourage you to take the time to read through them slowly and carefully, discovering new insights.  How is the Holy Spirit speaking to you personally?

-J.