You are God’s Temple

 Reflection on the Feast of the Dedication of Lateral Basilica, Tuesday 32nd Week in Ordinary Time, Year B,  November 9th, 2021
Texts: Eze. 47: 1-2, 8-9, 12; Ps. 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9; I Corinthians 3:9c-11, 16-17; John 2:13-22
Today, we celebrate the Dedication of the Lateral Basilica; it is a symbol of unity of the Church. The Basilica reminds us of the oneness of the Church and obedience to the Pope, the successor of St. Peter and the vicar of Christ. We are to examine, today, our faithfulness to the papacy, Church and her authority in the name of Christ. Today, we are to revive and renew our commitment to the Church, the pillar of truth. Our commitment to the Church manifests in our practice of her teaching. We need to keep the precepts of the Church and embrace the means of salvation she has offered us. We need to embrace the means of holiness she has offered us: God's word, sacraments, sacramentals, popular devotions, Christian practice and ways of life (morality).
Today, as we celebrate the Dedication of Lateral Basilica, the readings remind us that we are the temple of God. In the gospel reading, it is commented thus: "But he spoke of the temple of his body". Our bodies are temples of God, His dwelling places. God dwells in your body and also in my body.
 In the second reading, St. Paul asked the question: "Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?" If we know that we are the temple of God, it will show in our ways of life. Hence, St. Paul adds, "For God’s temple is holy, and that temple you are." If we know that we are the temple of God, we will keep ourselves holy and pure. Some of us have lost the sacredness of his/her body just like it happened to the Jews in today's gospel reading. The Jews lost the sacredness of the Temple and thus turned it into a house of trade. Jesus Christ teaches us to keep ourselves holy and pure by cleansing the temple, throwing out the traders and their goods. The Temple represents your body and my body that must be cleansed and purified. We cleanse and purify our bodies by quenching the desires of the flesh; the more we mater ourselves, the more our  bodies are cleansed and purified.
The first reading tells us what we are as the temple of God. As God's temple, we spread joy and peace wherever we find ourselves. Wherever we go, we give them the message of eternal life and those who accept the message inherit eternal life. Through administration of the sacraments and the proclamation of the gospel, we lead people to the fullness of life; the people receive the life of God. Hence, the first reading reminds us that to be the temple of God is to be source of joy and peace, to proclaim the gospel of eternal life and to facilitate the administration of sacraments.

Lord our God, we honour Your Name and acknowledge Your mighty deeds, help us to be faithful to the Church and to keep ourselves holy. Amen.
 
FR. Andrew Olowomuke