November 09, 2006

Nov 9 2006

Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome

Ez 47:1-2, 8-9, 12 The angel brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water flowing out from beneath the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the façade of the temple was toward the east; the water flowed down from the southern side of the temple, south of the altar. He led me outside by the north gate, and around to the outer gate facing the east,where I saw water trickling from the southern side. He said to me,“This water flows into the eastern district down upon the Arabah, and empties into the sea, the salt waters, which it makes fresh. Wherever the river flows, every sort of living creature that can multiply shall live, and there shall be abundant fish, for wherever this water comes the sea shall be made fresh. Along both banks of the river, fruit trees of every kind shall grow; their leaves shall not fade, nor their fruit fail. Every month they shall bear fresh fruit, for they shall be watered by the flow from the sanctuary. Their fruit shall serve for food, and their leaves for medicine.”

Ps 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9R. (5) The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!
God is our refuge and our strength,an ever-present help in distress.Therefore, we fear not, though the earth be shakenand mountains plunge into the depths of the sea.
R. The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!
There is a stream whose runlets gladden the city of God,the holy dwelling of the Most High.God is in its midst; it shall not be disturbed;God will help it at the break of dawn.
R. The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!
The LORD of hosts is with us;our stronghold is the God of Jacob.Come! behold the deeds of the LORD,the astounding things he has wrought on earth.
R. The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!

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.

In the gospel Jesus teaches that his own body is a temple. I forget this at times in the midst of daily demands. God has given me this reminder to treat my own body as a temple of the soul and the promise of resurrection. This is more precious than any other knowledge or possession.

The first reading is included in the liturgy for the dedication of new churches. It is a reminder of the purifying powers of water. It also reminds me that the plants and trees our given us to use in healing ways as medicine and nourishment. I had studied books by pharmacists on the healing powers of plants. I think it is unfortunate that the part of pharmacy training in this country that used to require the identification, gathering and prepartion of plants as medicine was discontinued in the 1950s. It is a powerful and effective way of treating and healing.

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home