Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica

As a temple of God, you hold the answers to the prayers of others.

Good News Reflection for:

Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome
November 9, 2024

Today’s Prayer:

Lord, You want to restore my life, so here I am. May I never stop Your work in me! I praise and thank You, my Lord and Savior! Amen.

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Today’s Readings:

Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12
Ps 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9
1 Corinthians 3:9c-11, 16-17
John 2:13-22
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110924.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-november-9-2024

What does it mean to be God’s holy temple?

Is your life in an upheaval? Today’s reading from 1st Corinthians reminds us that our bodies are temples of the Lord. Today’s first reading demonstrates that much good comes from God’s temple.

As temples of the Lord, we should be experiencing daily the goodness of God flowing out from us and benefiting the world around us. Water in Ezekiel’s text represents the Holy Spirit, the giver and nourisher of life. Look at what happens: undrinkable salt water becomes fresh and potable, producing life in abundance; trees that soak up this water bear good fruit — not annually, but monthly, without fail — giving food and medicine as a benefit to many. Does this describe your life?

In the Gospel reading, Jesus speaks of the temple of his body. Notice that he does this immediately after driving out the merchants from the Temple Mount. The sacrilege of using God’s place for greedy purposes and personal gain triggered his zealous anger — and still does. Not just in the physical building of the church but in the temple of the Holy Spirit that is you and is me. Where does a focus on personal gain interfere with God’s plans for your life?

When our sins inspire us to go to a priest to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we are being moved by Christ’s own zeal, and through this sacrament he drives out what is unholy in us. When the turn of events in our lives causes upset and upheaval because of poor decisions we’ve made or because we’ve lost sight of Jesus, very often this is Jesus overturning our tables to get our attention.

The Lateran Basilica is the Pope’s Cathedral. Today’s feast is a reminder to clean out the cathedral of our hearts. As temples, we need to work with Jesus to drive out everything that is unholy. Once our lives are filled with the Holy Spirit, God’s goodness flows out from us and provides others with nourishment and healing. Are you damming up the waters in any way? As a temple of God, you hold the answers to the prayers of others. Jesus wants to minister to them through you.

Flow, Spirit, flow!

Here’s a secret the devil does not want you to know — why he wants to stifle your relationship with the Holy Spirit. He’s afraid of what you will do! Listen to my podcast about this. I name 8 ways that we stifle the Spirit and identify 3 ways to un-stifle the Spirit @ footstepstoheaven.com/holy-spirit/3-ways-to-un-stifle-the-holy-spirit.

© 2024 by Terry A. Modica

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