The Lord Jesus is the only Mediator between God and man. By him alone can we worship God “in spirit and in truth.” (Jn 4:24)

In today’s Gospel (Jn 2:13-22), we hear about how Jesus expelled the merchants and money changers in the temple of Jerusalem. For the Jews, the temple is a very important place of meeting between God and man. In the temple, they worship the one true God who chose them as His own. But Jesus, seeing merchants and money changers in the temple area, “made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple.” (Jn 2:15) Jesus did this because of his zeal for his Father’s house. He does not want to see the temple like a marketplace. This action of Jesus made the Jews question his authority by asking a sign from him for doing this. Jesus answered them: “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” (Jn 2:19) The Jews never understood this prophesy Jesus but it is explained by the Evangelist in the Gospel that Jesus was speaking about the temple of his own Body. Only after the resurrection of Jesus from the dead did his disciples come to believe in the word he had spoken.

As we celebrate today the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, we are reminded by the Gospel to focus on Jesus as our sole mean to worship the Father. It is only through Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection that we are redeemed from our sins and therefore, through him alone can we meet God and worship him. As we gather around the table of God’s Word and the Eucharist, we celebrate the mystery of our faith and we worship God the Father through Jesus, with him and in him. We believe that the Body of Jesus crucified is the same Body who rose from the dead on the third day. Now, the meeting place between God and us is no other than Jesus himself. Only through Jesus, with him and in him can we meet God and worship him. As much as we give importance and reverence to the material temple or the churches where we worship together, we must all be reminded that Jesus, in the Word and in the Eucharist, is the most important one, our only access in worshiping God the Father.

~ Fra. Ronel

CLEANSING THE TEMPLE OF MY HEART

As I ponder more on this Gospel, I am reminded that my heart is the true temple of God. Jesus’ actions in the temple show me that He is passionate about purity and devotion. He wants my heart
to be a place where He can dwell, where prayer and peace flow freely.

I recognize that I have allowed many distractions, worries, and selfish desires to clutter my heart. I’ve sought temporary happiness and let life get too busy, forgetting that God’s presence lives within me. But Jesus message is clear: He is not about destruction, but about restoration.

He wants to clear out the things that weigh me down and make my heart a place where He can reign. Now the question is: am I willing to let Him? Am I willing to surrender my heart, with all its
flaws and weaknesses? Am I willing to open it fully and submit to His refining fire?

Jesus’ words, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up,” speak deeply to me. He is saying that even in my brokenness, He can rebuild, restore, and raise me up. His salvation and power are freely given, but I need to let go and let Him work.

I pray for the courage to surrender, to let Jesus take charge of my heart and overturn the things that do not honor Him. I want my heart to be a temple where He truly reigns; where prayer, peace, and communion with Him are my priorities. May I yield to His refining work, and may my life reflect His glory.

~ Leng

PRAYERTO START THE WEEK

Lord Jesus, help me keep my heart clean and focused on You. When I get distracted or caught up in the wrong things, please bring me back. Fill me with passion to serve You with all I’ve got. Make my life a space where Your love feels alive and real. Amen.