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Home  / News & Publications /  Michigan Catholic News / 2008 /  We build the house and family of the Lord

by Fr. Richard C. Macey special to The Michigan Catholic
Published October 31, 2008

The readings for this feast displace the readings for the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time. St. John Lateran Basilica is the cathedral of Rome, the place where the pope celebrates official functions as the bishop of Rome, for example, Holy Thursday Mass, Corpus Christi procession, etc. A "basilica" describes the kind of construction. It was originally named after the king (in Greek, basileus), who held public audiences in the large hall. The site of the church and surrounding buildings was donated by Emperor Constantine to the pope in the fourth century. This was long before the Vatican Hill became the residence of the pope. The emperor had inherited the Laterani palace through his marriage to Fausta. The Church was first dedicated to Our Savior. It is now dedicated to St. John the Baptist.

First Reading: Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12

The people of God had been carried off into exile in Babylonia and the Temple was destroyed in 587 B.C. The prophet Ezekiel, who was also a priest, went into exile with the rest of the people. He had a vision about a new Temple. Water was important to preserve life in the city. It was also used for sacrifices and other ritual observances, especially for purification rites.

The source of the water is the Temple area. The water increases and deepens as the prophet and the angel (messenger of God) travel away from the Temple. "The sea" is the Dead Sea, which has no visible living organisms in it. In this vision, once the fresh water reaches this sea of death, it becomes full of "every sort of living creature … abundant fish." The water brings life back into a sterile land. It is an act of re-creation.

The Temple, the source of this abundance of life, is a sign of the presence of the Lord among His people. In the days after their return from Exile, the rebuilt Temple and its rituals would hold the people together and become their unique identity. They would be ruled by successive foreign governments (Babylonian, Persian, Macedonian, Seleucid, Roman). The water became of promise of transformation to a people who appeared to be dead and gone from history. With God as the source of their life and hope, they would be brought back from oblivion and flourish.

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 3:9c-11, 16-17

Paul reminds the Corinthians that they are "God's building." Paul is connected to them by laying the foundation, but it is by a gift he received from God. He calls it, "the grace of God." Paul may be contrasting his wisdom as a gift from God with the passage that follows immediately after this one: those who are "wise in this age." The core of the message is the middle of this passage: "No one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there, namely, Jesus Christ." There is only one Church to which all believers belong. This was a focal point and assurance of God's presence in their lives.

The presence of God resides in them. They have already become the "the temple of God." It is not something that has not yet happened. This is what makes them "holy." Holiness is primarily an attribute of God, so they belong to Him by sharing this quality. They are holy because God dwells in them. Thus, God's visible presence among the people must be through them. This presence can be destroyed through sin.

God uses human instruments to bring about his living Presence. Paul tells the people that he was acting like a "master builder." He laid the foundation. But "another" continues to build upon this proclamation of the Gospel. The Church of God as His own people continues to be built up in every generation, including our own!

Gospel: John 2:13-22

All four Gospels describe this incident of Jesus, the "cleansing of the Temple," on His first visit as an adult to Jerusalem. John has recorded it at the beginning of His ministry. In the other three Gospels, the Synoptics, Jesus visits Jerusalem only once as an adult. There is only one mention of it being the Passover. In John, there are three (maybe four) Passover celebrations. It is from John's account that we have a three-year ministry for Jesus before His death.

There are two different Greek words translated as "temple." The first is the whole temple area (hieron). This is used in the first half of this passage. Jesus, though, referred to the sanctuary, which was the dwelling place of the deity, the presence of the Father. Jesus called it "my Father's house." This second word (naos) is used for the rest of the passage. The evangelist explains that "He (Jesus) was speaking about the temple of His Body." It was this inner sanctuary, the presence of God, not the building itself, about which Jesus was speaking of raising up. The reference to the Passion anticipates the narrative at the end of the Gospel, when Jesus would return to Jerusalem and fulfill His prophecy.

The number 46 does not accurately describe the length of time in which the Temple was reconstructed by Herod, who wanted to make it more grand than the post-exilic Temple. Some exegetes have attempted to find a symbolic meaning. It is the numerical equivalent of the Greek form of the name Adam. There has been no agreement. The real meaning is comparing the limited notion of the Jews (the building) with the eternal reference of Jesus (life).

The evangelist also explains that the disciples would remember the words of Jesus. Remembering is an important biblical concept which relates to the events of God throughout salvation history. The act of remembering renews and recommits people to the Lord. The future belief of the disciples also demonstrates a deeper understanding of Jesus and His mission.

The Church, even as a building, is a sign of our communion with others. I remember the first time I was away from home for a long time. It was my birthday, and there were no friends or family with whom to be in contact. I went into a local church. It was dark, and I saw the small red light which indicated where the Eucharist was reserved. In the darkness, I heard a greeting, which I am sure was only in my heart. It said, "Happy Birthday!" I felt the familiarity of the place and the faith which connected me with those who were far away. There was a warm sensation of comfort and peace. I knew that I was not alone.

A church is not primarily the building, but the people who come together in a sacred place. In that gathering of the saints (and future saints!), we can celebrate the life which we share.

Fr. Richard C. Macey is pastor of Our Lady of the Woods Parish, Woodhaven.