The Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica | Wednesday 9 November 2022

Today is Wednesday the 9th of November, the feast of the dedication of the Lateran Basilica, in the 32nd week of Ordinary time.

The Kyiv Chamber Choir sings, ‘Only One Is Holy’.

(Lyrics currently unavailable)



Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John.

John 2: 13-22

The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money-changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. He told those who were selling the doves, ‘Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a market-place!’ His disciples remembered that it was written, ‘Zeal for your house will consume me.’ The Jews then said to him, ‘What sign can you show us for doing this?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ The Jews then said, ‘This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?’ But he was speaking of the temple of his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

Today Jesus is in the Temple, the place where, as a baby, he was offered to his Father by Mary and Joseph. Just for a moment, imagine what it was like for him to take the scene in - the noise, the smells, the frenetic activity - in what is his Father’s house…

As you watch Jesus’ response – driving animals out, turning over money tables - what is your reaction?

Jesus did not want people to be kept from his Father or to be turned away because they were poor. As you listen again to the reading, imagine yourself there as one of the poor. How it is to see what unfolds from this perspective?

Now speak with Jesus about whatever is with you from this time.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.