Daily Readings - Thu Nov 09 2023
First Reading - Ezekiel 47.1-2, 8-9, 12 or 1 Corinthians 3.9b-11, 16-17
Ezekiel
1Then he brought me back to the door of the temple, and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar.2Then he brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate that faces toward the east; and behold, the water was trickling out on the south side.8And he said to me, "This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, and enters the sea; when the water flows into the sea, the water will become fresh.9And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes.12And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing."
1 Corinthians
9For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.10According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it.11For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.16Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?17If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.
John
13The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.14In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there.15And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables.16And he told those who sold the pigeons, "Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade."17His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for your house will consume me."18So the Jews said to him, "What sign do you show us for doing these things?"19Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."20The Jews then said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?"21But he was speaking about the temple of his body.22When therefore 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.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of renewal, purification, and the living presence of God among His people. In Ezekiel’s vision, we see a river of life flowing from the temple, transforming the desert into a place of abundance and healing. This river symbolizes the life-giving power of God, who restores creation and makes all things fruitful. The context of this passage is Ezekiel’s prophetic vision of a future temple, where God’s presence will dwell in a way that brings vitality and prosperity to the land. The river’s waters heal even the salt-laden Dead Sea, signifying God’s power to transform and renew.
In the Gospel, we see Jesus taking action in the temple, driving out the merchants and moneychangers. This passage is set during the Passover, a time when Jerusalem was filled with pilgrims. Jesus’ actions are not just about cleaning up the temple but about restoring its true purpose as a house of prayer. The context of this passage is Jesus’ growing conflict with religious leaders who had allowed the temple to become a place of commerce rather than a place of worship. By cleansing the temple, Jesus asserts His authority and calls people back to a deeper reverence for God’s presence. The passage also points to the ultimate temple: Jesus’ own body, which will be destroyed and raised up on the third day, fulfilling the true meaning of God’s dwelling among humanity.
These readings are connected by the theme of God’s presence and the need for purification. Ezekiel’s vision of the river of life prefigures the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, while Jesus’ cleansing of the temple prepares the way for the true worship that will flow from hearts transformed by His sacrifice. Together, they remind us that our lives, like the temple, must be purified and dedicated to God’s service. As we go about our daily lives, we are called to be temples of the Holy Spirit, allowing God’s life-giving power to flow through us. May we, like the river in Ezekiel’s vision, bring healing and life to a world in need. Let us strive to keep our hearts pure and our lives focused on God’s will, that we might truly be His dwelling place.