Daily Readings - Tue Nov 09 2021
First Reading - Ezekiel 47.1-2, 8-9, 12 or 1 Corinthians 3.9b-11, 16-17
Ezekiel
1Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.2Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side.8Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed.9And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh.12And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.
1 Corinthians
9For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.10According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.11For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.16Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?17If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
John
13And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,14And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:15And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;16And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.17And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.18Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?19Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.20Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?21But he spake of the temple of his body.22When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful visions of life, renewal, and the restoration of God's presence in the world. Ezekiel's prophetic vision describes a river flowing from the temple, bringing life and healing to all it touches. This river symbolizes the life-giving power of God, transforming even the most desolate places into gardens of abundance. The temple, as the source of this river, represents God's dwelling place among his people, from which flows spiritual nourishment and vitality. Ezekiel's vision is a message of hope, reminding us that God's presence can bring life out of barrenness and restore creation to its full potential.
In the Gospel, Jesus' cleansing of the temple offers a dramatic contrast to Ezekiel's serene and life-giving river. Jesus, filled with zeal for his Father's house, drives out the money changers and traders who have turned the temple into a place of commerce rather than prayer. This act is not just a critique of corruption; it is a call to reclaim the temple as a sacred space where God's people can encounter his presence. Jesus' words, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up," point to the ultimate fulfillment of Ezekiel's vision: the temple of his own body, which would be destroyed on the cross and raised on the third day. Through his death and resurrection, Jesus becomes the new source of living water, flowing forth to heal and transform all who believe in him.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own lives as temples of the Holy Spirit. Just as Ezekiel's river flows from the temple to bring life to the world, and just as Jesus cleanses the temple to restore its sacred purpose, we are called to allow God's life-giving Spirit to flow through us. We must examine our hearts and lives, asking whether we are allowing God's presence to transform us and flow out to others. Let us strive to be sources of healing, hope, and renewal in a world that so desperately needs it. May we, like Jesus, be consumed by zeal for God's house, and may we become living temples from which the waters of life flow abundantly.