Daily Readings - Thu Nov 09 2023
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
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.