“The Living Temple: God Dwelling Among His People”
Teclus Ugwueze
(Ezekiel 47:1 - 2, 8 - 9, 12; 1
Corinthians 3:9 - 11, 16–17; John 2:13 - 22)
My dear brothers and sisters in
Christ, today, the Church celebrates not just the dedication of a building, but
the mystery of what that building represents, the abiding presence of God among
His people. The Lateran Basilica in Rome, the cathedral of the Pope, is called “the
mother and head of all churches.” Yet what we truly honor today is not
marble, stone, or architecture, but the living faith that flows from it like
the river in Ezekiel’s vision.
1. The River That Gives Life
In the first reading, Ezekiel sees
water flowing from the temple, gentle at first, then powerful, bringing life
wherever it goes. Trees grow on its banks; the sea becomes fresh; the barren
land blossoms again. This is not mere poetry. The prophet is describing what
happens when God dwells among His people. Wherever the Spirit of God flows,
life returns. What was once dead begins to live. That river is still flowing, through
the Church, through the sacraments, through every heart open to grace. Each
time we receive the Eucharist, forgive, serve, or pray, the living water of
God’s presence flows again into a dry world. The Church is that river, not a
museum of holy memories, but a fountain of new life.
2. The Church Built on Christ
Saint Paul, in his letter to the
Corinthians, brings the image home: “You are God’s building… the temple of
the Holy Spirit.” Christ is the foundation, and we are the living stones. This
is a powerful truth. The holiness of a church is not measured by its stained
glass, but by the faith of its people. The Church stands strong when we build
on Christ, when our families, parishes, and ministries are rooted in His Word
and His love.
Paul’s warning is clear: “No one
can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
When we try to build on pride, power, or comfort, the structure of our faith
begins to crack. But when Christ is the cornerstone, everything holds together,
even in times of trial.
3. The Temple of the Heart
In the Gospel, Jesus cleanses the
Temple. He is angry not because of coins or cattle, but because the sacred
place had lost its soul. The outer form remained, but the inner fire was gone. And
then He says something shocking: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I
will raise it up.” John tells us that He was speaking of His body. Here
lies the deepest mystery: Jesus Himself is the true Temple, the living
meeting place between God and humanity. In Him, heaven and earth touch. But
He doesn’t keep that holiness to Himself. Through baptism, He makes us His
temples. That means every Christian heart is a sanctuary. Every act of mercy is
an altar. Every community rooted in love becomes a house of God.
So, when we look at a church
building, we must also look inward and ask: Is my soul a dwelling place for
God? Do I allow Him to cleanse my heart as He cleansed the Temple, driving out
whatever profanes it: pride, greed, resentment, hypocrisy? The Feast of the
Dedication is not about admiring walls; it is about renewing our interior
sanctuary.
4. The Church Alive Today
The Lateran Basilica stands as a
sign that God still lives among His people, but every parish, every family, and
every believer is also a “Lateran” in miniature. When love flows like Ezekiel’s
river from our hearts, healing, refreshing, forgiving, the Church becomes
visibly alive. So, my dear friends, let today’s feast be a reminder that the
most beautiful cathedral God desires to dwell in is the human heart.
Let us keep that temple clean. Let
us keep its altar burning. And let us be living stones that reflect the glory
of the One who said, “I will be with you always.”
Then, like the river in Ezekiel’s
vision, our lives will water the dry lands of our time, bringing life to the
barren, hope to the weary, and joy to the world.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, living Temple of the
Father, cleanse the sanctuary of our hearts.
Make Your Church a river of life
for our world.
And may every place we go, every
word, every act, every prayer,
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