Being in a romantic relationship helps us discover parts of us that our other relationships cannot reveal. I could easily forgive my family and friends, but it’s difficult for me to do so with my lover. Since we’ll “be one” in the future, I get alarmed whenever I see flaws.

When we had our first big argument, I struggled to forgive him. Our argument happened because of our big difference in beliefs and culture, making me doubt him. Since it hurt me in unexpected ways, I was mad at him and remained so even after we talked and apologized. I grew cold toward him and wondered if I still loved him.

One night, as I prayed, I felt ashamed before God. I knew anger was normal, but it’s a sin to keep it in my heart—in God’s temple. I felt God rebuke me. But as I continued praying, He told me to let go of my anger—to remove the clutter! To replace it with love and be healed from all hurt. When I painfully did so, it made my relationship with my boyfriend better.

Elaine Marie Factor (elainemariefactor@gmail.com)

Reflect

What clutter do you need to remove from your heart so love can come in?

Lord Jesus, thank You for rebuking us when we go astray. We are weak. We rely on Your grace, direction, and love. Amen.

Saint Benignus, pray for us.

First Reading | Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12

This ancient text describing the beauty, glory, and fruitfulness of the Temple of God is the model for Christianity. Our churches, communities, and each individual are supposed to be a replica of Ezekiel’s vision. We certainly have a lot to live up to. Through God’s grace, may we be living witnesses of His beauty, glory, and life.

¹ The Angel brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water flowing out from beneath the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the facade of the temple was toward the east; the water flowed down from the southern side of the temple, south of the altar. ² He led me outside by the north gate, and around to the outer gate facing the east, where I saw water trickling from the southern side. ⁸ He said to me, “This water flows into the eastern district down upon the Arabah, and empties into the sea, the salt waters, which it makes fresh. ⁹ Wherever the river flows, every sort of living creature that can multiply shall live, and there shall be abundant fish, for wherever this water comes the sea shall be made fresh. ¹² Along both banks of the river, fruit trees of every kind shall grow; their leaves shall not fade, nor their fruit fail. Every month they shall bear fresh fruit, for they shall be watered by the flow from the sanctuary. Their fruit shall serve for food, and their leaves for medicine.”

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9

R: The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!

² God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in distress. ³ Therefore we fear not, though the earth be shaken and mountains plunge into the depths of the sea. (R) ⁵ There is a stream whose runlets gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High. ⁶ God is in its midst; it shall not be disturbed; God will help it at the break of dawn. (R) ⁸ The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob. 9 Come! Behold the deeds of the Lord, the astounding things he has wrought on earth. (R)

Second Reading | 1 Corinthians 3:9-11, 16-17

With God the Father as the architect and Jesus as the cornerstone, how could we fail to be temples of the Holy Spirit? Because of sin. The greatest enemy we will ever fight is sin and Satan, the master of sin. May the Lord help us exercise His victory over sin, so we will truly be temples of His Holy Spirit.

⁹ Brothers and sisters: You are God’s building. ¹⁰ According to the grace of God given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But each one must be careful how he builds upon it, ¹¹ for no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there, namely, Jesus Christ. ¹⁶ Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? ¹⁷ If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for the temple of God, which you are, is holy.

Gospel | John 2:13-22

This is one of the few insights into the righteous anger of God: Jesus drives out of the Temple all those who are profaning the sacred space by their actions. We can express anger in a good way. We should be furious at the work of sin in us and act accordingly when we discover its presence. Let us pray for the grace to live according to our true dignity as children of the Father, free of sin and on the path to the Kingdom of God.

Gospel Acclamation 

I have chosen and consecrated this house, says the Lord, that my name may be there forever. 

¹³ Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ¹⁴ He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money-changers seated there. ¹⁵ He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables, ¹⁶ and to those who sold doves he said, “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.” ¹⁷ His disciples recalled the words of Scripture, Zeal for your house will consume me. ¹⁸ At this the Jews answered and said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” ¹⁹ Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” ²⁰ The Jews said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?” ²¹ But he was speaking about the temple of his Body. ²² Therefore, when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they came to believe the Scripture and the word Jesus had spoken.

Reflect:

“A puritan is a person who pours righteous indignation into the wrong things.” (G.K. Chesterton)

Read the Bible in one year! Read PSALMS 26 - 30 today.

Temple

A beautiful practice of our Jewish brethren when they pray is to turn towards “mizrah” (literally “the East” but signifying the location of the temple in Jerusalem). The temple is a point of orientation for those seeking to connect with God, as well as a source of connectedness among the members of the Jewish community who are all drawn to the same direction. 

The temple, of course, was also the dream pilgrimage destination of faithful Jews, especially on feast days. There, they offered animal sacrifices to the Lord in atonement of their sins, believing that they were thus purified. In today’s First Reading, the prophet Ezekiel gives us the beautiful vision of the temple as the source of life-giving water, blessing, and fruitfulness.

When Jesus declares Himself to be the temple that can be raised up in three days, He is referring to all these ways that the temple was meaningful for His people. We ponder today, then:

Is Jesus the point of orientation of my life? Does everything I do point to Him? Do I try to serve as He served? Do I reach out and befriend the kinds of people He befriended? Do I try to live as He did with total dependence and devotion to the will of the Father?

Have I embraced the mercy of God offered through Jesus? More than any animal sacrifice, God’s self-gift on the cross is now the source of our sanctification. What does God’s own self-offering mean to me?

Finally, is my life marked by fruitfulness? God cares not about our successes or accomplishments, but delights in how our faith, hope, and love bear much fruit.  

Fr. Mark Lopez, SJ

Reflection question

Choose any of the points to ponder above and spend time reflecting on them today.

Lord Jesus, be my Temple. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ___________________________________