Fresh Dew Media

 DEDICATION OF THE LATERAN BASILICA: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: ZEAL FOR YOUR HOUSE WILL CONSUME ME

(John 2:13-22)

Today is the feast of the dedication of the Lateran Basilica built by Emperor Constantine in the year 320.   It was dedicated to the trio: The Saviour, St John the Baptist, and to St John the Evangelist.

The Gospel of today talks about the temple of Jerusalem, the earthly house of God. Jesus entered there and was embarrassed by the abuses of the house of God going on. He condemned it violently and corrected the evil impression.

All these were because zeal for his father's house consumed Him. Do you have any zeal for the house of God?  Are you moved by the glory of God? What are the things that attract you in the Church? Do you care about the integrity of the house of God?

 

WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR ZEAL FOR THE THINGS OF GOD?

We live in a world where some people feel they've seen and known it all in the Church.  We live in a society that has forgotten that God is the one we seek in the Church. Many now allow the human elements, politics and errors in the Church to distract them from God. Some have turned to become the enemies of God.  Some have become persecutors of Christians like Saul. A good number of them were baptised and as such initiated into the body of Christ but they now become agents of tearing the Church apart.

What happened to your real zeal. Do you think it is wisdom? Why are you going back to a life you left to embrace Christ? Why are you allowing the changes and chances of life to make you put out the fire you received from Christ? Let your light burn? Ignite the fire of righteousness once again.  Be the change you want in the Church and from Christians. You are part of Christianity. 

Let's all learn from Christ.  Correct from within, with love, with passion, with the authority of the child of God. Direct important faith enriching questions to the right people that should answer it and be patient and humble for clarifications.  Influence people positively based on your capacity and the grace God has given you. Remain in obedience to God. Let your zeal not lead you out but lead you into the Church to help continue the edification of the body of Christ.

Today, we thank God for the many who are still being inspired and led into the Church by the light of conviction as we continue to pray for those who abuse their zeal and use it to destroy the foundation established by God himself.

 

REVERE THE CHURCH

We are invited to give the Church the reverence it deserves because of God. Only a holy zeal can steer us to do this. With this zeal, let us not turn the house of God to a den of robbers. Let the pastors and ministers stop making the Church an exploitation centre. Let the holy Eucharist not be abused. Let the Church be noise free.  Let the people learn to genuflect, kneel, sit, and stand when it is called for.

Let us the youths of this generation stop making unnecessary jokes and derogations about things of God. Let places of worship and those that represent the Church at all levels be accorded the respect due to them. Let us rekindle our love for the Church for God's sake. Let the zeal that consumed Jesus consume each and everyone of us.

Let us allow this zeal to flow on and consume us to respect our bodies and the bodies of others as the temple of the Holy Spirit that will be raised after death.

Let's celebrate the Church that builds us into the body of Christ and celebrate ourselves too as dwelling places of God. And may the word we hear in God's house take flesh in us.

May God bless His word in our hearts.

 

LET US PRAY

Oh God, we thank you for dwelling among us. We thank you for dwelling within us, too. Give us the zeal to rejoice when we hear the call to come to your house. Give us the zeal also to revere your temple, which is our body. May we revere the Church as our mother, may we live filled with the Holy Spirit that abides with the Church as an institution and our bodies as a temple through Christ our Lord. Amen

 

Happy Sunday

Happy feast day.

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh