Nature Leads Us to Life Nature takes us directly to Life, her world and the inner world of love being in deep communion. She brought me there after the fire of loss when all I wanted was to die. In those days, I didn't believe I could survive. She showed me how the sea holds light and shadow, and how sunlight rides on the rising waves, everything gleaming. I saw the ocean glisten in full sunlight, balancing sparkling vessels of light—small shimmering stars—on the ocean swells. The ripples of light reached past my weariness and confusion until I could see what I needed to learn. Everywhere, light is pouring through the deepest places. —from the book Stars at Night: When Darkness Unfolds as Night |  click to read more | | Dedication of St. John Lateran Saint of the Day for November 9 Most Catholics think of St. Peter's as the pope's main church, but they are wrong. St. John Lateran is the pope's church, the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome where the Bishop of Rome presides. The first basilica on the site was built in the fourth century when Constantine donated land he had received from the wealthy Lateran family. That structure and its successors suffered fire, earthquake, and the ravages of war, but the Lateran remained the church where popes were consecrated. In the 14th century when the papacy returned to Rome from Avignon, the church and the adjoining palace were found to be in ruins. Pope Innocent X commissioned the present structure in 1646. One of Rome's most imposing churches, the Lateran's towering facade is crowned with 15 colossal statues of Christ, John the Baptist, John the Evangelist, and 12 doctors of the Church. Beneath its high altar rest the remains of the small wooden table on which tradition holds Saint Peter himself celebrated Mass. Reflection
Unlike the commemorations of other Roman churches, this anniversary is a feast. The dedication of a church is a feast for all its parishioners. In a sense, St. John Lateran is the parish church of all Catholics, because it is the pope's cathedral. This church is the spiritual home of the people who are the Church. | Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome
Lectionary: 671 Reading 1 EZ 47:1-2, 8-9, 12 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 façade of the temple was toward the east;
the water flowed down from the southern side of the temple,
south of the altar.
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.
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.
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.
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 PS 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9
R. (5) The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!
God is our refuge and our strength,
an ever-present help in distress.
Therefore, we fear not, though the earth be shaken
and mountains plunge into the depths of the sea.
R. The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!
There is a stream whose runlets gladden the city of God,
the holy dwelling of the Most High.
God is in its midst; it shall not be disturbed;
God will help it at the break of dawn.
R. The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!
The LORD of hosts is with us;
our stronghold is the God of Jacob.
Come! behold the deeds of the LORD,
the astounding things he has wrought on earth.
R. The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High! Reading 2 1 COR 3:9C-11, 16-17 Brothers and sisters:
You are God's building.
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,
for no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there,
namely, Jesus Christ. Do you not know that you are the temple of God,
and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
If anyone destroys God's temple,
God will destroy that person;
for the temple of God, which you are, is holy. Alleluia 2 CHR 7:16
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I have chosen and consecrated this house, says the Lord,
that my name may be there forever.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel JN 2:13-22 Since the Passover of the Jews was near,
Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves,
as well as the money-changers seated there.
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,
and to those who sold doves he said,
"Take these out of here,
and stop making my Father's house a marketplace."
His disciples recalled the words of Scripture,
Zeal for your house will consume me.
At this the Jews answered and said to him,
"What sign can you show us for doing this?"
Jesus answered and said to them,
"Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up."
The Jews said,
"This temple has been under construction for forty-six years,
and you will raise it up in three days?"
But he was speaking about the temple of his Body.
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. | Meditation: 1 Corinthians 3:9-11, 16-17 The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica (Feast) You are God's building. (1 Corinthians 3:9) We don't typically think of ourselves as a building. But use your imagination. If you could choose to be any kind of building, what would you be? Maybe you'd want to be a simple quaint cottage in the woods. Or perhaps you see yourself as a sleek high-rise condominium in the heart of a vibrant city. Whatever kind of structure you might prefer to be, consider what gives any building its real value. It's not the exterior, however beautiful or grand, that makes a house a home. It's the people who occupy it. It's the people, the "living stones" who dwell there, that make a building a place of warmth, light, and peace. Today we celebrate the dedication of the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome, the official seat of the Holy Father. The basilica's stunning architecture, inlaid marble, colorful mosaics, and finely carved statues attract visitors from around the world. But it's not the building's beauty and majesty we celebrate today. It's the "living stones" that have filled it over the centuries. It's the faithful members of the Church whose hearts and minds are filled with Jesus and his Spirit. Whatever kind of building you imagine yourself to be, it's unlikely you would describe yourself as that beautiful basilica. Few of us would be so bold as to compare ourselves to such a magnificent building! But Paul reminds us that it's not our exterior that matters. It's what is inside of us. Through our baptism, God lives in us. We radiate the presence of his only beloved Son. Our heavenly Father sees many different facets of his beauty and his glory in us. And that makes you just as beautiful as the most grandly constructed cathedral. Today, no matter what kind of building you think you are, let God show you who you really are. You are the space where he comes and abides. The glory of the Lord shines through every window of your heart. Because you are his building, he depends on you. You are that warm and inviting place where other people can encounter Jesus. "Jesus, I want to be your building. Help me to reach those who most need you." Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12
Psalm 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9
John 2:13-22 | 2 cents :
"...they shall be watered by the flow from the sanctuary.
Their fruit shall serve for food" and we are called to the sanctuary to be with our Father, receiving the living waters of salvation that are initiated at Baptism. And there, the serving of food occurs. And we are called to the same, to serve as we have been served. Love. | Let us pray: "The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High! God is our refuge and our strength,
an ever-present help in distress. Therefore, we fear not, though the earth be shaken and mountains plunge into the depths of the sea." Why waters from rivers? They say moving waters are living waters. The Holy Spirit is moving waters. We must be open to Him. | We heard "Do you not know that you are the temple of God,
and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" You are a temple that is holy. Why blemish the temple He creates? You and I are the church, the temple. Here God desires to reside. A Carmelite monk told us on retreat this year that they keep their little church very clean, because this is God's temple. It should mean to us much. Our body holds the Spirit that we call upon, the Holy Spirit of God. Why should "other" things, other spirits dwell there? I see many spirits out there, depressing ones, aggravating ones, sickly ones, distraction ones, pleasure ones, and the list goes on and on. Why should these spirits dwell here too? They should not. We must cast them out, keep a clean temple. Why? For when you invite the Lord, that is why. When will you invite Him? I bet, by the mere fact for reading this, you are inviting Him.
I am on the 2nd of 3 days retreat in prison this day, continue to pray for us. These men have invited us to their prison. Now...will they allow us to come in...to the heart? With our prayers? The Holy Spirit will come. I would say, a day without living with the Holy Spirit is a wasted day. The Holy Spirit leads the way. He guides us, He lives in us, He presents Himself when invited. Always. I ask the Holy Spirit to help me write to you every (week) day. And He does. What happens here is proof. God speaks through an instrument. Sometimes I pray "Lord, let not what I write be all, change it all to let the message you want come across". And I get confirmation every once in a while, someone responds saying exactly what was not mentioned but meant in writing. God speaks not with human words nor to human hearing. He speaks beyond. Because He is not of this world and neither are we who belong to Him.
The temple flows water from the side of Christ.
We are called to be served food. Eucharist.
From here...life begins | |
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