The full text of the homily follows the video:
Readings: Ez 47:1-2,8-9,12; Ps 46; 1 Cor 3:9-11,16-17; Jn 2:13-22
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“Zeal for your house has consumed me” [Ps 69:10].John tells us the disciples recalled these words from Scripture as Jesus cleansed the Temple area. But that verse from Psalm 69 concludes with a few more words:
“I am scorned by those who scorn you.”And, oh yes, how Jesus was scorned: scorned by those who should have known better: scorned by those who heard His Word, witnessed His works, and yet rejected His gift of Faith. That rejection continues, both within and outside the Church, the Church He founded 2,000 years ago.
Today, on this great feast, we remember that even though no building could ever be large enough to contain our God in His divine greatness, still He makes Himself present to us in the most human way, under the appearances of bread and wine. In its earliest days the Church celebrated Christ’s Presence in the smallest of churches, the homes of the faithful, where communities gathered for prayer and the breaking of the Eucharistic Bread. As the Church grew, so too did the number and size of the places where it gathered to meet with God.
Today we celebrate the dedication of the greatest basilica of them all, St. John Lateran, the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome where Pope Francis, the Bishop of Rome, formally presides. Because it dates back to the 4th century, the Lateran Basilica is really the mother of all churches. Known more by is partial dedication to St. John, its full proper name is the Patriarchal Basilica of the Most Holy Savior and Saint John the Baptist at the Lateran.
Thanks to the gift of the Eucharist, God is equally present in every church, large and small. As St. Paul reminds us, this gathered community is God’s Holy Temple. It is here that we encounter the pouring out of God’s grace, flowing from the sacraments, and presenting us with God’s mercy, healing, and hope. And, oh, does our world need God’s mercy and hope. Perhaps Pope St. John Paul said it best:
“Apart from the mercy of God, there is no other source of hope for the healing of humanity.”How wonderful that our last three popes – St. John Paul, Benedict, and Francis – preached and wrote so much about healing…certainly about physical healing, but most frequently about the deeper, inner healing of the spirit. As each has reminded us, when we come to Christ as wounded people in need of healing, all is changed.
Not long ago, Pope Francis said that, when it comes to healing, “You have to start from the ground up.” In other words, we must first accept the need for healing in our own souls, our families, our workplaces, and, yes, in our Church. Then, when we turn to Jesus and follow Him, who knows what miracles might be wrought?
When recovering from substance abuse, most seem to have learned that recovery can’t happen until one accepts that one’s own efforts have been fruitless. But this doesn’t apply only to addictions; no, it applies to all that separates us from God. As the pope said recently:
“It’s useless to think of being able to correct oneself without the gift of the Holy Spirit. It’s futile to think of purifying our heart in a titanic effort of only our will. This is not possible.”You and I must turn away from ourselves and seek a new way to bring about the healing we need, not the healing we think we want. Until we’re ready to engage God openly and honestly as the imperfect creatures we are, we’ll never know just how close God is to us.\
God isn’t out “there” somewhere. He’s not remote, separated from us at some immeasurable distance. His love for us is so great that He humbles Himself and comes to meet us where we are. Yes, He humbles Himself, just as Jesus humbled Himself, became one of us, came to us as we are in our sinfulness. Just as He allowed that…the Cross [Phil 2:6-11].
Brothers and sisters, we have an awesome God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – a God who presents us with a beautiful paradox: He is a God of unimaginable greatness and indescribable humility. What’s keeping us from opening our eyes to this truth, and our hearts to His merciful Presence? Are there areas of your life, of my life, where we’d rather not be healed? Are these the very things that separate us from God?
And so, we pray: God of Healing, God of Hope, help us to open our hearts to you and face you unafraid.
Returning again to St. Paul: If we accept that we are God’s Temple and part of its construction, the Holy Spirit dwell within us. How many, here at Mass every weekend, remain on the outside spiritually, looking in, pausing hesitantly at the Church’s threshold? We’re all members of this Temple, body and soul. Don’t settle for just observing from the threshold. To achieve healing, enter with hopeful hearts and approach the God who waits to welcome us.
Are we close to God in prayer? Or do we stand at the doorway, unsure of God’s love and forgiveness?
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” [Mt 7:7].Jesus promised this.
We pray: God of Healing, God of Hope, guide our steps across the threshold, from fear to trust, from sorrow to joy.
Do we stand at the threshold satisfied with the externals, the wrapping of the gifts before us. Like Ezekiel, we see the healing waters at the entrance of the Temple. But are we afraid to step in, to go deeper into the amazing gift of God’s grace?
In the Gospel Jesus draws near and says, “Do you want to be healed?” And to those who reply, “Yes,” He gives grace and sends them on their way. Here we see the power and depth of Jesus’ healing.
When Jesus healed, He always healed more than the body; He forgave sins, healing the soul. When He healed the blind, He restored more than the sense of sight. He also awakened the gift of faith. And God does the same for us. Jesus offers something far greater than physical healing, for He heals both body and soul, offering us a serenity of spirit and a desire to share this gift with others. Jesus prays, and Jesus heals. He prays and heals here in His Church, as we gather in His Name.
Consider a time when your own prayer was answered, but not as you expected. That’s the gift of God’s healing at work, always surprising, blessings in marvelous disguise. It’s this grace that gives us the power to take the next step – of appreciating and offering thanksgiving for all God gives us. To open God’s gifts means accepting the responsibility to use them well. Am you and I ready to open the gifts that God offers us?
God of Healing, God of Hope, I am as blind as the blind beggar. Help me to see your presence, to want your gift of grace!
In our humanity we demand that God see things our way, that He fix everything just as we want. But God always leads us in a different direction. He begins by forgiving our sins and healing that which so often keep us from God, He removes our fear and shame through His mercy and forgiveness.
If we approach Him with a genuine desire to be forgiven, if we accept God’s desire to embrace us, we then begin to heal from the inside out. Jesus begins our inner healing through the sacrament of reconciliation, and through that forgiveness, He creates us anew, so we can share the good news of healing with others.
God of Healing, God of Hope, give me the courage to face my weaknesses, to accept my failings, and to welcome your healing. Fill me with the wonder of trusting you.
Brothers and sisters, by sacrificing His life for us all, Jesus opened the doors to the heavenly paradise. And through His Resurrection, He destroyed death forever and gave us hope! He wants us to seek His healing grace.
So, let the re-creation begin here today!
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