November 9, 2017 - St. John Lateran - Cleansing the Temple and the Church

Throughout the centuries, St John Lateran has survived fires, earthquakes, barbarian invasions, and world wars; she is the oldest church in Europe, and perhaps symbolic of the universal Church, who has survived schisms, heresies, corruption, and government persecution—the storms and chaos of nearly two thousand years.

But, the endurance of Holy Church based on the promise of Our Lord, that the gates of hell shall not prevail against her, should never be taken for granted. We must never grow lax striving to remain pure of worldly corruption and doctrinal error.

In the Gospel for this important feast, Our Lord cleanses the corruption from His Father’s Temple.  The temple was God’s house, the place where His people offered worship and where they were to be instructed in the ways of righteousness, and yet, it’s loveliness had been replaced by corruption. Our Lord cleansing the Temple, reminds us of His desire that the New Temple, His Bride, the Church, should always strive to be free from any error or moral transgression; each of us have a responsibility to strive for inner purity.

Blessed John Henry Newman, living just over a century ago, quipped, “I thank God that I live in a day when the enemy is outside the Church, and I know where he is, and what he is up to. But, I foresee a day when the enemy will be both outside and inside the Church…and, I pray for the poor faithful who will be caught in the crossfire.”

Sadly, I think Cardinal Newman’s prophecy has come to fulfillment. Error pervades many corners of the Church, clergy and religious and lay sew error among Christ’s flock; many are saddened, confused, and led astray. These are difficult times to be a faithful Catholic, faithful to all the Lord teaches. Our culture, the media, pressures Church leaders to change immemorial teachings.

But St. Paul, writing to a group of Christians, offers a frightening warning: “If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person” And Paul is writing here, to the Corinthian Church, which had become riddled with immorality and error and division.

So, we recommit all the more to zeal for our own purification, from sin, error, and selfishness, to faithfulness to the eternal truths of Christ, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
 
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For the purification of Holy Church, and for all Bishops and clergy, that they may always lead us in fidelity to the saving Gospel of Christ.

For those who have fallen into error, for Catholics who have grown lukewarm in their faith, for those who have left the Church, for their conversion and the conversion of all hearts.

During this National Vocations Week, for an increase in vocations to priesthood and consecrated life, and that our young people may take seriously the missionary call of Christ, that they will turn away from the godlessness of our culture to spread the good news of Christ’s eternal kingdom.

For the healing of all those afflicted with physical, mental, emotional illness, for those in hospitals, nursing homes, hospice care, those struggling with addictions, for those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today.

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased priests and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.