It is 9th November 2019. We celebrate the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica. This basilica is the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome as a sign of love and union with the See of St. Peter. It is the mother church of all the local church around the world. The church is the sign of God’s dwelling place here on earth. The entrance antiphon says it all: “Behold God’s dwelling with human race. God will dwell with them and they will be God’s people; and God himself with them will be their God.” The Readings are from Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12; the second reading is from 1 Corinthians 3:9-11, 16-17; and the Gospel from John 2:13-22. The first reading from the Prophet Ezekiel presents the church as the source of life and grace that bear fruits for the welfare of humanity. Those who are baptised by the living water enjoy God-given new life as a new born spiritually to experience health, happiness and all sorts of blessings. Jesus is the temple through which we can have the relationship and vision of the Father-God. We are so blessed in Jesus, the living water. The responsorial Psalm praises, “The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High.” (Ps.46:3). In the second reading, St. Paul reminds us that we all are God’s temple through the Spirit of God and strengthened by the faith in Jesus. The presence of Christ that connects us all spiritually is the visible temple, the Church. “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Cor.3:16). God is pleased to dwell in this house of prayer to make us perfect and point out where we are and where we supposed to be. God sanctifies the Church through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that drenches the Body of Christ as whole. “Be built up like living stones, into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood.” (1 Pet. 2:5). It is through the celebration of the Sacraments of salvation, the Church remains the source of life and symbol of unity. The Gospel invites us to keep the Church of God holy, and allowing the Holy Spirit to purify it constantly through prayer and penance of the believers. Without meaningful participation of the faithful in the Most Holy Eucharist, and fanning our faith through our warm-filled charitable actions, we cannot be incorporated into the Body of Christ, the Church. “Jesus told those who were selling the doves, “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!” (Jn.2:16). Are our Churches look like a social gathering venue and business centres or worship places where we encounter God in relating with one another respectfully? Some of us have converted our church as a place of trade, business, commerce and social gathering? The pilgrim church needs a thorough purification by the Lord. Unless our churches become a genuine place of prayer, we contradict the vision and zeal of Christ. Let our churches rekindle the fire of the Holy Spirit and the enthusiasm of Jesus as the community of love, and prayer. May you have a good day. May God bless you.