The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica

Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12 (JB)

A reading from the prophet Ezekiel

I see water flowing from the temple and all who were touched by it were saved.

The angel brought me to the entrance of the Temple, where a stream came out from under the Temple threshold and flowed eastwards, since the Temple faced east. The water flowed from under the right side of the Temple, south of the altar. He took me out by the north gate and led me right round outside as far as the outer east gate where the water flowed out on the right-hand side. He said, ‘This water flows east down to the Arabah and to the sea; and flowing into the sea it makes its waters wholesome. Wherever the river flows, all living creatures teeming in it will live. Fish will be very plentiful, for wherever the water goes it brings health, and life teems wherever the river flows. Along the river, on either bank, will grow every kind of fruit tree with leaves that never wither and fruit that never fails; they will bear new fruit every month, because this water comes from the sanctuary. And their fruit will be good to eat and the leaves medicinal.’

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Ezekiel 47,1-2, 8-9, 12 (NRSV)

A reading from the book of the prophet Ezekiel

The angel of the Lord brought me back

to the entrance of the temple;

there, water was flowing

from below the threshold of the temple toward the east,

for the temple faced east;

and the water was flowing down

from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar.

Then the angel brought me out by way of the north gate,

and led me around on the outside to the outer gate

that faces toward the east;

and the water was coming out on the south side.

He said to me,

“This water flows toward the eastern region

and goes down into the Arabah;

and when it enters the sea, the sea of stagnant waters,

the water will become fresh.

Wherever the river goes,

every living creature that swarms will live,

and there will be very many fish,

once these waters reach there.

It will become fresh;

and everything will live where the river goes.

“On the banks, on both sides of the river,

there will grow all kinds of trees for food.

Their leaves will not wither nor their fruit fail,

but they will bear fresh fruit every month,

because the water for them flows from the sanctuary.

Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.”

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Ps 45:2-3, 5-6, 8-9 (JB)

R. The waters of the river gladden the city of God.

God is for us a refuge and strength,

a helper close at hand, in time of distress:

so we shall not fear though the earth should rock,

though the mountains fall into the depths of the sea. R.

The waters of a river give joy to God’s city,

the holy place where the Most High dwells.

God is within, it cannot be shaken;

God will help it at the dawning of the day. R.

The Lord of hosts is with us:

the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

Come, consider the works of the Lord,

the redoubtable deeds he has done on the earth. R.

Psalm 46.1-2, 4-5, 7-8 (R.4) (NRSV)

R. The waters of the river gladden the city of God.

    or: 

R. The waters of the river gladden the city of God,

    home of the Holy One Most High.

God is our refuge and strength,

a very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,

though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea. R. 

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

the holy habitation of the Most High.

God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved;

God will help it when the morning dawns. R. 

The Lord of hosts is with us;

the God of Jacob is our refuge.

Come, behold the works of the Lord;

see what awesome things he has brought on the earth. R. 

1 Corinthians 3:9-11, 16-17 (JB)

A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Corinthians

You are the temple of God

You are God’s building. By the grace God gave me, I succeeded as an architect and laid the foundations, on which someone else is doing the building. Everyone doing the building must work carefully. For the foundation, nobody can lay any other than the one which has already been laid, that is Jesus Christ.

Didn’t you realise that you were God’s temple and that the Spirit of God was living among you? If anybody should destroy the temple of God, God will destroy him, because the temple of God is sacred; and you are that temple.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

1 Corinthians 3,9-11, 16-17 (NRSV)

A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians

Brothers and sisters, you are God’s building.

According to the grace of God given to me,

like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation,

and someone else is building on it.

Each builder must choose with care how to build on it.

For no one can lay any foundation

other than the one that has been laid;

that foundation is Jesus Christ.

Do you not know that you are God’s temple

and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?

If anyone destroys God’s temple,

God will destroy that person.

For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

2 Chronicles 7:16 (JB)

Alleluia, alleluia!

I have chosen and sanctified this house, says the Lord,

that my name may remain in it for all time.

Alleluia!

2 Chronicles 7:16 (NRSV)

Alleluia, alleluia!

I have chosen and sanctified this house, says the Lord,

that my name may remain in it for all time.

Alleluia!

John 2:13-22 (JB)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

He spoke about the temple of his own body.

Just before the Jewish Passover Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and in the Temple he found people selling cattle and sheep and pigeons, and the money changers sitting at their counters there. Making a whip out of some cord, he drove them all out of the Temple, cattle and sheep as well, scattered the money changers’ coins, knocked their tables over and said to the pigeon-sellers, ‘Take all this out of here and stop turning my Father’s house into a market’. Then his disciples remembered the words of scripture: Zeal for your house will devour me. The Jews intervened and said, ‘What sign can you show us to justify what you have done?’ Jesus answered, ‘Destroy this sanctuary, and in three days I will raise it up’. The Jews replied, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this sanctuary: are you going to raise it up in three days?’ But he was speaking of the sanctuary that was his body, and when Jesus rose from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the scripture and the words he had said.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

John 2,13-22 (NRSV)

A reading from the holy gospel according to John

The Passover of the Jews was near,

and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves,

and the money changers seated at their tables.

Making a whip of cords,

he drove all of them out of the temple,

both the sheep and the cattle.

He also poured out the coins of the money changers

and overturned their tables.

He told those who were selling the doves,

“Take these things out of here!

Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!”

His disciples remembered that it was written,

“Zeal for your house will consume me”.

The people then said to him,

“What sign can you show us for doing this?”

Jesus answered them,

“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

They then said,

“This temple has been under construction for forty-six years,

and will you raise it up in three days?”

But Jesus was speaking of the temple of his body.

After he was raised from the dead,

his disciples remembered that he had said this;

and they believed the scripture

and the word that Jesus had spoken.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.