In this Sunday’s Gospel (John 2:13-22), Jesus offers a bold and puzzling statement: “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” Those who heard Him were confused. They thought only of the massive stone structure in Jerusalem—a building that took decades to construct. But Jesus was speaking of something far greater: the temple of His Body.
Jesus is revealing a profound truth: God’s dwelling place is no longer confined to a building of stone. In Jesus, God dwells personally, fully, and visibly. Through His passion, death, and resurrection those, “three days”, Jesus becomes the new and everlasting temple where humanity encounters God’s mercy.
This means that our faith is not centered on walls, marble, or brick. Our buildings are sacred because they point us toward Jesus, but they are not God Himself. The true temple is Jesus. In Him, heaven and earth are joined. In Him, sacrifice and salvation meet. And through Baptism, we become members of His Body, temples of the Holy Spirit.
When the disciples witnessed the Resurrection, everything suddenly made sense. The Scriptures came alive. Their belief was strengthened. So too, when we reflect on the risen Christ, our faith deepens. We come to see that God is not distant or abstract—He dwells among us, walks with us, and desires to live within our hearts.
This Gospel invites us to ask:
Do I welcome Jesus into the “temple” of my heart?
Are there areas within me that need cleansing, healing, or renewal?
Do I trust in the power of the Resurrection to transform my life?
Jesus overturns the tables of anything that keeps us from God doubt, hopelessness, and discouragement and rebuilds what is broken. The renovation He desires is interior: deeper faith, purer love, renewed hope.
As we continue to gather as a parish community, may we never forget that our worship is not simply about a building, but about encountering the living Christ who rises within us. Let us allow Him to cleanse our hearts, strengthen our faith, and rebuild our lives each day. Be assured of my prayers for you and your families.