The church of Our Lady of Mercy, where I’m preaching a mission,  is a beautiful church, rather recently renovated. I thought it provided a wonder visual presentation for the first reading for today from Ezechiel, chapter 47. The prophet is promising a new temple and from its right side water flows out to all the world, giving life to the earth and all nations.

Jesus, of course, said he was the new temple.

The figure of Jesus hanging on the cross above the altar is pierced on his right side. John’s gospel says “blood and water flowed out” when the soldier pierced his side with a lance.

The altar receives his blood and the beautiful baptistery visually connected to the altar and the cross receives the water that flows from his side bringing life to the world.

I had to take of picture of that baptistery. It’s so good when the church’s symbols support the scriptures being read and the mysteries being celebrated.

The pope in his new book Jesus of Nazareth, part 2 has a nice treatment of Jesus as the new Temple.