Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome, Monday, November 9, 2026

Gospel

John 2:13-22

Since the Passover of the Jews was near,

Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves,

as well as the money-changers seated there.

He made a whip out of cords

and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen,

and spilled the coins of the money-changers

and overturned their tables,

and to those who sold doves he said,

"Take these out of here,

and stop making my Father's house a marketplace."

His disciples recalled the words of Scripture,

Zeal for your house will consume me.

At this the Jews answered and said to him,

"What sign can you show us for doing this?"

Jesus answered and said to them,

"Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up."

The Jews said,

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

and you will raise it up in three days?"

But he was speaking about the temple of his Body.

Therefore, when he was raised from the dead,

his disciples remembered that he had said this,

and they came to believe the Scripture

and the word Jesus had spoken.

Reflection

In today’s Gospel, we see a side of Jesus that we do not always often think about, His anger. When Jesus enters the temple and sees people turning His Father’s house into a marketplace, He becomes angry and drives them out. However, His ire is not a loss of self-control or a desire to hurt someone who has offended him. It is righteous anger, a forceful response to the misuse of what is holy.

In a way, I find this passage reassuring because it reminds us that Jesus experienced human emotions just as we do. Anger in itself is not sinful, what matters is where that anger comes from and what we do with it or how we choose to respond to it. There are certainly times when we should feel upset, especially when we witness injustice, wrongdoing, or something that goes against our faith and values. However, we must be careful not to let anger turn into hatred, resentment, or vengeance seeking to hurt others. Jesus shows us that anger can come from a place of love and a desire to protect what is good. This Gospel challenges us to reflect on what causes our anger and whether our reactions bring us closer to God or further away from Him.