Biblical reflections

Sunday Gospel and life

“Banjul was one family…”

When I saw it written by both Fr. William Cleary (“Reaping a Rich Harvest”) and Rev. Martha Frederiks (“We Toiled all Night”) that both Muslims and Christians worked on the construction of the Catholic Cathedral in Banjul,

I was a bit surprised. One elder, native of Banjul, confirmed this by word of mouth because she was one of those who went to get sand from the beach. Christians and Muslims building the house of God!

Many visitors or tourists in Rome walk along the narrow streets of the older part of the Eternal City. Surely the churches are some of the attractive sites they visit – places of history.

Among the four churches in ancient Rome is the church of St. John Lateran – the church of the Bishop of Rome.
Today we celebrate the feast of the dedication of this great church that has been built many years ago but stands the weather and visits of many tourists. It is maintained so as to preserve its original structure and look.

Our reflection today is centered on the house of God and we shall use readings from the Holy Bible: Ezekiel 47: 1-2, 8-9,12. This passage from the Old Testament tells us about fresh water flowing from the temple, giving life to trees that bear good fruit, and transforming salt water into fresh water.

Our gospel reading from John 2: 13-22 tells us how Jesus (“filled with zeal for my house…”) drove out those who misused the temple. When the people doubted who he was and asked for a sign to justify his seemingly crude actions he said, “destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” How can one man rebuild a temple in three days which many people have taken forty-six years to build? Jesus referred to himself.
In the second reading St. Paul tells us that God dwells in each and every human being (I Corinthians 3: 9-11, 16-17) –

“Your body is the temple of God.” Temples and holy places are treated with special respect because it is there that God meets with people. It is a place of worship and a holy place. If we have become the holy place of God, then we should be holy people.

The former Bishop of Banjul, Rt. Rev. Michael J Cleary, was known for building many churches during his term of office. At the opening of these churches Cleary often told the people that the church building is founded on rock (i.e. Jesus) and made of bricks (each person) and bound together with mortar (love).

“This is your church, (community) look after it.” Yes, every building must be maintained or else it will sooner than later fall.

Maintenance of the Christian Community is done when we have love for one another, when we respect the dignity of our human person because we are created in the image of God. Prayer and regular worship (the mass) add up to that which maintains a good Christian Community.

Each individual has a noble duty to keep the Christian Community together. We can do this by striving daily to be holy, to love people, to seek for peace, to radiate the joy of being a Christian, etc. Hence, each can ask oneself what kind of a brick one is in the edifice of God.

We come back to the old Banjul family. It comprised Christians and Muslims, Wollofs, Akus, Mulattoes, Manjagoes, Jolas, Mandinkas, etc. People who are rich and poor… All of these were one family such that they can build a place of worship of God.

 The Banjul of old can be revived when people of today are aware of what old Banjul life was like. Indeed everyone can participate in creating and ensuring a peaceful community, a society where justice prevails, a place where love abounds, a people that worship the only God. Am I helping to build and maintain that one family of ‘Old Banjul?’

The Bible Challenge Test your knowledge of the Bible

Topic: Easter

1.  As Jesus rode into Jerusalem, what did He say would cry out if His disciples didn't?
  * the stones
  * the angels
  * the earth
 *  the animals

2.  What was the man carrying whom Peter and John followed to prepare the upper room for Passover?
 *  a bushel of wheat
  * a young lamb
  * a pitcher of water
 *  a loaf of bread

3. What was the sign that Jesus gave Peter in stating that he would deny Him?
  * the sun would rise
  * a rooster would crow twice
  * someone would build a fire
  darkness would cover the land

4.  Which of these things did NOT happen at the Lord's Supper?
  * The disciples sang a hymn
  * Jesus washed the disciples'   feet
  * Judas left to betray Jesus
  * Jesus wept bitterly

5.  Which of these people did NOT question Jesus after He was arrested?
 * Caiaphas
  * Pontius Pilate
  * Herod
  * Caesar

6.  In the garden, who cut off the ear of the high priest's servant?
  * John
  * Judas
   * Peter
  *  Bible doesn't say

7.  Which of these things did NOT happen when Jesus died?
  the veil of the temple was torn in two
  * an earthquake
  * many saints were raised    from the dead
 *  the moon turned red

8. What happened when a soldier pierced Jesus' crucified body?
  * blood flowed out
  * water flowed out
 *  blood and water flowed out
   nothing flowed out

9.  What were the soldiers told to say regarding the missing body of Jesus?
 *  His body fell into a crevice   created by the earthquake
  * His mother moved the body   to a different tomb
 *  His disciples stole the body   at night
 * He wasn't really dead - just   unconscious

10. On what day of the week was Jesus first seen after His resurrection?
  * Friday
 *  Saturday
 *  Sunday
• Monday

Answers to Bible Challenges

1.  the stones

2.  a pitcher of water

3.  a rooster would crow twice

4.  Jesus wept bitterly

5.  Caesar

6.  Peter

7.  the moon turned red

8.  blood and water flowed out

9.  His disciples stole the body at night

10.  Sunday