Today’s readings emphasize temples. The Old Testament prophet Ezekiel, who repeatedly calls the people sinners, emphasizes that the “Lord God’s” “temple” is a holy space. In the Gospel, Jesus disrupts the activities of the “temple” and, given its rulers’ activities in it, challenges belief about holy space.
Religion asserts a belief in humanity’s imperfections or sinfulness. A consequence is that God, and thus holiness, are separate and even far away. But, religionists assert, if a person acknowledges their sinfulness and surrenders to that far away God’s dominion, they are then saved. The saved persons, unlike others unsaved, belong to the Lord God’s Chosen holy people. Some people who believe in God, or in a Higher Power, believe God, as well as having an external existence also has an internal existence. Holiness is intimate as well as transcendent, beyond us. We know God not as separated sinners but rather as Presence in inner holy space and outer holy space. Thus, we can indeed know God by looking into the heavens. The belief is, in part, related to the French phrase, “Sacré Bleu.” It translates literally as Sacred Blue. Sacred Blue, the beauty and awesomeness of the heavens, is conveyed throughout Carl Sagan’s work, whose birthday is celebrated today (1934-1996). In his book, Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space, Sagan, takes us on an adventure through holy space. Sagan, however, is, most assuredly, not a believer in God, certainly not as conveyed through religion. He recognizes that “The suppression of uncomfortable ideas may be common in religion… but it is not the path to knowledge.” For Sagan, “it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.” For Sagan, the Universe and all its holy space is beautiful. “We can forget sometimes how gorgeous the night sky can be. It is not only an esthetic experience, it elicits unbidden feelings of reverence and awe.” Sagan encouraged we make of our lives and our planet earth a holy space, “Let us make a planet in which nobody is starving,… in which men and women have equal access to power,… in which no ethnic group has it over another ethnic group. Let’s have a planet in which science and engineering are used for the benefit of everyone on the planet.” Viewing our planet from holy space “underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot. The only home we’ve ever known.” An evolution from religion to spirituality inspires us with the knowledge that all space is holy, within us and beyond us. As Sagan asserted, “Science is not only compatible with spirituality; it is a profound source of spirituality.”
“My parents were not scientists. They knew almost nothing about science. But in introducing me simultaneously to skepticism and to wonder, they taught me the two uneasily cohabiting modes of thought that are central to the scientific method.” (Carl Sagan)
Prayer: Beautiful Spirit, we live together in an interwoven reality of Holy Space.
Question: How can we live more kindly together on this pale blue dot we call home?
November 9, 2025 Gospel John 2:13-22 Feast of Lateran Basilica