Ez. 47:1-2, 8-9, 12; Ps. 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9; 1 Cor. 3:9c-11, 16-17; Jn.2:13-22
“You are the temple of God” when you receive him not only in spirit and truth but as body, blood, soul, and divinity in the Eucharist. Jesus is the temple who rose from the dead in three days validated by the empty tomb, by the witnesses who he appeared to after his death, by the breaking of the bread as he shared a meal with his disciples, and by his ascension into heaven. The story does not end with his resurrection but continues with the coming of the Holy Spirit to transform us into the temple of God. A temple not made of stone but of flesh and blood. Then why are we celebrating a church made of stone today?
The Feast of the dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome represents the “mother church” of all Catholic Churches going back to 324 A.D. with its historical significance as the home of the popes for many years. Today it is the official cathedral of the Pope as the Bishop of Rome. It is the physical presence of a temple that Jesus defends in the gospel today with his “Zeal” for the house of God. Today Jesus remains in the tabernacle in the Eucharist and we not only guard his presence but we come to worship and honor him with our prayers, devotion, liturgy and music. This is a holy place and our actions should reflect our awareness of God with us in his temple.
Jesus also desires to remain with us and the water that flows from the temple is holy that we may be made holy by the waters of baptism. From the sanctuary comes the rivers of living water that bear fruit and the medicine for healing of our body and soul. Grace flows from God through his temple. Anyone who claims they don’t need to come to church to receive God is denying God his command. Jesus instituted his church as the channel of his graces by us receiving the sacraments he instituted as he gave his disciples authority to do. Without the institution of the church, we make of ourselves a church of one with no past, no followers, and no future. This was not the vision of Jesus for his people.
The celebration of the Lateran Basilica in Rome is a reminder of the link from the Israelites as the people of God to the Christians who Jesus opened the gates of heaven to receive. It symbolizes the authority of the church from St. Peter to Pope Leo XIV. There is no other church that can claim this connection given by Christ to his church. All other churches have risen since by opposition to the Catholic church without apostolic authority.
Jesus prayer to God was that we may all be “one”, one faith, one body and it can only come through one institution. That one institution is the Catholic Church. This is God’s plan of salvation that we may all be one body in Christ but human pride has entered the church and brought division such that instead of unity there is a plethora of independent churches each with its own version of salvation. Can they all be right? Common sense and the word of God does not support the practice of to each his own church.
In God’s mercy he is patient and waiting for the hearts of many to turn back that we may all be one, united in faith, hope and love. Nothing demonstrates with work of the devil than to see Christians of many denominations express a hatred to other denominations. This is not the work of God but of the evil one. While we stand firm in our Catholic faith we also call upon other denominations as our separated brothers and sisters in Christ. Pride leads many to be the prodigal sons and daughters of the church but the love of a father is faithful ready to accept his children back. The Lateran Basilica in Rome stands as a reminder of the roots of our faith, the call to come home to the one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
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