The Dedication of the Latern Basilica 9th November

Posted on by Dave

EZEKIEL 47: 1-2, 8-9,12
PSALM 45: 2-3, 5-6, 8-9
1 CORINTHIANS 3: 9-11, 16-17
JOHN 2: 13-22

Why is this feast so important? The Lateran Basilica is the Cathedral Church of the diocese of Rome and was dedicated to Christ our Saviour in the 4th century. Because it is the Cathedral Church of Rome, it is called the mother and head of all churches of the city and of the world. For a thousand years, it was the seat of Church government until the Pope moved to the Vatican in the fourteenth century.

The Lateran Basilica is the symbol of our unity with Jesus through the Church with his chosen pastor the Pope.

The history of the Basilica in a way reflects the journey of faith of the Church. During that time the Basilica had suffered from earthquakes and been attacked by invaders, built up, vandalised and rebuilt.

In a way the story of the basilica, reminds us that the Church is just a symbol of something greater, the presence of the Risen Christ through the Holy Spirit. And it is because that Christ is ever present, as with the basilica, God never abandons us in times of trials and disaster but renews us always that those trials can become time of growth in faith. How often the Church had been blessed by saints who help renew the Church.

Pope St Leo the Great held the Church together when the barbarians invaded Europe in the 6th Century; St Catherine of Sienna worked tirelessly to reunite the Church at a time when it had two popes; St Francis and St Dominic began new orders that was so needed at that time; another new order the Jesuits began when the Church was in need of reforming, St Mary of the Cross MacKillop help the faith to grow here in Australia.
Today’s feast reminds us that Christ is ever present and always provides.

In our first reading, the vision of the prophet Ezekiel was received at a desperate time for the Jewish people. The temple of Jerusalem was the symbol of unity of the people of Israel. But in Ezekiel’s time, the temple was destroyed, and the people were in exile.
Ezekiel’s prophecy was a vision of hope in the restored temple of Jerusalem, which will once again become the focus of their faith.

The gospel speaks of Christ as the new temple who is the source of our faith and life.
No matter where we are, our faith in Christ brings us to his temple. Many a times when churches were closed by oppressive governments or where there were no churches, the faith of the people lived on.

This is reflected in Paul’s letter today where whilst he speaks of Jesus Christ as the foundation of the Church which is the Temple of God, he also states that the church is made up of people. As Church, the people of God, we are all called to continue to build the temple of God here on Earth. The temple of God is seen as something that is alive and not a static building.

And like the Lateran Basilica, Paul’s mission too had its ups and down, but his faith in Christ help him to persevere. And this reflection is so important for as the Gospel show, people can so easily be diverted from the mission of Christ.

Through the centuries the message of God was passed down, not by buildings but the people who transmit a life and tradition.

Today’s feast then also invites us to reflect on how are we building the temple of God, how are we as Church a sacrament of Christ in the world, how as Church are we life giving in the world. It is in our unity with Christ through his Church that the message of God is proclaimed.

One central aspect of unity is where we are able to support each other in faith. Like the story of the Church, there are many people of faith that Christ brings into our lives to help us. Each of us are called to be a St Francis, or a St Catherine to one another urging us on in faith.