Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome
Be "God's House" and a Living Temple of His Love
“The liturgy today has us celebrate the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, called the "mother and head of all the Churches of the Urbe and Orbe". Actually, this Basilica was the first to be built after the Edict of the Emperor Constantine who, in 313, conceded to Christians the freedom to practice their religion. The same Emperor gave Pope Miltiades the ancient estate of the Laterani family and had the Basilica, the Baptistery and the Patriarchate built for him, the latter being the Bishop of Rome's residence, where Popes resided until the Avignon era. The dedication of the Basilica was celebrated by Pope Silvester in about 324 and the temple was dedicated to the Most Holy Savior; only after the 6th century were the names of Saint John the Baptist and saint John the Evangelist added, from which came its common name. This occasion initially only involved the city of Rome; then, from 1565 onwards, it extended to the entire Church of the Roman rite. Hence, honoring the holy building is meant as an expression of love and veneration for the Roman Church which, as St Ignatius of Antioch affirms, "presides in charity" over the entire Catholic communion (cf. Epistula ad Romanos, 1, 1). (Benedict XVI, Angelus, November 09, 2008)
For several centuries, 161 popes reigned here, and five ecumenical councils were held. The Basilica in Lateran ceased to be the seat of the popes since the Avignon captivity at the beginning of the 14th century; in 1377 Pope Gregory IX moved his seat to the Vatican. To this day, the Lateran basilica retains its unique meaning. Unlike the three other Roman patriarchal churches, it is entitled to the title of Archbasilica; each newly elected bishop of Rome goes to her in a solemn procession. There is a Latin inscription above the entrance to the temple, which best reflects the importance and role of this place: Mater et Caput omnium Ecclesiarum Urbis et Orbis that is: Mother and Head of all the churches of the City and the World. This is where the popes celebrate Mass to begin Lent. Here, on Palm Sunday, a triumphal arch is placed for the reception of the King of Martyrs. Here the Pope celebrates Holy Mass on Holy Thursday in memory of the Last Supper.
The Basilica of the Most Holy Savior and of Saints John the Baptist and the Evangelist in the Lateran , as the cathedral of the Pope and the Mother and Head of all the churches of the City of Rome and the World, is the great and common parish church of all of us believers, therefore, as a universal Church, today we celebrate this joyful feast with Pope Francis. Today the Church also wants to express her great gratitude for all the churches that have been built by and for her faithful. The Word of God addressed to us today wishes to draw our attention to one more important mystery of the One, Holy, Universal and Apostolic Church: we are all a living Church and God's House for all people of good will.
“Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? “(1 Cor 3:16).
The Apostle of the Nations reminds us that theology, and especially ecclesiology, is not created "from behind the desk", but is always "on the way - a pilgrimage of faith": by proclaiming the Word of God and establishing "ecclesia-churches" - communities of believers. The foundation of "God's building and temple" is always Jesus Christ and no purely human reality (philosophy, science, politics) can replace Him, because then we would be dealing - as some would like - only with "the philosophy of St. Peter "," the teachings of St. Paul " or " the state policy".
The great and prophetic Second Vatican Council reminded us that the Church is missionary by nature. Thus, every believer, as an apostle, missionary and catechist, is to be a perfect, persistent and prudent builder of the Mystical Body of Christ - the living Church. In many cases we forget that the mission of a particular Church (diocese), local Church (parish) and the "small Church" (family) depends on my faith, my testimony of faith and my new evangelization.
God is inside his Church.
We cannot understand the holiness and permanence of the Church without the constant presence of God in his work, without the foundation of Christ, and without the constant and vital help of the Holy Spirit. The author of the 46 Psalm wants to teach us first to pray confidently to God, our refuge, strength and the surest help in the difficulties of life and faith. Then he wishes to remind the builders of the temple-church of the fundamental truth that should lift the spirit of the fainthearted, unsteadily and indifferent that " God is in its midst; it shall not be disturbed." If “The LORD of hosts is with us,” if “God is our refuge and our strength," why so many fears, disbelief and weak faith?
“He was speaking about the temple of his Body” (cf. Jn 2:21).
As believers, we cannot imagine Sunday and holidays without being in church and attending the Holy Mass, just as it was not conceivable for a devout Jew not to attend the synagogue on the Sabbath or not to be in the Jerusalem temple during the Passover. " Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem." (cf. Jn 2:13). How much of a surprise to Jesus was the fact that in the temple, a place so sacred and dedicated only to prayer, he found an ordinary and noisy marketplace. The gesture of cleansing the temple from what is unholy and unworthy of God becomes a sign of opposition for those who should be the first to care for the sanctity of this place - God's house. Giving more and more space to what is unholy, unworthy and unclean in the life of man and the Church always takes place "at the expense of God and man."
When we distance ourself or simply push God away from what He created and what has always belonged to Him (the world, man, marriage, family, Church), we distance ourself or directly repel from God, our Creator and Savior. In both cases, it is the man who withdraws himself or is repelled by others from the Source of Love, Truth and Life. " Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up" (cf. Jn. 2:19). Jesus' bold and prophetic words have many meanings and references. The first is obvious, mentioned directly by St. John the Evangelist: " he was speaking about the temple of his Body" (cf. Jn 2:21). Only Jesus Christ rose after three days, and thus rebuilt His and our temple.
The words of St. Paul: " You are God’s building, you are the temple of God", " the temple of God, which you are, is holy " because " the Spirit of God dwells in you" (cf. 1 Cor 3: 9-11, 16-17). After the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem by the Roman legions in AD 70, another explanation comes to mind: there is only one and holy temple: Jesus Christ, and in him, through him and for him, one, holy, universal and apostolic church. Jesus' prophetic gesture of cleansing the temple suggests another, binding explanation: the holiness of the universal Church, my diocese, my parish and my family depends on us and our personal holiness.
Until Tomorrow
fr. george