Dedication of the Lateran Basilica
Ezek 47:1-2, 8-9, 12; 1 Cor 3 9c-11, 16-17; John 2: 13-22
Deacon Larry Brockman
Today we celebrate the feast of the dedication of St. John Lateran. St. John Lateran was the first Basilica built in Rome, pre-dating the Vatican. It was built by Constantine for the Pope in the year 314 and housed the pope for centuries. Ironically, Constantine acquired the property from his former rival’s family; and built the Basilica on what was the quarters for the horses. It was originally dedicated to St. John the Baptist; but later rededicated to St. John the Evangelist. The Basilica has been sacked several times; was ravaged by fire twice; and has fallen into disrepair occasionally. But it has always been renovated, and is one of the five major Basilicas in Rome today.
As the Bishop of Rome, it is Pope Francis’ Church, although an Arch-priest is assigned to run the Basilica. It served as the site for 5 major Church Councils, the most famous of which was the one in 1214.
From this brief history, I am certain you can see why the Church celebrates the dedication of this Basilica, a rather unusual Church Feast.
The readings all remind us of the relationship between the Church and God’s people. Obviously, the water flowing out of the temple in the Ezekiel reading has symbolic meaning since, in fact, no such water did flow from the temple. Rather, the water symbolizes the “living water” that flows from the Church. So, the water that flows is a foreshadowing of Christ himself. This living water was instituted in the Baptism of Christ; but the flow of the water may be seen as the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the living water that went forth and flowed to all countries. By the grace instilled by the Holy Spirit, all Baptized persons spread this living water as they fulfill their Baptismal pledge to evangelize in word and deed. The fruit trees and other items cited represent the various ways that the Gospel, the living water, has borne fruit in those who have heard the Gospel and accepted the message.
Now in the Old Testament, there was but one Temple- the Temple in Jerusalem. It housed the ark of the covenant, and was the official place for worship because it was thought that God himself resided in the ark. Notice that the image of the flow of God from this temple is an important difference between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant instituted by Christ. God is no longer confined to the Holy of Holies within the temple. The water flowing from the temple shows that God is making himself accessible through his people.
In fact, Paul tells the Corinthians that they are the Church. The temple is no longer the Church. Paul says he lays the foundation for the Church based on the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the people are the building. He challenges them to be careful to build the Church properly on that foundation. We must always build on the teachings of Jesus Christ. Then Paul tells them that they are all temples, temples of the Holy Spirit. Indeed, the Holy Spirit dwells in each of us following our Baptisms.
Finally, our Gospel story reinforces this concept of each of us being a temple of the Holy Spirit. Because it makes clear that Jesus himself was referring to the temple of his body as he addressed the Scribes and Pharisees. Indeed, each of us as a temple of the Holy Spirit bear the responsibility for keeping and spreading the word of God. And God’s will is that all people be evangelized through the graces of the Holy Spirit which we receive at Baptism.
And so, as we gather in this fine Church building to worship God and to receive the Eucharist that is food for our spiritual journey, recognize that our real challenge is to do what the Deacon proclaims at the end of each Mass: to “go forth in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life” because you are the vehicle by which the living water flows; you are the Church that shares God with the masses.