Thursday, November 9, 2023

Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome

(Ezekiel47:1-2.8-9.12; I Corinthians 3:9c-11.16-17; John 2:13-22)

Some wonder whether the Old Testament is necessary for Catholics.  They may quote St. Paul who says that the Law does not apply to those baptized in Christ.  However, the Church has insisted that the Old Testament is part of God’s revelation and must be revered.

There are three types of laws in the Old Testament: ritual, liturgical, and moral.  The ritual laws, forbidding the consumption of pork and shellfish and prescribing ablutions, Jesus himself abrogated.  He said that it is not what goes into a person that defiles him or her but what comes out.  The moral law of the Old Testament, highlighted by the Ten Commandments, has remained operative.  And the liturgical laws have been assumed in the customs and traditions of the Church.  We see this accommodation in today’s readings.

The Jerusalem temple is the principal focus of Old Testament liturgy.  The Book of Leviticus especially lays out many norms for the rites carried out there.  Now these practices are being followed in Catholic churches like that of St. John Lateran, the pope’s cathedral, in Rome.  Catholic rituals using vestments, oil, and incense imitate what the Jewish law stipulates.  When we come to church, we should realize that we are placing ourselves among three millennia of God’s people.  We, like our Jewish and Christian predecessors, have been called by God to worship Him in very specific ways.

Tuesday, November 9, 2021

 Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome

 (Ezekiel 47:1-2.8-9.12; I Corinthians 3:9c-11.16-17; John 2:13-22)

 Today’s feast celebrates the dedication of the Lateran Basilica.  Many wonder, what is so great about that?  It is one of the four magnificent churches in Rome and the locale of five general councils of the Church, the most important one being the fourth in 1215.   That council called for bishops to appoint preachers and to support them in their work.  The mandate paved the way for the establishment of the Dominican Order a year later.

 More importantly, the Lateran Cathedral is the church of the Bishop of Rome, the Vicar of Christ.  As such, it serves as the symbol of all Christian churches.  In other words, today we honor all the churches in the world.  A church is the preferred meeting place of the human person with God.  As we enter a church, we make a blessing with holy water.  This is a way of cleansing ourselves from the mess we sometimes make in the world so that we may communicate with God.

 The deepest meaning for a church is actually Christ himself.  The Church is the body of Christ as Jesus implies in today’s gospel.  Here we feel his warm embrace.  For this reason a church has been considered as a sanctuary where sinners and even criminals might find refuge.  Today we celebrate not so much a building but Jesus Christ.  We give God thanks for the love Christ has shown us and for the peace he imparts to us.

Friday, November 9, 2018

Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome

(Ezekiel 47:1-2.8-9.12; I Corinthians 3:9c-11.16-17; John 2:13-22)

It would be hard to over-exaggerate the importance of the Jewish Temple in Jesus’ day. Religiously, it served as the one place where Jews could give due reverence to God.  Economically, it provided most Jerusalemites with livelihood. If it could be compared with any structure today, it would be the great mosque in Mecca which millions of Muslim pilgrims give homage to God every year.  It should cause little wonder then why Jesus’ action in today’s gospel creates such consternation.

Jesus disrupts the usual business at the Temple.  He virtually starts a riot as he drives away the merchants along with their livestock and the money changers.  The Jews misconstrue his motives as much as they misunderstand his words.  They think that he is an upstart looking to make a name for himself.  When Jesus tells them that if they try to destroy him, he will rise again, they believe he is referring to the Temple.

In celebrating the Lateran Basilica in Rome today, we celebrate all Catholic churches.  The giant structure serves as a sign for all places where Christians come together to offer bread and wine to God and receive in return the body and blood of Jesus.  The feast indicates that we don’t have to go to Rome to give true worship to God.  Our parish church serves quite well in providing space for offering the sacrifice of our salvation.

Thursday, November 9, 2017

Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome

(Ezekiel 47:1-2.8-9.12; I Corinthians 3:9c-11.16-17; John 2:13-22)

Today’s feast, the Dedication of St. John Lateran, is somewhat of an anomaly.  That is, it is somewhat unusual.  We seldom celebrate the anniversaries of churches.  But the Lateran Basilica, as St. John’s is often called, is also known as the “mother church of Christendom” or “the pope’s church.”  In celebrating it we celebrate all Christian churches.

Today’s gospel shows Jesus driving money-changers from the Temple area.  Speaking of anomalies, we see Jesus in this scene, which is repeated in each of the four gospels, using force.  He did not regularly resort to arms or tolerate their employment.  Jesus remains the Prince of Peace who warned us that the one who “lives by the sword dies by the sword” and commanded us to “love your enemies.”  Yet he takes us the whip evidently as an extreme act to show necessary regard for God’s house.

We should have a similar reverence for our churches.  God can encounter humans anywhere He chooses.  But we build churches that glorify Him so that He might choose to meet us there regularly.  As we enter church, we customarily dip our fingers in the holy water font and make the sign of the cross.  This signifies our cleansing ourselves of the contaminants of the world – the inordinate desire for fame, fortune, and fun – so that we might listen to God talk to our hearts.

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome

(Ezekiel 47:1-2.8-9.12; I Corinthians 3:9c-11.16-17; John 2:13-22)

It would be hard to exaggerate the importance of the Jewish Temple in Jesus’ day.  For Jews it served as the one place where due reverence may be given to God.  Economically it provided most Jerusalemites with livelihood.  If it could be compared with any structure today, it would be the great mosque in Mecca which millions of pilgrims visit every year to give homage to God.  It should cause little wonder then why Jesus’ action in today’s gospel creates such consternation.

Jesus disrupts the usual business at the Temple.  He starts a virtual riot as he drives away the merchants along with their livestock and the money changers.  The Jews misconstrue his motives as much as they misunderstand his words.  They think that he is an upstart looking to make a name for himself.  When Jesus tells them that if they try to destroy him, he will rise again, they believe he is referring to the Temple.

In celebrating the Lateran Basilica today, we celebrate all Catholic churches.  The giant structure serves as a sign for all places where Christians come together to offer bread and wine to God and receive in return the body and blood of Jesus.  The feast indicates that we don’t have to go to Rome to give true worship to God.  Our parish church serves quite well in providing space for the common sacrifice of our salvation.

Monday, November 9, 2015

Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome

(Ezekiel 47:1-2.8-9.12; I Corinthians 3:9c-11.16-17; John 2:13-22)

Today’s feast celebrates the dedication of the Lateran Basilica.  Many wonder, what is so great about that?  It is one of the four magnificent churches in Rome and the locale of five general councils of the Church, the most important one being the fourth in 1215.   That council called for bishops to appoint preachers and to support them in their work.  The mandate paved the way for the establishment of the Dominican Order a year later.

More importantly, the Lateran Cathedral is the church of the bishop of Rome, the Vicar of Christ.  As such, it serves as the symbol of all Christian churches.  In other words, today we raise up for consideration all the churches in the world.  A church is the preferred meeting place of the human person with God.  As we enter a church, we make a blessing with holy water.  This is a way of cleansing ourselves from the mess we sometimes make in the world so that we may communicate with God.

The deepest meaning for a church is actually Christ himself.  The church is the body of Christ as Jesus implies in today’s gospel.  Here we feel his warm embrace.  For this reason a church has been considered as a sanctuary where sinners and even criminals might find refuge.  Today we celebrate not so much a building but Jesus Christ.  We give God thanks for the love Christ has shown us and for the peace he imparts to us.

Homilette for Friday, November 9, 2007

You can find homilettes for weekdays between October 29 and today below.

Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome

(John 2:13-22)

Today’s feast, the Dedication of St. John Lateran, is somewhat of an anomaly. That is, it is somewhat unusual. We seldom celebrate the anniversaries of churches. But the Lateran Basilica, as it is called, is also known as the “mother church of Christendom” or “the pope’s church.” In celebrating it we celebrate all Christian churches.

Today’s gospel shows Jesus driving money-changers from the Temple area. Speaking of anomalies, we see Jesus in this scene, which is repeated in each of the four gospels, using force. We should not conclude that he regularly resorted to arms or that he would tolerate their employment as much as our society does. Jesus remains the Prince of Peace who warned us that the one who “lives by the sword dies by the sword” and commanded us to “love your enemies.” He takes us the whip as an extreme act to show necessary regard for God’s house.

We should have a similar reverence for our churches. God can encounter humans anywhere He chooses. But we build churches to His glory so that He might choose to meet us there regularly. As we enter church we customarily dip our fingers in the holy water font and make the sign of the cross. This signifies our cleansing ourselves of the contaminants of the world – the inordinate desire for fame, fortune, and fun – so that we might listen to God talk to our hearts.