Daily Retreat 11/09/08
2008 Nov 9 SUN: DEDICATION OF THE LATERAN BASILICA IN ROME F
Ez 47: 1-2. 8-9. 12/ Ps 45(46): 2-3. 5-6. 8-9/ 1 Cor 3: 9c-11. 16-17/ Jn 2: 13-22
From today’s readings: “The angel brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water flowing out.... The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!... the temple of God, which you are, is holy.... He was speaking about the temple of His Body....”
God’s House is Our House
It can seem a bit strange to have a feastday in honor of the dedication of a great church building that is set in the heart of Rome. Although most people are more familiar with St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, it is this older Basilica of St. John Lateran which is actually the Pope’s Cathedral (as Bishop of Rome), and for this reason bears the inscription “omnium ecclesiarum Urbis et Orbis mater et caput” - “the mother and head of all churches of the City (Rome) and of the World.”
As St. Paul mentions in his letter to the Corinthians, more important and more resplendent than even the greatest basilicas, is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the heart of each believer, which makes us all Living Temples of God. People are more important than buildings - always, and without exception. If for some tragic reason, the destruction of the great Lateran Basilica were somehow necessary to save even one human life, then surely the building would be sacrificed to save the life!
This puts things in perspective, but that’s not to say that there is no importance or sacredness to church buildings. Jesus Himself defended the sanctity of the ancient Temple in Jerusalem. And, in many places in scripture (such as today’s first reading from the prophet Ezekiel), God chooses to use a building as a focal point of His blessings and presence. This is true also of your parish church - it truly is the House of God since you will find the dwelling place of God there, His tabernacle among us! But our loving Father does not want His House just for Himself - He wants us to join Him there! God says to us His beloved children, “My house is your house!”
Ez 47: 1-2. 8-9. 12/ Ps 45(46): 2-3. 5-6. 8-9/ 1 Cor 3: 9c-11. 16-17/ Jn 2: 13-22
From today’s readings: “The angel brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water flowing out.... The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!... the temple of God, which you are, is holy.... He was speaking about the temple of His Body....”
God’s House is Our House
It can seem a bit strange to have a feastday in honor of the dedication of a great church building that is set in the heart of Rome. Although most people are more familiar with St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, it is this older Basilica of St. John Lateran which is actually the Pope’s Cathedral (as Bishop of Rome), and for this reason bears the inscription “omnium ecclesiarum Urbis et Orbis mater et caput” - “the mother and head of all churches of the City (Rome) and of the World.”
As St. Paul mentions in his letter to the Corinthians, more important and more resplendent than even the greatest basilicas, is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the heart of each believer, which makes us all Living Temples of God. People are more important than buildings - always, and without exception. If for some tragic reason, the destruction of the great Lateran Basilica were somehow necessary to save even one human life, then surely the building would be sacrificed to save the life!
This puts things in perspective, but that’s not to say that there is no importance or sacredness to church buildings. Jesus Himself defended the sanctity of the ancient Temple in Jerusalem. And, in many places in scripture (such as today’s first reading from the prophet Ezekiel), God chooses to use a building as a focal point of His blessings and presence. This is true also of your parish church - it truly is the House of God since you will find the dwelling place of God there, His tabernacle among us! But our loving Father does not want His House just for Himself - He wants us to join Him there! God says to us His beloved children, “My house is your house!”
posted by FrPitstick | 11/08/2008
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