You are God's Building!

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Dedication of St John Lateran, the Pope’s own Cathedral, the Mother Church of all Christian churches. Jesus Christ came to form a people, a community of persons, in communion with him and among themselves. The churches, the temples, have always been important in our faith.  In the Gospel Jesus Himself shows us the respect and the prayerful attitude that we should show when we are in Church, (Jn2:13-22).

“You are God’s building,” (1 Cor 3:17). St. Paul explains that Jesus is the foundation of God’s building (the New Temple promised in the Gospel) and that the Spirit of God dwells in us making us “the Temple of God.” God dwells on earth in His city, the Church. A new Temple where all mankind can worship in spirit and truth, where the Holy Spirit bears fruit and healing, where God dwells on earth – these are all now realised in Jesus and all who live in Him through the living waters of baptism, the Church.

Read how the Catechism of the Catholic Church helps us understand today’s Feast. We are taking the time to remember the very first basilica dedicated in Rome (not in Jerusalem of the Jews but in Rome, the center of civilization at that time), now under the care of the Pope, successor to Peter whom Christ Himself appointed to care for His Church until He returns for us:

 “In its earthly state the Church needs places where the community can gather together. Our visible churches, holy places, are images of the holy city, the heavenly Jerusalem, toward which we are making our way on pilgrimage. It is in these churches that the Church celebrates public worship to the glory of the Holy Trinity, hears the word of God and sings his praise, lifts up her prayer, and offers the sacrifice of Christ sacramentally present in the midst of the assembly.” (CCC nos, 1198-1199).