Word to the Wise
Tuesday, November 9, 2010 - Dedication of the Lateran Basilica
[Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12; 1 Corinthians 3:9c-11, 16-17; John 2:13-22]Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person; for the temple of God, which you are, is holy
. Sacred space is important. All three scriptures today testify to it. The Lateran Basilica is the official cathedral of the diocese of Rome. St. Peter's is where most important universal church events take place, but the pope is the Bishop of Rome as well and his cathedral is St. John Lateran. The dedication of his church emphasizes the historical connection of Rome with the whole church. That being said, St. Paul's words, quoted above, put things into perspective. Every human person is a place of God's grace and where God dwells is God's temple. A family friend, who was very large, once quoted this passage to me and claimed that his size entitled him to be a basilica! The physical sacred space created by a building can be a challenge to any pastor who either builds or renovates a church! But even more important is our maintenace of our own physical temple. We can recall Jesus' words, "Stop making my father's house a marketplace!" Proper usage and good maintenance are very important no matter whether the temple be brick and mortar or flesh and blood! AMEN
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