Word to the Wise
Thursday, November 9, 2017 - Nov. 9 - The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome
[Ezek 47:1-2, 8-9, 12; 1 Cor 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. [1 Corinthians]
The Lateran basilica in Rome dates back to the early 4th century. The name comes from the family who donated the land, the Laterani family. it is the official cathedral of the bishop of Rome (contrary to popular thought that St. Peter's is). And it is a rugged building, having survived military attack, fire, earthquakes,etc. etc. The thought behind this feast seems to be that "all Catholic roads lead to Rome" and this church has a claim to be in the middle. So, it's the universality of the church that is proclaimed. Of course, our brothers and sisters of the Eastern rites and Orthodoxy might differ about this, but, we Western Catholics can celebrate our chunk of universality!
St. Paul reminds us, however, that the Lateran Basilica, or St. Peter's, or any church is only as good as the people who worship there. Otherwise, it's just a matter of buildings - big and beautiful but ultimately subject to anything Mother Nature might throw at them. The ultimate temple of God is the human person because only the human person is made in the image and likeness of God. [Genesis 1:26]. The gospel scripture for today from the Gospel According to John in which Jesus "cleanses" the temple, is a reminder that human temples are what make temple buildings holy or not. (Napoleon and other irreligious leaders would house their cavalry horses in churches or use them for target practice.)
Today we give a tip of the hat to Pope Francis and his official church, remembering that it's not the church building that makes him a good pope, but that we are part of a bigger reality than our local Catholic one. AMEN