From our Pastor’s Desk

Dear Family:

The Feast we are celebrating today is quite unusual. It is not the feast of a saint, but of a church building, the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome. The ninth of November is the anniversary of the dedication of this church. It is being celebrated by the entire Christian world because of its universal preeminence. This Basilica is the oldest Church in the West, the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the cathedral of the diocese of Rome, the Pope’s cathedral. This also provides us the opportunity to celebrate our catholic identity. The word “catholic” comes from two Greek elements meaning “according to the whole,” i.e. “universal.” Everywhere in the world, Christians held the same beliefs. The only ones excluded were those heretics whose errors led to the composition of the Creed in the first place later on.

This basilica was built by Emperor Constantine and solemnly dedicated by Pope Sylvester I on November 09, 324. Its official title is the Archbasilica of the Most Holy Savior and of Saints John the Baptist and John Evangelist in the Lateran. It stands on the site of an ancient palace on the Celian Hill, which formerly belonged to the Laterani Family. That is where the name “Lateran” comes from. It is considered “the mother and head of all churches of Rome and the world” because it is the first church to be built, hence the oldest, and therefore, holds the title of Archbasilica. It is the Pope’s Cathedral as the Bishop of Rome. The celebration of the Feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of St. John Lateran is a sign of devotion to, and unity with the Chair of Peter, the authority of the Pope as the successor of Peter, the Vicar of Christ on earth.

Our first reading describes a vision of the prophet Ezekiel. He had many visions and recorded them. At the time the vision took place, around 597 BC, the Babylonians had destroyed Jerusalem and its Temple. The prophet Ezekiel sees that one day the city would be restored and the temple would be rebuilt. In fact, this came true many years later. Ezekiel’s vision describes an idealized temple, with water flowing from it, east and south toward the desert of the Arabah and into the Dead Sea. The salt water of the Dead Sea is seven times saltier than ocean water and nothing can live in it. Yet in Ezekiel’s vision the water that flows from the temple gives life to everything it comes in contact with and even turns the Dead Sea into fresh water. The meaning is that what flows from God’s house, that is prayer, sacrifice and worship, is life- giving. The life-giving river of water symbolizes the liturgy, which flows from God’s Temple, transforming the landscape with abundant life.

The life-giving waters flowing from the temple suggests how our liturgy, like that life-giving water, must change the world outside of our place of worship. Our participation in the liturgy of the Mass is not confined within the walls of the Church. Our church building is designed and dedicated as a space for celebrating the liturgy, but from it the people of God, you and I, must go out into the world and transform it. The word “liturgy” comes from a Greek noun that means “work of the people.” The liturgy is the Church’s public prayer. The liturgy is not meant to entertain or please human beings; its purpose is to give honor, glory and thanks to God.

God is present here with us as we worship Him and give Him thanks. God is present in the Liturgy of the Word, the readings from scripture we hear each week. He is present in the Eucharist, as the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Our Lord. God is present also in the priest who presides at the Lord’s Table. And finally God is present in the people. We have communion with God as we receive His Body and Blood.

The liturgy of this Feast tells us about the two Temples, namely, the Temple of Jerusalem, and the Body of Christ. The reading today from Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians serves as a bridge between the Old and New Testament readings. Here in Paul’s letter the image of the temple spoken of in Ezekiel’s vision, and in the gospel story of Jesus cleansing the temple, is applied to the Church. Paul reminds us that the Church of Jesus does not consist of buildings made of stone or any other material, but is made up of people. We are the church. We are like living stones built on the foundation of Jesus Christ. Together as living stones we are joined in one body with Christ as its head. Paul tells us we are all temples of God and that the Spirit of God dwells within us. We are called to holiness. We all aspire to be saints; to live with God in eternity.

In todays’ Gospel reading, when Jesus entered the Temple of Jerusalem, He was shocked to see it profaned and desecrated by the moneychangers and merchants selling doves and sacrificial animals. In anger, He drove away these people: “Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!” This action of Jesus gives us an important lesson: first, the church building is not an ordinary place; it is the house of God. As a house of worship, it is where people encounter God in a very special way. Hence, it should be treated with utmost respect and reverence. Pope St. John Paul II teaches: “Any church is your house, and the house of God. Value it as the place where we encounter our common Father.” The Sacred Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship reminds us: “A church is the place where the Christian community is gathered to hear the word of God, to offer intercession and praise to Him, and above all to celebrate the holy mysteries, and it is the place where the Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist is kept. Thus, it stands as a special kind of image of the Church itself, which is God’s temple built from living stones.” (Decree, 29 May 1977)

Secondly, we should come regularly to visit the church. If we really believe it is the house of God, why do many of us seldom come here? If we truly love God we will surely come to this place every day to visit and be with Him at least for a few moments. Thirdly, we should support its maintenance and upkeep. We see many magnificent and luxurious buildings and mansions all around. These belong to mortal human beings only, yet their beauty and integrity are well maintained. Sadly, this is not the case with many churches. These are houses of worship, the dwelling place of God, yet many people do not really care.

Jesus also talks about another Temple – the Body of Christ. This Temple will be “destroyed” by death, but on the third day, He will raise it up again. Before He finally ascended to His heavenly Father, He established the Church, His Mystical Body. In Baptism, we have become members of the Church; we have become part of His Mystical Body. We are the Church. As we celebrate today the Feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, we are reminded that the Church is not just the building where we gather to worship, but more importantly, it is the community of believers, the Mystical Body of Christ. The Church is the concrete assurance of the abiding presence of Jesus: “I am with you always until the end of time.” Let us also make this feast a solemn occasion to renew our oath of loyalty to the Holy Father, the Successor of Peter and the Vicar of Christ, who as St. Ignatius of Antioch wrote, “presides over the whole assembly of charity.” Let us pray for him and for the unity of the entire Church.

Let us remember that we are One Body, One Spirit, One Family! Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Katharine Drexel, Saint Michael the Archangel, St. José Gregorio Hernández, Pope Saint Pius X, St. Teresa of Avila, and St. Charbel, pray for us.

Yours in Christ Jesus!
Fr. Omar