"Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up."
Readings for Sunday: Ezekiel, 1 Corinthians, John
Reflection:
This Sunday is unusual in the sense that, what would have been the 32nd Sunday of Ordinary Time, is superseded by the Solemnity of the Dedication of St. John Lateran. That church (building) is the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Rome; St. Peter’s Basilica is not the cathedral. Why is the celebration of the dedication of St. John’s so important that we not only celebrate it in the Archdiocese of Chicago, but also that it supersedes a Sunday of Ordinary Time? That is because it represents far more than merely being the cathedral of Rome.
The land itself was originally owned by the Laterani family and eventually given by Emperor Constantine to Pope Melchiade to build a Domus Ecclesia, a “house of the Church.” It was the first Christian Basilica built in Rome, the first purposely built public worship space, even before St. Peter’s, and was dedicated in 324AD.
The Pope, also known as the Bishop of Rome, lived there for about 1000 years before making his permanent residence at the Vatican, which itself contains St. Peter’s Basilica.
A house for the Church, a house of God, is important to our worship. In the Gospel today, Jesus cleanses the temple in Jerusalem of its money changers and those selling sheep and oxen. It states that, “His disciples recalled the words of Scripture, Zeal for your house will consume me.” St. John represents the fact that the universal Church worships the Lord, and that we are zealous for his house.
Reflection Questions
- Am I zealous for the worship of God and for his house?
- While we can build church buildings anywhere, what does a church building represent to me?
- What do I contribute to the maintenance of the house of God?