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Dear Preachers:
The Basilica of St. John Lateran is the cathedral church of the Bishop of Rome—the Pope. It is, therefore, the official ecclesiastical seat of the Pope. Inscribed on its façade in Latin are the words: “The mother and head of all the churches of the City and the world.” Today’s feast celebrates the unity of all local churches with the Church of Rome—the heart of our Catholic communion.
The Basilica was dedicated in 324 A.D. by Pope Sylvester I after Emperor Constantine granted Christians freedom of worship. Its dedication marks the end of persecution, the emergence of Christian worship into public life, and the Church’s visible establishment in society. With this feast we celebrate the Church coming out of hiding into open mission—no longer confined to catacombs, but now at the heart of the city.
Yet the true temple of God we celebrate today is not made of marble or stone—it is us, the Christian community. As St. Paul tells the Corinthians, “You are God’s building… Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”
When the Lateran Basilica was first dedicated, Christianity had just emerged from the shadows of persecution. We modern believers are encouraged by this feast—and nourished by the Eucharist—to step out of our own shadows and live our faith more openly and courageously. If our discipleship has been hidden or quiet, this feast calls us to make it visible. The Lateran Basilica stands not only as a building in Rome, but as a sign of what we are called to be: a holy people, concrete and visible witnesses of Christ’s risen life in the world. Every parish church and every baptized believer shares this vocation—to be a living sign of Christ’s presence.
Today’s feast invites us to renew our dedication as members of Christ’s body. We celebrate the Church not simply as a building, but as a living, holy people gathered around the Eucharistic table.
Ezekiel’s vision of the temple recalls the Garden of Eden—the place where God dwelt, the source and sustainer of all life. In Israel’s arid climate, water was precious, and Ezekiel describes it flowing from the temple in all directions. This life-giving image reminds us to draw healing, strength, and inspiration from our own temple—the Church—as we gather to worship God together as a community of faith.
Paul’s words speak directly to us: “Brothers and sisters, you are God’s building.” He shifts our attention from brick and mortar to flesh and blood—to the divine presence that dwells among us. If we truly believe that through Jesus God is present in this living temple, how could we violate it through violence, prejudice, hunger, disease, or war? God’s temple is holy and demands our reverence and care. Look around at those who pray and sing with us—God’s true presence dwells in them. They are the holy temple of God.
Paul turns our gaze from the ancient temple to our encounter with the living God in the believing community. John’s Gospel takes this further: Jesus cleanses the temple, signaling that its rituals of sacrifice are being fulfilled and replaced by himself. Soon, his sacrifice on the cross would replace the Passover lamb. His blood would deliver us from death and free us for new life. Just as manna sustained the Israelites in the desert, so the bread Jesus gives will sustain us for eternal life.
Jesus’ contemporaries did not understand, but guided by the Spirit, we do. John makes this clear: “He was speaking about the temple of his body.” The other Gospels place the cleansing of the temple at the end of Jesus’ ministry; John places it at the beginning—to show that everything Jesus says and does from that moment reveals him as the fulfillment of Israel’s hopes.
Salvation has come to the people in Jesus Christ. He is now the meeting place between humanity and God—the Holy of Holies made flesh. Whenever we gather in his name, we too become that holy place where the world can encounter God.
Today we celebrate not only a building, but the living Church—God’s holy people gathered in unity, guided and empowered by the Spirit to bring Christ’s life into the world. May this feast renew us in our mission to be Christ’s presence for others.
Click here for a link to this Sunday’s readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110925.cfm
You are God’s building. . .Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? — 1 Corinthians 3: 9, 16
I found this passage to be a curious one to be located in today’s readings when we celebrate the Lateran Basilica. Here is a little history of the Basilica and why it is important to the church:
“When the Emperor Constantine granted full liberty to Christians in 313, they did not spare in order to construct places for the Lord – numerous are the churches constructed at that time. Constantine himself also constructed churches, one of which he was a magnificent basilica on the Caelian Hill in Rome, over the ancient Lateran Palace, which Pope Sylvester I dedicated to Christ the Savior (318 or 324). A chapel dedicated to Saint John the Baptist was built inside it which served as the baptistry. This moved Pope Sergius III to dedicate it to Saint John the Baptist as well. Lastly, Pope Lucius II also dedicated it to Saint John the Evangelist in the 12th century. Thus, the name of this Papal Basilica is the Basilica of the Most Holy Savior and of Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist in the Lateran. Christians consider the Basilica to be the mother church of all churches in the world. The church was destroyed several times in the course of the centuries and always rebuilt. The final reconstruction took place under the pontificate of Benedict XIII. The church was rededicated in 1724. It was at that time that the feast celebrated today was established and extended to the universal Church.” The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica - Vatican News
“To dedicate, consecrate, or reserve” a place to God is found in every religion as an act of recognizing God’s glory and honor. This has been most often applied to physical buildings or external spaces. Yet, as we clearly see in 1 Corinthians, Paul recognizes that God truly dwells within the human person. Even if all the physical churches in the world would disappear, God would still be dwelling within each of us. For me, this is why the social teaching on the dignity of the human person is so important. Once we recognize each person as a temple of the Spirit of God, we must respect their personhood. If we conscientiously did this, even with people we do not like, we would advance in the unity that God intended. May you be for God a thoughtful dwelling place.
Barbara Molinari Quinby, MPS, Director Office of Human Life, Dignity, and Justice Ministries Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral, Raleigh, NC
Mini-reflections on the Sunday scripture readings designed for persons on the run. “Faith Book” is also brief enough to be posted in the Sunday parish bulletins people take home. From today’s 1 Corinthians reading:
“Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” Reflection:
Paul shifts our attention from brick and mortar to flesh and blood – to the divine presence that dwells among us. If we truly believe that through Jesus God is present in this living temple, how could we violate it through violence, prejudice, hunger, disease, or war? God’s temple is holy and demands our reverence and care.
So, we ask ourselves:
· Is my heart a true dwelling place for God? · How do I allow the Holy Spirit to fill and renew me. · Do I bring life, like the water from the temple to those around me?
POSTCARDS TO DEATH-ROW INMATES
“One has to strongly affirm that condemnation to the death penalty is an inhuman measure that humiliates personal dignity, in whatever form it is carried out.” ---Pope Francis
Inmates on death row are the most forgotten people in the prison system. Each week I am posting in this space several inmates’ names and locations. I invite you to write a postcard to one or more of them to let them know that: we have not forgotten them; are praying for them and their families; or whatever personal encouragement you might like to give them. If the inmate responds, you might consider becoming pen pals.
Please write to:
For more information on the Catholic position on the death penalty go to the Catholic Mobilizing Network: http://catholicsmobilizing.org
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