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 Dedication of the Lateran Basilica: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Theme: God’s Temple: Sacred Space, Sacred Body

Readings: Ez 47:1-2,8-9.12; 1 Cor. 3:9c-11.16-17; Jn 2:13-22

Dear friends in Christ, today, the Church joyfully commemorates the anniversary of the dedication of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, consecrated in 324 AD. This sacred edifice, gifted to the Church by Emperor Constantine, holds a unique place in our faith; it is the Episcopal seat of the Pope as Bishop of Rome and is honoured as “the Mother and Head of all Churches of Rome and the world.” Initially dedicated to St. John the Baptist and later to St. John the Evangelist, this Basilica stands as a symbol of the Church’s enduring presence and mission.

The dedication of a church is a solemn act of consecration, which sets the building apart as a sacred space for worship, prayer, and the celebration of the sacraments. It becomes a spiritual home, a place where heaven meets earth, where the faithful gather to encounter God, hear His Word, and receive His grace. Once consecrated, the church is reserved for sacred functions and deserves our utmost reverence.

In today’s Gospel, however, Jesus confronted a stark contrast to this sacred ideal. Upon entering the temple in Jerusalem, He found not a house of prayer, but a marketplace filled with noise and injustice. In righteous anger, He drove out the merchants, charging them to stop making God’s house a marketplace. His actions remind us of the sanctity of God’s dwelling and challenge us to reflect on how we treat our own places of worship.

We can learn the following lessons from His actions.

Reverence for Sacred Space: Jesus’ action against those buying and selling in God’s house calls us to honour the sanctity of our churches. These are not ordinary buildings; they are rather places where God dwells and from which His blessings flow into our lives and homes. The prophet Ezekiel, in the first reading, described water flowing from the temple, bringing life, healing, and abundance into dead seas, the creatures living in them, and the trees on their banks. This image reminds us that the church is a source of spiritual nourishment for the faithful.

Therefore, we must treat our churches with respect: keeping them clean, observing proper liturgical posture, and maintaining an atmosphere of reverence. The presence of God demands silence, devotion, and attentiveness, not distraction, disorder, and noise.

The True Temple: Christ and His Body: When Jesus was questioned about His authority, He spoke of the destruction and rebuilding of the temple in three days, referring to His own body. This reveals that the ultimate dwelling place of God is not a building, but Christ Himself and, by extension, the Church, which is His living body on earth.

St. Paul affirmed this in the second reading, reminding us that Jesus is the foundation upon which the Church is built. He warned against false teachings and immoral conduct, urging us to build on Christ with integrity. Each believer is also a living temple of the Holy Spirit and must be kept holy. Thus, our bodies are not our own; they are gifts from God, entrusted to us for His glory. Every immoral act desecrates this temple.

This is a call to all priests and spiritual leaders to uphold the truth of the Gospel and to protect the Church from being used for exploitation and abuse of the faithful. It is also a personal call to each of us to live in holiness, honouring the divine presence within us.

Zeal for God’s House: When the disciples saw Jesus’ action in the temple, they recalled the words, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” His zeal was not just for the physical building but for all places where God dwells, especially in the Eucharist and in the hearts of believers. Jesus is interested in what goes on in God’s house – the Church and our bodies.

Dear friends, we are also called to cultivate a burning zeal for the holiness of God’s temple. This means caring for our churches, ensuring they reflect the dignity of God’s presence, and guarding our bodies from sin. A person consumed by zeal will not ignore a dirty church or a soul stained by sin. Instead, they will act, cleansing, restoring, and protecting what belongs to God.

Dear brothers and sisters, as we celebrate this feast, let us renew our commitment to reverence, holiness, and zeal for God’s house. May our churches be true houses of prayer, and may our bodies be worthy temples of the Holy Spirit. Let us honour God in His dwelling, both in stone and in flesh, so that His grace will flow through us into the world.

Peace be with you.

Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima