Dear Parishioner,
Today, 9 November, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica.
The Basilica of Saint John Lateran was built by the Emperor Constantine around the year 324. It is the oldest of the four major basilicas in Rome and serves as the cathedral church of the Bishop of Rome, the Pope.
The Basilica is known as the “omnium Urbis et Orbis ecclesiarum Mater et Caput”, “mother and head of all the churches of the City and the World” and is written in the inscription at both sides of the central entrance.
It may seem strange that we celebrate the anniversary of the dedication of a building so far away. But this feast is not simply about bricks and mortar. It’s a celebration of the unity of the whole Church, built on the foundation of the apostles, with Christ himself as the cornerstone.
By honouring the Lateran Basilica, we honour the visible unity of the Church throughout the world, united with the See of Peter in faith and charity.
The readings chosen for today remind us that God’s true home is not confined to any one place but is found wherever his people gather in faith. In the first reading, the prophet Ezekiel has a vision of water flowing from the temple, bringing life and fruitfulness wherever it goes. This image speaks powerfully of the grace that flows from Christ and his Church into the world refreshing, healing, and renewing.
St Paul, writing to the Corinthians, takes this image even further when he says, “You are God’s building… God’s temple, and God’s Spirit dwells in you.” Each one of us is a living temple where God’s presence is meant to be seen and experienced. When we live in faith, hope, and love, we become a sign of the living God at work among his people.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks of the temple in Jerusalem and says, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” John tells us that Jesus was speaking of the temple of his body. The risen Christ is the true temple, the perfect meeting place of heaven and earth. From him flows the life-giving water of the Spirit, first through the sacraments, and then through the Church which continues his mission in the world.
As we celebrate this feast, we give thanks not just for an ancient building in Rome, but for the living Church of which we are part. Our parish church, where we gather week by week, is a visible sign of that wider communion. May it always be a place of prayer, welcome, and renewal, a place where the living water of God’s grace flows out to bring life to our community.
Yours in Christ,
Deacon Ian
