At first glance, we might wonder what in the world today’s feast is about. Why are we, thousands of miles away from Rome, celebrating the dedication of a church building most of us have never seen?
As always, there’s more to the story. The Basilica of St. John Lateran is no ordinary church. It’s the pope’s cathedral, the first major church built after Christianity became legal under Emperor Constantine in the early 300s. In fact, Constantine donated part of his own palace to build it. Over the centuries, the Lateran has been rebuilt, burned, restored, and renewed. It’s gone through seasons of beauty and destruction and yet, it has always remained. In that sense, it’s a symbol of the Church herself… and of our faith, which somehow endures through fire, ruin, and rebuilding.
But today’s feast isn’t really about a piece of architecture. It’s about what that building represents: God’s dwelling among His people. The Lateran Basilica reminds us that God is not confined to one place or time. Every church, from the grandest cathedral to the simplest chapel, points to an even deeper truth: we ourselves are the living temples of God’s Spirit.
Our readings help us understand that lofty idea.
In the first reading, from Ezekiel, we hear about a stream of water flowing from the temple, a beautiful image of life and nourishment flowing from God’s house. I’ll admit, this passage hits differently for me since we’ve had not one but two water main breaks near the gym! I’ve literally seen water flowing east from our building’s foundation though I can’t say it brought much life or joy, only a big bill.
Still, Ezekiel’s image is powerful. Water flowing from God’s temple in a dry, desert climate, brings life wherever it goes… even freshening the Dead Sea. It’s a picture of God’s grace transforming what was once barren and lifeless. The Church sees in this vision a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ, the new and everlasting Temple, and of the Holy Spirit flowing from Him, giving life to the world. It’s also a symbol of baptism: the living water that cleanses, heals, and gives us new life.
The trees that grow along the river’s edge, bearing fruit for food and leaves for healing, remind us that God’s grace nourishes and heals us and that through us, His grace can bring healing to others.
In the second reading, St. Paul takes that image and brings it even closer: “You are God’s temple, and the Spirit of God dwells in you.” That’s not just a metaphor. Paul is reminding the Corinthians and us that God’s dwelling is not simply a place but a people. We, the Church, are His building. Christ is the foundation, and all of us are the living stones built upon it.
That means the holiness of the Church depends not just on our buildings, but on how we live. Paul warns against anything that damages that temple: false teaching, division, immorality; because when the community breaks apart, the dwelling place of God is affected.
Then we come to the Gospel, Jesus cleansing the temple. He isn’t just angry about the noise or the moneychangers; His passion is for the holiness of God’s house. His zeal is for worship that is true and pure. But there’s something deeper going on: when He says, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up,” He’s talking about Himself. Jesus becomes the new temple, God’s presence now lives fully in Him. By our baptism, that presence now lives in us.
So today, we celebrate not just a basilica in Rome, but a living truth: God chooses to dwell in His people. The dedication we celebrate today is not simply of stones and marble, but of hearts ready to receive God’s Spirit.
This feast calls us to remember that we’re not just visitors to God’s temple, we are the temple. Our task is to let the living water of God’s grace flow through us, into our relationships, our parish community, our world. When we live as God’s dwelling place, our words heal, our actions nourish, and our presence brings peace and joy.
But to do that, we sometimes have to let Jesus do a little “temple cleansing” in us. Maybe there are tables He needs to overturn! Perhaps there are the distractions, grudges, addictions, fears, and other clutter that crowds out the Spirit. Christ wants to clear those spaces, not to condemn us, but to make room for life to flow again.
So as we celebrate this ancient feast, we might ask ourselves:
- How can I allow God’s living water to flow through me and bring life and healing to others?
- What “moneychangers” or distractions need to be driven out from the temple of my heart to make room for God’s free and joyful presence?
- In what ways can I honor and care for the living temple that is both my body and my community, knowing that God’s Spirit dwells within?
May you and I become fitting places for God’s love, grace, healing, and goodness to dwell. May our lives help others to offer pleasing worship to the Lord. And may we live in such a way that God is filled with joy as he looks at what his grace has built within us!
