It can be said that the seat of governance in the Roman Catholic Church is at the Vatican City in Roman.
And at the Vatican City, the most prominent church is St. Peter's Basilica.
But today's feast of the dedication of the Lateran Basilica, or also known as St. John Lateran Basilica, brings the focus back on the Church as a mother.
It is the Cathedral of the Diocese of Rome in the city of Rome, and serves as the seat of the Bishop of Rome, the Pope.
It is the oldest public church in the city of Rome, and the oldest basilica of the Western world, and it has the title of ecumenical mother church of the Roman Catholic faithful.
This feast calls to mind the unity of the Church with the Lateran Basilica is the mother of all the churches in world and that the Pope is acknowledged as the head of the Church.
This feast calls for a renewed pledge of obedience and faithfulness to the doctrinal teachings of the Church.
The readings remind us that as members of the Church, we need to be cleansed and renewed in faith so that Church can fulfill her mission as a sign of God's salvation and that we are witnesses of God's love and forgiveness.
May the Lord God grant us this blessing as we celebrate this feast with thanksgiving.