Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12 / 1 Cor 3:9-11, 16-17 / John 2:13-22
Today, the Church celebrates the dedication of the Lateran Basilica.
Officially it is called the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, and it is dedicated to St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist.
It is the cathedral of the diocese of Rome, and so it is the official Church of the Pope, who is the Bishop of Rome.
Built in the year 324AD, it is the oldest church in the West, and it is considered the mother and the head of all the churches of Rome and of the world.
In celebrating the dedication, we also celebrate the deep spiritual aspects of our faith.
We celebrate unity, that we belong to the One Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
We believe that through the Church, God is offering the world the gift of forgiveness and salvation.
We also profess that the Church is human and divine.
We are the living members of the Church, the Body of Christ, and Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church.
In the gospel, Jesus drove out all those merchants and money changers and said: Take all these out of here and stop turning my Father's house into a market.
When the people challenged Him to justify what He did, Jesus said: Destroy this sanctuary and in three days I will raise it up.
The people didn’t understand that Jesus was referring to the sanctuary that is His Body.
So, the Church, the living Body of Christ, is holy, and the Church building is also holy.
The Church is the House of God, and a House of prayer.
So, the building is sacred and it stands on holy ground.
In this sacred building, worship is offered, prayer is heard and answered, and God’s love flows like the healing waters described in the 1st reading.
The Church, the House of God, is like the Temple described in the 1st reading, where the waters of God’s healing love flow into the hearts of all believers.
It is the waters of God’s love that brings about life, that brings about healing and forgiveness, that makes us bear fruits of love for others and for the glory of God.
The celebration of the dedication of the Lateran Basilica also reminds us that we all have a spiritual home.
So, the Church is the House of God, as well as our spiritual home, and we have come home to be with God.
So, if Pope Leo XIV is asked where is his spiritual home, he will say that it is the Lateran Basilica.
And if we were asked where is our spiritual home, we will say that it is the Church of Christ the King.
Yes, here we are at home with our King and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Here at home, we receive blessings from Jesus, we receive forgiveness for our sins, we are healed and strengthened with Holy Communion.
Here at home, in the House of God, we offer worship and prayer, and we believe that our prayers will be heard and answered.
And we go forth from the House of God with the mission of calling others to come back home.
No matter how far they have gone, no matter what they have done wrong, no matter how angry or disappointed they are with the Church, God is calling them to come back home and to talk to God.
And we are to be the voice of God to call them home.
The feast of Christ the King will be in two weeks’ time.
Before that, there will be a triduum, the three days of prayer in preparation for the feast day.
Let us take some prayer cards and petition forms and ask others to come to the triduum to offer up their prayers to God.
Everyone, whether young or old, everyone has a need, everyone has a prayer, and everyone needs to come home and to know that their prayers are heard.
Let these prayer cards and petition forms be like God’s invitation.
Regardless of how near or how far we are from God, let us come home to the House of God.
Let us come home and receive love, forgiveness, healing, and to let God make His home in our hearts.