Homily (November 9) - the Dedication of the Lateran
Basilica- Fr. Michael Udoekpo
Readings: Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12; I Cor 3, 9c-11,
16-17 and John 2:13-22
We Are the Temple, the Place of God’s
Glorious House
Today we celebrate the anniversary of the
dedication of the Lateran Basilica, originally erected by the Emperor
Constantine, consecrated by Pope Saint Sylvester I, as a gift for the Church.
This celebration dates back to the Twelve century, and symbolizes the unity of
the Church, a paradox of permanence, and a mystery of God’s abiding presence in
us. A God who constantly loves us and invites us in mysterious ways to re-dedicate ourselves, families, and works, to him.
The readings of today, attempt to explain this
mystery, that we are God’s house. We are his gifts. He built us for his living. He expects us to
live up to this expectation; to be holy, nice, accommodative, generous, pure,
hopeful, resilience, clean in mind and body. That is, be good stewards, after
the example of Christ.
Christ, in today’s Gospel, reminds us of this
mystery of God’s abiding presence with us. While in Jerusalem, he ran into
those who were abusing the temple area, the sacred place, with gambling, perhaps
cheating, especially the poor and the weak. He drove them away with a reminder,
that God’s house was meant for prayers, healing and forgiveness. He symbolically
referred to himself, as the body temple to be destroyed and rebuilt in three
days, referring to his death and resurrection.
Similar reference is made by St. Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, in the second reading (1Cor 3:9c-11, 16-17), to the Corinthian Church. This church is God’s building, so also ourselves. We are called to be holy, tolerant, and welcoming to everyone. We are called not only to see Christ in every person, but as the foundation stone of our community.
Christ and Paul, are aware of ancient
biblical traditions. Recall, it was in Jerusalem, that David promised
to build God a big and nice house. In
turn, God rather, promised to build David, a more permanent, mysterious, and an
everlasting dynasty (2 Samuel 7). David’s
promise was fulfilled by his son Solomon, who completed the temple and
dedicated it to the Lord (I kings 1–11). But only to be attacked and destroyed
by the enemies. But how can God let his
dwelling place, his house be destroyed? Or be condemned to death? Why? Was it as a
result of the sins of the people, especially of the kings, like Jeroboam or Manasseh?
Was the covenant broken? But what about the promise of everlasting dynasty made
to David?
As Christ symbolically said, with a deeper
implication, ‘destroy this temple, I will rebuilt in three days,” God has a way
of dealing with his people. The physical temple might be gone but, Israel’s
faith and hope in God lives on.
This is true in exile. Hope has arisen in exile. Ezekiel,
the prophet of Exile envisions this hope. He sees an image of life giving
stream flowing from the New Jerusalem Temple. From this bountiful stream comes
life, food, fruits, and healing.
As a church, as a family, as a community or as an
individual, sometimes we experience a temporal defeat, disaster, death, or
dryness in our prayer or Christian life. We must not give up. The transformation
of this dryness or this barren world in the vision of Ezekiel into a garden of
paradise is a dramatization of God’s saving power. In Ezekiel’s prophecy, the
stream flows because God’s now dwells in the Temple, his glorious house. We are
this temple of the Holy Spirit.
May the stream of love, hope, faith, forgiveness, freshness, dedication and commitments in our various vocations, holiness of life, generosity, kindness, prosperity, good health of mind and body continue to flow in and around us as we fellowship with God and with one another.
May the stream of love, hope, faith, forgiveness, freshness, dedication and commitments in our various vocations, holiness of life, generosity, kindness, prosperity, good health of mind and body continue to flow in and around us as we fellowship with God and with one another.
