Today, we celebrate the dedication of the first Christian church which is also the pope’s cathedral and, as the inscription over its doorway reads, “Omnium urbis et orbis ecclesiarum mater et caput,” that is, “Mother and head of all the churches of the city and of the world.” This great basilica, now dedicated to both Saint John the Baptist and Saint John the Evangelist, is also called “the Lateran” because it stands on the site of the palace of the ancient Roman Laterani family. We celebrate this church today around the world because its construction marks a significant turning point in the history of the Catholic Church. Allow me to provide a little history lesson.
Soon after Christ’s death and resurrection, his followers found themselves persecuted by both their fellow Jews and the Romans. This went on, with greater or lesser intensity, for almost 300 years. It is estimated that around 60,000 Christians were put to death during that time. But, after the famous Battle of the Milvian Bridge, Constantine became the emperor of Rome on 28 October 311. Immediately, he ordered the end of persecution of Christians and shortly thereafter, he gave the Lateran palace and its lands to the Church and authorized the construction of a church – the first building specifically constructed for Christian worship. Within two years, the pope came to live in the palace next to that church. The pope was to continue to reside there, next to his cathedral, until 1309 when, for a number of ecclesiological and political reasons, the pope and his court moved to Avignon in France. It took the convincing of many people, including our own St. Katharine of Siena, to get the pope back to Rome and it wasn’t until that time – 1377 – that the pope began to live in the Vatican.
Even today, although the pope lives in the Vatican, some five miles away across the Tiber, the Basilica of St. John Lateran remains the cathedral of the bishop of Rome. Since the pope is also the bishop of Rome, this is the pope’s church. And, since it was officially dedicated on 9 November 324, this day – 9 November – is celebrated by all the Catholic churches around the world because it marks the beginning of our faith’s official recognition in the world and its spread throughout the then-known western world through the Roman Empire. Through the centuries, the Lateran Basilica has been damaged by earthquakes (443, 896), attacked by Vandals (455) and the Saracens (8th century) and destroyed by fire (1308, 1360). Because of its importance, however, the Lateran was always rebuilt and refurbished and even expanded as the need arose.
Visitors to the Lateran today will see the original baptistery, which was the only one in all of Rome for quite some time. All Romans who wanted to be baptized would come here. This fact alone brings us to the reason why we celebrate one of Christendom’s most beautiful and venerated churches – not because of its triumphal arches and colonnades, not because of its majestic baldachino or its famed mosaics and statues. We celebrate, not the place alone, but the baptized believers, the ekklesia or gathering of people whose presence through the ages has made that beautiful space holy. By virtue of their faith which drew them together to offer praise and thanksgiving to God, the places where the early believers met were sanctified; that remains true today. Remembering the words of Jesus, “where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in their midst” (Matt 18:20), they first came together in grassy places, on river banks and in their homes to be together, to learn and to pray, just as Jesus had done. In times of persecution, the early believers went into hiding and met in the catacombs and even those places – where the dead were buried – became holy by virtue of their prayer and worship.
Three centuries before this first church building was erected, St. Paul – as we hear in today’s second reading – impressed upon his converts in Corinth that they were “God’s building” which Paul, by God’s grace, had laid the foundation which is Jesus Christ. Because of the presence of the Spirit within them, that building – that is, their bodies – had become a holy place, a temple. It replaced the temple of Jerusalem that we hear about in today’s first reading, where living waters flowed to bring new life to a lifeless land. Paul’s words challenge us to consider how well we have preserved the sanctity of our own temple. People come to temples to be in the presence of God. Do people sense the presence of God within us? Does our way of life reflect the fact that the very Spirit of God dwells within us? It has since our baptisms and, in its fullness, at our confirmation, inspiring, encouraging and directing us. Do we treat our bodies with the reverence due a living temple of God? Similarly, do we respect and revere our brothers and sisters who are also dwelling places of our good and gracious God? We Christians all share the same foundation – Jesus Christ – and the same Spirit has taken up residence in each of us.
If our attitude and behaviors are less than worthy of our spiritual status as living temples of God, perhaps we might want to pay attention to Jesus’ actions in today’s gospel and allow ourselves to be purified and rededicated to God. In today’s gospel, we watch as Jesus drives out those whose actions were unworthy of Jerusalem’s holy temple, actions that took advantage of the pilgrims who came to worship there.
We who believe in Jesus are called to be holy places where others will find God. We are the Church, a community of believers who are to offer collective worship to God and witness to the world, a witness of integrity, justice, mercy and love. Ours is to be the voice that speaks out for what is right, defends the rights and dignity of others, especially the poor and disadvantaged – as Pope Leo has reminded us so clearly in his first exhortation – and prays to God for guidance and grace. We gather as Church here in this church to be strengthened by the Word of God and the Body and Blood of Christ. In doing so, we become ever more clearly the Church. Therefore, as we celebrate the Mother Church of all Christendom, let us remember that the Church, that is, Jesus Christ as head united with all the members of his body, is the temple of the Holy Spirit, the light of the world and the place where all are to be welcomed as God’s beloved sons and daughters. And, we, the Body of Christ, living temples through the power of the Holy Spirit, are called – by name at our Baptism – to present God to the world. What a great privilege – and responsibility – that is! Let us pray for the spiritual strength to be worthy of our call.