Today we celebrate a very specific feast, the dedication of St. John Lateran Basilica in Rome. Historically a church of immense significance. It is the oldest Christian Basilica in Europe, Given to the Pope by the first Christian Emperor Constantine in 324 A.D. It is the first public place of worship in Rome because it was dedicated very shortly after the legalization of Christianity. Because of this, it was the seat of the Roman Bishop, the Pope. And held all papal coronations beginning in the 4th century through much of the 9th century. Named for St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist and given the last name of the family that originally owned the land the building sits on before being gifted from the emperor.

The readings this weekend focus on two important aspects of what it means to be a church. Ekklesia in Greek, the word which the Scripture uses for Church, means a public gathering of people. We can see the importance then of a church not having to hid from the public. Our first reading talks about the outward motion of the Church’s grace carried by its people. The Prophet sees it as a great river of grace flowing from God’s Temple. Everything this water of life touches brings growth and changes the desolate land it touches into the garden we lost with our misuse of free will. It is the reason we call it the Mass, Ite Missa Est (go out I send you…).

Our Gospel today talks about the need to keep the House of God Holy, especially for us Catholics, the tabernacle containing Christ Himself is present in our Churches, we have to make sure that the Church is dedicated to the worship of God and the reception of the sacraments. Don’t go into church chewing gum, or drinking coffee, it’s old fashioned but try to dress up, putting on our best for God, not each other. Go in and show reverence for God’s house. Talk to your friends in the gathering space after the Mass.

Warning Pastoral Rant: This Gospel also shows us something important that I remind people about in confession all the time, anger is an emotion, not a sin. What we do with it can be sinful, or, like Christ, corrective. Often in anger we say something that is hurtful or do something that is petty. But the emotion of anger is a reaction to an injustice, how we react is what we have to work on, not never getting angry.

May the Love, Peace and Grace of God be with you,
Fr. Adam