God’s Holy Temple
In the words of Pope Benedict XVI (9 November 2008): ‘Today’s feast celebrates a mystery that is always relevant: God’s desire to build a spiritual temple in the world, a community that worships him in spirit and truth’ (cf. John 4: 23–24).
The Basilica of St. John Lateran was the first to be built after the edict (313) of Emperor Constantine, and is the ecclesiastical seat of the Bishop of Rome. As a result, it is called ‘the mother and head of all the churches of the city and the world’.
The readings for today’s feast recall an essential truth: the temple of stones is but a symbol of the living Christian community which, baptised in life-giving waters (First Reading), gives joy to God’s city (Psalm).
In the era of the new Passover covenant, there is no temple building other than that of the Christian community, in whom the Spirit of Christ lives (Second Reading).
Christ is both temple (Gospel) and foundation, from whom we have our food and healing, our refuge and strength, our grace and our holiness.
As Pilgrims of Hope in this Jubilee Year, we pray that we might, through his Spirit living in us, imitate Christ by our steadfastness, courage and joy in the face of deceit, greed and despair.
