Today we celebrate the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, the Cathedral of Rome and the “mother of all churches of the city and of the world.” This celebration is not so much about bricks and marble, but about what the Lateran represents: the unity of the whole Church in communion with the Bishop of Rome, the successor of Peter. The Basilica is a visible sign of the living Church, built not only of stone, but of people who, through baptism, become God’s dwelling place.
In the Gospel, Jesus cleanses the Temple, driving out the merchants and money changers. His actions were not simply about keeping order in a holy place. Rather, he was pointing to a deeper truth: the true temple of God is not a building, but his own Body. “Destroy this temple,” He said, “and in three days I will raise it up.” The disciples later understood that he was speaking of his resurrection. In Christ, God’s presence is no longer confined to a single sanctuary but is revealed fully in him. And through baptism, each of us becomes part of this living temple.
Saint Paul reminds us that “you are God’s building” (1 Cor 3:9). The Church is the spiritual house built of “living stones,” and Christ Himself is the cornerstone. This means that every Christian is called to be a true dwelling place of God. But it also carries a challenge: to be consistent in living out the faith we profess. Coherence between faith and daily life is not easy; it requires constant openness to the Holy Spirit. As Pope Francis often reminded us, a Christian is recognised not so much by words, but by actions, by the way he or she lives.
The Lateran Basilica stands as a reminder of the visible, institutional Church, but it also points us to the deeper reality: that the Church’s mission is to witness to faith through love. Structures, ministries, and pastoral programmes exist for one purpose: to bring people to Christ and to make his love visible in the world. Faith and love must always go together. Love is the expression of faith, and faith gives foundation and meaning to love.
Today’s feast also calls us to unity and communion. Just as the Lateran Basilica unites all Christians around the Bishop of Rome, so too are we called to be builders of unity in a divided world. The Church is meant to be a sign of reconciliation, a foretaste of the new humanity brought by Christ—a family of peoples reconciled in fraternity and solidarity. In our time, when indifference and enmity often separate communities, the Church must continue to build bridges of dialogue, understanding, and peace.
Let us ask the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the dwelling place of God’s Word, to help us be living temples of his love. May our lives radiate Christ’s presence, so that the Church, like the Lateran Basilica, may truly be a house of prayer for all peoples and a sign of hope for the world.
men.
Father Josekutty Mathew CMF
