The Temple that you are!

THE WORD AND THE FEAST

November 9, 2020: Dedication of the Lateran Basilica
Ezekiel 47: 1-2,8-9,12;  John 2: 13-22

The feast that we celebrate today is the remembrance of the dedication (on 9th, Nov, 324 CE) of the Basilica that stands on the property which was called 'Lateran' because it belonged to that family but acquired and given by Emperor Constantine to the Church earlier. The Church which was built was dedicated to the two great John's of the Gospel: John the Baptist and John the Evangelist! This Basilica is one of the so-called Four Major Basilicas of Rome (the other three being those of St. Peter, Mary Major and St. Paul outside the walls of Rome). There is yet another importance attached to this Basilica because this is the Cathedral, that is the Official seat of the Bishop of Rome - that is none other than the Holy Father himself. Hence THIS is called the Papal Cathedral, and not the all-famous Basilica of St. Peter! 

Temple. Temple of the Lord. Temple of the living God. Temple where lives God. That temple you are! And it is from here the Lord wants his glory to be spread far and wide, from the temple of our selves, from the altars of our daily struggles and sacrifices. The Lord's zeal for the temple flares up today and that temple is not the structure that stands in places, but the persons that we are.

Humanity is the sanctuary where Divinity resides: I need to realise that I am not merely what I see! I am more than me. There is the indwelling Spirit who resides within me. The Divinity that is within me is the true dignity that defines me. First of all, to think of it that the Lord chose to dwell within me; secondly to think of the mystery that I am made of! Both these should make me awestruck but what is happening around us today is so loathsome. 

The Robbers' den experience and the Market place experience is everywhere! But the Lord invites us specially as God's children to realise the Blessing that we are. We are a blessing to many, as Ezekiel says about the waters that flow on from the Temple which make fertile every land that it flows into! 

In simple words, we are called to be persons worthy of the Lord, communities worthy of our faith and societies worthy of the sacredness of the humanity - to realise the Temple that we are!