Homily — Dedication of the Lateran Basilica (2003)

Fr. Timothy W. Castor

Today we celebrate the dedication of a Church. But not just any Church, it is the Cathedral Basilica which stands upon the Lateran Hill in Rome. About three miles southeast of St. Peter’s, across the Tiber, this Church bears an inscription upon the entrance which reads: "Mother and head of all churches in the Holy City and throughout the world." You see, this Church—and not St. Peter’s in the Vatican—is the Cathedral Church of the Pope as the Bishop of Rome. Hence, it is a symbol of the Pope’s universal authority and the focal point of the Catholic Church’s unity.

The present structure dates mostly from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. But the Church was originally built by the Emperor Constantine on the spot where he was baptized by Pope Sylvester. It was first dedicated to the Holy Savior, and later Saint John the Baptist was added to that dedication. Today, it is known as Saint John’s in the Lateran. It stands as a symbol of the universal Church throughout the world and throughout history. As we remember the dedication of this Church, we celebrate the entire Catholic Church in all her glory.

Of course, we don’t just celebrate buildings. The material edifice of a Church is symbolic of something spiritual. Today’s readings reveal several levels of meaning in that symbolism. The first reading, from the Old Testament book of Ezekiel, is a prophetic vision of a new temple from which flows the life-giving waters of God’s grace. From this we are to understand that the Church is the primary channel through which divine life comes into the world. The second reading, from St. Paul, teaches that the temple of God is in fact built of those who believe in Jesus Christ—you and I are built on the foundation of Christ, forming God’s house in which dwells the Holy Spirit. In the Gospel, Jesus shows his zeal for the Temple in Jerusalem, recognizing it as a holy place which had been defiled by those who turned it into a marketplace. From this we learn that even the building itself, dedicated to the worship of God, is something sacred and to be treated as such. The building is sacred primarily because it is a symbol of Christ himself.

God allowed the temple in Jerusalem to be destroyed in 70 AD, and it was never rebuilt, to show that the old form of worship had passed away. No longer would the worship of God be centralized in one place only. Now, wherever Christians gather to celebrate the Holy Eucharist, there is the Church of Christ and there a sacred temple can be built to the glory of God. From the most magnificent cathedrals, to the most humble country chapels, every Catholic church shares the same dignity because the same holy sacrifice of Christ’s Body and Blood is offered on their altars. And so, in honoring the "mother and head of all churches"—the Lateran Basilica in Rome—we honor this church and every church, recognizing the spiritual reality behind these buildings while also respecting the sanctity of the place itself.

You see, in addition to being a spiritual edifice, the Church is a visible institution as well. The spiritual works of the Church are carried out by human beings, not angels. And these human beings require food and clothing and shelter. They perform their ministry using material resources such as buildings and supplies which must be maintained and replenished. And all this must be paid for. Yes, today is stewardship Sunday, so you knew I had to get to the subject of money sooner or later. Each year, our Bishop invites us to consider how we are supporting the mission of the Church through our gifts of time, talent, and treasure—and this year is no exception. The theme this year is "Joining hands as family—Handing on the faith." This theme reminds us of the tangible reality of our faith, as well as the fact that our financial support of the Church’s mission is in itself an act of spiritual worship. This week you’ll be receiving a letter from the Bishop along with the annual stewardship appeal brochure. I ask you to consider this appeal with prayer, and to respond with faith. Next Sunday, we will have the opportunity to make our pledge to the stewardship appeal during Mass.

I would also ask you to consider your gift of time, talent, and treasure to your parish. Please take a moment to pass down the pamphlets you’ll find in the pews. … I invite you to take this home, read it and prayerfully think about what the Lord might be calling you to do in this area. The second page has a letter from our pastor. He explains that, while more people are giving this year, the total amount of our gifts has decreased. As a result, the parish is operating on a deficit. The way to solve this is for more people to commit to the biblical tithe of 10%. How you break down that 10% is up to you, but a suggested formula and worksheet is provided on page 3. On the back page of the pamphlet is an overview of some of our parish ministries, as well as examples of some other charities to which you might donate.

Again this year, we will be encouraging our young people to participate in stewardship. You’ll be receiving information about this at the door.

It’s never an easy thing to speak of money or to ask for money from the pulpit. Each year at this time I have the vague feeling that we’re turning the house of God into a marketplace! And yet, if we look at this with the eyes of faith, we would realize that this is an essential part of our Christian life. Just as our blessed Lord gave up his riches for our sake, so we are called to give back to him a portion of what he has given us out of our own substance—and even to give sacrificially. This is our spiritual worship. And when we are obedient to the Lord in our self-giving, he will never be outdone in generosity and will always supply all of our needs. St. Paul put it so well when he wrote:

Consider this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: "He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."

© 2003, The Rev. Timothy W. Castor