FEAST OF THE DEDICATION OF THE LATERAN BASILICA, NOVEMBER 9, 2022

MASS READINGS:

A reading of the holy Gospel according to Jn 2:13-22

Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money-changers seated there. He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables, and to those who sold doves he said, “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.” His disciples recalled the words of Scripture, Zeal for your house will consume me. At this the Jews answered and said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his Body. Therefore, when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they came to believe the Scripture and the word Jesus had spoken.

REFLECTION

Zeal for your house will consume me.

The Basilica of St John Lateran is the oldest church in Europe; it is the Cathedral of Rome. Known as the mother church of the Roman Catholics, it was founded in the fourth century in honor of St John the Baptist and St John the Evangelist. Contrary to popular belief, St Peter's Church is not the Pope's main church in Rome. It is the Basilica of St John Lateran.

The Cathedral is the seat of the bishop's authority over the diocese. The authority is to be of of service to God's people, shepherding and guiding them. The Pope is the Bishop of Rome as well as the head of the Roman Catholic Church. St John Lateran is his cathedral.

The Laterani family palace was converted into a church by Emperor Constantine. He gave it to Pope Sylvester (314-335) as the papal church and residence. It's facade's inscription refers to it as "the Mother and Head of all Churches, in the City and of the World".

This is where the Pope, as Bishop of Rome, celebrates Holy Thursday Mass.

The Basilica is beautiful and it stands for the unity among Roman Catholics, as they unite themselves with the chair of Peter. With zeal it has been cared for all these years.

After the cleansing of the temple by Jesus, His disciples remembered Psalm 69 by David, Zeal for your house will consume me. Zeal is great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause, something or someone. The house of God should be guarded and taken care of with great enthusiasm because of whom we are defending.

God Bless You

(1) Rome.net Civitatis Rome, Basilica of St John Lateran