On Nov. 9th we celebrate the Feast called Dedication of Lateran Basilica in Rome, this year it happens to fall on a Sunday, and so once again we interrupt Ordinary Time in order to celebrate a feast.  The Basilica is named after St. John Lateran and was built during the reign of Emperor Constantine and consecrated in the year 324.  Even though the Pope lives near St. Peter’s, St. John Lateran is the Cathedral Church, or in other words it is the Church where the Pope, the Bishop of Rome, has his Cathedra or “chair” from which he teaches.  This is similar to one at St. Simon and Jude where the Bishop Olmsted’s teaching chair is located  If you haven’t been to Rome or seen the Lateran basilica, or weren’t able to come to the Catholicism DVD series last Thursday where we saw pictures of it, Lateran Basilica is absolutely beautiful and teaches us so much.  I have had a chance to visit the beautiful Basilica on one of my trips to Rome.  There are giant statues of all the Apostles where the columns are, which hold up the Church; greatly symbolizing the truth that the Church is built upon the Apostles.  Then up by ceiling are paintings of all the Pope’s showing the Apostolic succession of shepherds Christ has called to lead his Church. 

In our 1st reading, we hear St Paul saying to the Church at Corinth, and indeed to each of us: “You are God’s building”, that we are the temple of God that the Spirit of God dwells in.  And certainly that is true, ultimately the Church is the People of God, the Church is those people who have conformed their lives to Christ, the saints in Heaven, as well as those who are in Purgatory.  In addition to those in Heaven and purgatory the Church, is made up of all of us who are being conformed more and more to Christ.  We are the Church, and although I could expand on that truth in this homily, instead I want to focus on the importance of the Church building. 

The Church building itself has a Sacramental quality to it.  In the Sacraments, an earthly physical thing- bread and wine, or water, or oil, etc. are used to signify and helps to bring about a deeper, greater spiritual reality.  So not only is it important to think about the Church as the People of God, but it is important to understand that the Church building really matters too.  For us Catholics, the space in which we gather to worship matters- that is why we don’t worship in movie theaters or shopping mall buildings.  For us the Church building teaches us and it signifies a deeper reality.  If the building was just a space for us to gather, and it didn’t matter what kind of space it might be, if the building itself didn’t matter then why would Christ have purified the Temple building in our Gospel?  Jesus knew that the Temple building mattered, because it teaches and signifies a deeper reality, and because hopefully it brings about that deeper reality in us.  Today, I would like to point out 4 images the Church building signifies.

First, the Church building is meant to be a new Temple, it represents the Temple that God told Moses exactly how to build in Exodus 25.  The temple was where the Arc of the Covenant was which kept the Tablets of 10 commandments and Moses’ staff, for the Jews it was where the power and presence of God dwelled.  For us we have the Tabernacle where God actually dwells.  The Temple in the Old Testament had the Altar on which the Sacrifice of the people were offered by the priests.  The blood from the Sacrifices were washed with water and flows out from the side of the Temple.  And as our 1st reading from Ezekiel says, the living water flows out of the temple which gives life to every living thing, and which cleanses to make fresh.  Our Church building too has the Altar where the Sacrifice is offered to God, and we too have Living water which gives life and cleanses us.

Secondly, the Church building symbolizes the New Jerusalem, the Perfect City which came out from Heaven as the Book of Revelation, chapter 21 describes.  This heavenly city needed no light from the sun or moon, because the Lamb of God was its light, it gleamed with the splendor of God. Its walls were made of precious jewels, which is why many Churches, especially Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris have beautiful stained glass to symbolize the jeweled walls.  The streets of the New Jerusalem is made of pure gold, which is why many sanctuaries in Catholic Churches also are adorned with items which are made of gold.  So you see, the Church is set apart, the building doesn’t simply have things every home or other building would have.  The Church shouldn’t be as comfortable as a living room, because when we enter into a Church building we are meant to be drawn into a higher world, our spirits are meant to be raised up to Heaven.  Have you ever opened the doors to a Catholic Church and gasp- you are speechless at the majestic beauty?  Vatican II says that “the Church building should be filled with signs and symbols of Heavenly realities”.  Which is why many Churches have statues and images of Angels and Saints surrounding the people.  And that is why in every Mass, we pray that our voices will be joined with the Angels and Saints in Heaven who are singing the song of praise- Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of Hosts.   

Thirdly, the Church building is meant to signify Noah’s ark.   Have you ever heard this?  The Church is meant to be the vessel in which God rescues his people from the crisis and chaos in the world.  The Church images a ship, that is why the nave of the Church, (nave- Latin for ship) is what is traditionally called the entrance and part of the main body of the Church.  We are meant to stay aboard this ship through all the difficulties in life. Then, at the appropriate time, God told Noah to open the windows and doors, and all the animals and Noah and his family were then to go and make a new civilization, so it is with us at the end of every Mass. The doors are opened and we as the light of Christ are sent out to form a new society.

Lastly, the Church is meant to symbolize the Mystical Body of Christ.  Through the Church we are grafted onto Christ, we are forever united to the person of Jesus Christ.  It is in the Church at baptism we are washed, then we receive the oil of Chrism in which we are permanently marked as belonging to Christ.  And the Church is the place where we come back to be fed with the Body and Blood of Christ, just as a baby is fed by its mother, for truly the Church is our mother.  The Church is the place in which we as children of God are nurtured and develop as a child does in their mother’s womb.  And then at the appropriate time the womb is opened and we are born into a new and eternal life.

So my brothers and sisters, let’s take a moment to consider the beautiful building we are worshiping in.  Look around, do you see the symbolism I spoke of?    Will you look at your Church in a different light as you ponder the richness with in this building. 

I consider our Church of Corpus Christi, Beautiful Simplicity.  This Church is beautiful and simple, it is clear our focus is on Jesus Christ, as it should be.  And Mary, and the statues behind you are kind of pushing you closer to Christ.  There is so much to love about our Church building.    I appreciate the same stone that outlays the Crucifix, is the same stone of the baptistery, and which is the same stone that holds the Holy Water which we bless ourselves with on the way in, calling to mind and heart our baptism, our dying to self and living new in Christ Jesus. And perhaps my favorite part of this sanctuary, the Altar which reveals the Lamb of God who is sacrificed for our salvation, and which we behold and receive inside our very bodies.  So in this Mass may we rejoice with all other Catholics who worship in buildings that draw them upward, especially remembering the Lateran Basilica in Rome.  Let’s join all the Angels and Saints in praise and worship of God, and draw closer to our salvation and our heavenly homeland.

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