Dedication of St. John Lateran Basilica in Rome

Dedication of the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome - Feast

Commentary of the day
Saint Bernard : Feast of the Dedication of a church, feast of the people of God

Reading

1 Cor. 3,9-11.16-17.
For we are God's co-workers; you are God's field, God's building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But each one must be careful how he builds upon it, for no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there, namely, Jesus Christ. Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person; for the temple of God, which you are, is holy.

Ps 46(45),2-3.5-6.8-9.
God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in distress. Thus we do not fear, though earth be shaken and mountains quake to the depths of the sea, Streams of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High. God is in its midst; it shall not be shaken; God will help it at break of day. The LORD of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob. Selah Come and see the works of the LORD, who has done fearsome deeds on earth;

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.

Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB

Commentary of the day

Saint Bernard (1091-1153), Cistercian monk and Doctor of the Church
Sermon 5 for the Dedication

Feast of the Dedication of a church, feast of the people of God

Today, my brethren, we celebrate a great feast: the feast of the house of the Lord, the Temple of God, the city of the Eternal King, the Bride of Christ… Now let us ask ourselves what God’s house, temple, city, Bride might be. Only with fear and awe can I say it: it is ourselves. Yes, it is we ourselves who are all these things in the heart of God. We are this by his grace and not by our own merits… The humble acknowledgement of our neediness arouses his compassion. This acknowledgement inclines God himself to supply for our hunger like a father and to cause us to find in him abundant bread. So we are indeed his house where the food of life is never lacking… “Keep yourselves holy,” it is said, “because I, your Lord, am holy,” (Lv 11,44). And the apostle Paul tells us: “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you?” (1Cor 6,19). But can holiness itself suffice? According to the apostle’s testimony, peace is also necessary: “Strive for peace with everyone,” he says, “and for that holiness without which no one will see the Lord,” (Heb 12,14). It is this peace that enables us to live together, united as brethren; it is this that builds up a wholly new city for our King, called Jerusalem, which means: vision of peace… Finally, it is God himself who says to us: “I have espoused you in fidelity, I have espoused you in right and in justice,” (his, not our own), “I have espoused you in love and in mercy,” (Hos 2,22; 21). Isn’t it true that he has acted like a bridegroom? Hasn’t he loved you like a bridegroom and with the jealousy of a bridegroom? So why should you not think of yourselves as the bride? So it is, my brethren, that since we have proof that we are the Father’s family because of the abundance of our supply, the temple of God because of our sanctification, the city of the great King because of our communion of life, the bride of the immortal Bridegroom because of love, it seems to me that I can affirm without fear: this feast is indeed our own.