Gospel Reflection

November 09, 2012

Friday – Year of Faith

Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome

by Rev. Fr. Generoso "Gener" Geronimo (Episcopal Vicar for the Diocesan Clergy

Bahay-Pari, San Carlos Pastoral Formation Complex, EDSA Guadalupe)

Lunch Mass at Megamall, Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord

Reading 1 Ez 47:1-2, 8-9, 12

The angel brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water flowing out from beneath the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the façade of the temple was toward the east; the water flowed down from the southern side of the temple,
south of the altar. He led me outside by the north gate, and around to the outer gate facing the east, where I saw water trickling from the southern side. He said to me, "This water flows into the eastern district down upon the Arabah, and empties into the sea, the salt waters, which it makes fresh. Wherever the river flows, every sort of living creature that can multiply shall live, and there shall be abundant fish, for wherever this water comes the sea shall be made fresh. Along both banks of the river, fruit trees of every kind shall grow; their leaves shall not fade, nor their fruit fail. Every month they shall bear fresh fruit, for they shall be watered by the flow from the sanctuary. Their fruit shall serve for food, and their leaves for medicine."

Responsorial Psalm Ps 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9

R. (5) The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!
God is our refuge and our strength,
an ever-present help in distress.
Therefore, we fear not, though the earth be shaken
and mountains plunge into the depths of the sea.
R. The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!
There is a stream whose runlets gladden the city of God,
the holy dwelling of the Most High.
God is in its midst; it shall not be disturbed;
God will help it at the break of dawn.
R. The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!
The LORD of hosts is with us;
our stronghold is the God of Jacob.
Come! behold the deeds of the LORD,
the astounding things he has wrought on earth.
R. The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!

Reading 2 1 Cor 3:9c-11, 16-17

Brothers and sisters: You are 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.

Gospel 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.

HOMILY

Brothers and sister, what does 'sacred' mean to you? What is your sacred place?

Today, we celebrate the Feast of the dedication of St. John Lateran. In the calendar of the church, we celebrate the memorial of the saints or the feast of the saints. They are persons. But today's celebration is very different. We are not celebrating a person, although it is named after a person, St. John the Baptist.

What we are celebrating today is the Feast of a church, an edifice that is located in Rome. And perhaps you wonder, why is this feast very important to us Catholics? When we think of the Pope in Rome, we could not avoid thinking of the magnificent Church of St. Peter's Basilica, with its big dome and huge columns. And when we see that church, we always tell ourselves, "That is our church." There is a sense of owning. We say that it is the center of our Catholic faith. But the truth is, it is not. And this brings us to the importance or the significance of our feast today.

For us to understand why we are celebrating today's feast of a church called St. John the Lateran Basilica, it is good for us to look into the historical background of this Church. Unlike us today, we are celebrating the mass in this church, in this chapel, in this edifice. But the first Christians, in the years of persecution, did not have temples. They did not have churches. They did not have places of worship, or public places to gather, to worship, to celebrate the mass or the Eucharist. They even gathered secretly for worship - in homes, in farms, in barns, and even in cemeteries.

But in the year 313, the Roman Emperor Constantine became a Christian. He, thus, granted religious tolerance to Christianity and eventually, freedom. It was the time for the Christians to worship their God publicly. And since the Christians can now worship openly and publicly, they needed to build their own temple or church. A place in Rome - a palace, in fact, in Rome - formerly owned by the Laterani family, was used by Constantine, and his mother, St. Helena, as their palace or their residence. They turned a wing of that palace over to the church, making it the first public church in Rome, wherein the Pope presided in the Eucharist. Eventually, Constantine gave the palace to the Bishop of Rome, to the Pope, who presided and resided there. It became the Pope's first official church, and it is named the Church Basilica of St. John Lateran. Why Lateran? It is because it is an honor given to the Laterani family. This is the first reason why we are celebrating today's feast. It is because that Church is the first public church of all Christians, of all Catholics.

The other reason why it is significant is this. If you go inside the Church, you will see a writing inscribed in the door of the Church. It reads: "The Mother Church of Rome and of all churches in the world". It is the Mother Church; our Mother - the Mother of all churches all over the world. It is our Mother Church. It is the parish church of the Pope, and the Pope is the parish priest, until now, of that church. And that is why during Holy Thursday evening, it is the Pope who presides in the celebration of the Last Supper Mass in the church.

Memorial places are not only historic places. They are sacred places as well. The ancient people marked places as sacred, or as a birth remembrance. This brings us to the fact that we are all invited to make a sacred place in our own homes. Just recently, I celebrated a blessing of a home and at the rooftop of that home, I was told by the owner that the last place that will be blessed is a chapel. Which means they have allotted a place of worship, a place where family can gather, a place for God. I think that is something important.

But more than that, more than a physical place, we ask God, 'what is God's dwelling place'? If we say, do I know a sacred place, and see yourself considering a place as a sacred place, thanks be to God. But if you ask God, "what is Your sacred place, God?", God will look into your heart and say, "That is where I want to be. That is my sacred place."

My dear brothers and sisters, today, we celebrate the Mother of all churches, which means even the church that is within our heart, is centered in that place, for God. Let us preserve that place. Let us always talk to God, worship God, in that place where God is truly present, and that is within our hearts, Amen.

You may also want to see: A Holy Life - Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome

A Holy Life

Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome

Feast day – November 09

Today the Church celebrates the feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome. The Basilica of St. John Lateran is the cathedral of Rome. This is not St. Peter's, but it is the Pope's cathedral. Also called the Church of Holy Savior or the Church of St. John Baptist, it was the baptism church of ancient Rome. It was built in the time of Constantine and was consecrated by Pope Sylvester in 324. This feast became a universal celebration in honor of the basilica called "the mother and mistress of all churches of Rome and the world" (omnium urbis et orbis ecclesiarum mater et caput) as a sign of love for and union with the See of Peter.

According to the 1962 Missal of Bl. John XXIII the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, today is the commemoration of St. Theodore, a Christian soldier and martyr of Asia Minor.

The Temple of Stones is a Symbol of the Living Church

Today the liturgy celebrates the dedication of the Lateran Basilica, called “mother and head of all the churches of the city and the world.” In fact, this basilica was the first to be built after Emperor Constantine’s edict, in 313, granted Christians freedom to practice their religion.

The emperor himself gave Pope Miltiades the ancient palace of the Laterani family, and the basilica, the baptistery, and the patriarchate, that is, the Bishop of Rome’s residence — where the Popes lived until the Avignon period — were all built there. The basilica’s dedication was celebrated by Pope Sylvester around 324 and was named Most Holy Savior; only after the 6th century were the names of St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist added, and now is typically denominated by these latter.

Initially the observance of this feast was confined to the city of Rome; then, beginning in 1565, it was extended to all the Churches of the Roman rite. The honoring of this sacred edifice was a way of expressing love and veneration for the Roman Church, which, as St. Ignatius of Antioch says, “presides in charity” over the whole Catholic communion (Letter to the Romans, 1:1).

On this solemnity the Word of God recalls an essential truth: the temple of stones is a symbol of the living Church, the Christian community, which in their letters the Apostles Peter and Paul already understood as a “spiritual edifice,” built by God with “living stones,” namely, Christians themselves, upon the one foundation of Jesus Christ, who is called the “cornerstone” (cf. 1 Corinthians 3:9-11, 16-17; 1 Peter 2:4-8; Ephesians 2:20-22). “Brothers, you are God’s building,” St. Paul wrote, and added: “holy is God’s temple, which you are” (1 Corinthians 3:9c, 17).

The beauty and harmony of the churches, destined to give praise to God, also draws us human beings, limited and sinful, to convert to form a “cosmos,” a well-ordered structure, in intimate communion with Jesus, who is the true Saint of saints. This happens in a culminating way in the Eucharistic liturgy, in which the “ecclesia,” that is, the community of the baptized, come together in a unified way to listen to the Word of God and nourish themselves with the Body and Blood of Christ. From these two tables the Church of living stones is built up in truth and charity and is internally formed by the Holy Spirit transforming herself into what she receives, conforming herself more and more to the Lord Jesus Christ. She herself, if she lives in sincere and fraternal unity, in this way becomes the spiritual sacrifice pleasing to God.

Dear friends, today’s feast celebrates a mystery that is always relevant: God’s desire to build a spiritual temple in the world, a community that worships him in spirit and truth (cf. John 4:23-24). But this observance also reminds us of the importance of the material buildings in which the community gathers to celebrate the praises of God. Every community therefore has the duty to take special care of its own sacred buildings, which are a precious religious and historical patrimony. For this we call upon the intercession of Mary Most Holy, that she help us to become, like her, the “house of God,” living temple of his love.

— Benedict XVI, Angelus Address, November 9, 2008

 

Sources for this article were taken from:  CatholicCulture.org

 

Prayer

O God, who from living and chosen stones
prepares an eternal dwelling for your majesty,
increase in your Church the spirit of grace you have bestowed,
so that by new growth your faithful people
may build up the heavenly Jerusalem.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

Amen

 

Gospel Reflection

November 08, 2012

Thursday – Weekday – Year of Faith

by Rev. Fr. Agapito "Aga" Tarog (Immaculate Conception Parish, Las Pinas)

Lunch Mass at Megamall, Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord

Reading 1 Phil 3:3-8a

Brothers and sisters: We are the circumcision, we who worship through the Spirit of God, who boast in Christ Jesus and do not put our confidence in flesh, although I myself have grounds for confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he can be confident in flesh, all the more can I. Circumcised on the eighth day, of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrew parentage, in observance of the law a Pharisee, in zeal I persecuted the Church, in righteousness based on the law I was blameless. But whatever gains I had, these I have come to consider a loss because of Christ. More than that, I even consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 105:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

R. (3b) Let hearts rejoice who search for the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing to him, sing his praise,
proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
Glory in his holy name;
rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
R. Let hearts rejoice who search for the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.
Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought,
his portents, and the judgments he has uttered.
R. Let hearts rejoice who search for the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth his judgments prevail.
R. Let hearts rejoice who search for the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Gospel Lk 15:1-10

The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." So Jesus addressed this parable to them. "What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.

"Or what woman having ten coins and losing one would not light a lamp and sweep the house, searching carefully until she finds it? And when she does find it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.' In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

HOMILY

Brothers and sisters, St. Paul tells us: "We are the circumcision. we who worship through the Spirit of God." This pictures to us two frames of mind - the Jewish frame of mind and the Christian frame of mind, which has consequences in one's relation to God and neighbor.

The first frame of mind is from the context of who St. Paul is. St. Paul was a Pharisee. Nang sabihin niyang "we are the circumcision" - the key word here is "circumcision" - how is that understood in the Jewish and the Christian sense? The word "circumcision", both in the Jewish and Christian understanding, means an 'act of initiation'. Ito ay pintuan ng pagpasok sa isang disposisyon. Para sa isang Hudyo, circumcision is an initiation to a relationship with God, mediated by the law. One's relationship to God is spelled out in one's faithfulness to the Mosaic law. Kung ikaw ay tapat sa batas na inilapag ni Moses, then you are defined as a righteous person. Ang pagiging maka-Diyos ng isang Hudyo is defined by the faithful and meticulous observance of the law. That is Jewish.

Kung kaya't ang implikasyon po niyan, ang pakikipag-ugnayan nga tao sa kapwa tao ay very exclusive. If you are 'just', as defined by the faithful and meticulous observance of the law, which defines your being a godly person, then there is no room for a just person - in the law - to mingle with breakers of the law.

Kaya't sa Ebanghelyo, makikita ninyo ang reaksiyon ng mga Pariseo. Nagtataka sila kung bakit itong Rabbi na si Hesus ay nakikihalubilo sa mga makasalanan. It is because in the Jewish point of view, righteousness excludes the sinners, because sinners are defined as breakers of the law. If you are an observer of the law and you mingled with the sinners who are breakers of the law, the law of Moses will say that you contaminate your righteousness because of the presence of breakers of the law. Nakakasunod po ba kayo? Those who are righteous in the Jewish sense cannot even mingle with sinners because the basis is the meticulous observance of the law, which makes you ritually impure once you mingle with the law breakers.

Now, let us go to what St. Paul is trying to tell the Philippian communities. "We are the cirmcusion". Ang ibig sabihin nito, tayo ang ganap na 'initiated'. Why? According to St. Paul, "we worship through the spirit of God, who boast in Christ Jesus and do not put our confidence in the flesh". In contra-distinction to the Jew, the Christian's relationship to God is no longer defined by the meticulous observance of the law, because the mediator between God and man is no longer the law, but a person. And that is the person of Jesus Christ. That is why Jesus will tell his Disciples in the Gospel of John, "No one comes to the Father except through Me." The mediator now between God and man is already Jesus Christ - the Living Word. And the relationship of the Christian to God in terms of Jesus Christ is a matter now of LOVE. The emphasis now is love, because it is Jesus Christ who defines the relationship of man to his God.

Bakit si Kristo? Bakit pagmamahal? Ayan o (pointing to the cross). What is the crucifixion? The dying of Jesus Christ on the cross is the highest expression of love. As has been said, "there is no greater love than to lay down one's life for his friends". That is the highest definition of love. Therefore, to relate to God by way of Jesus Christ is to relate to God by way of love, which has its consequence on one's relationship with a fellow human being.

Ano ang consequence niya? Instead of the Jewish understanding of not mingling with a sinner, because the sinner is also loved by God, we who love God cannot but love our neighbor as well. The motive for searching out the one who is lost, is because of the love that one has received from Christ, the same motive that must move the Christian to look for the lost, not because he broke the law, but because you love the person who is lost, and therefore, the motive is to bring him back to the fullness of that love relationship with God, in Christ. Kitang kita ninyo ang pagkakaiba ng Hudyo sa Kristiyano. Sa Hudyo, "Wala na akong pakialam sa iyo, kung breaker ka ng batas, sapagkat ayokong madungisan ng pagkakasala mo dahil ako ay malinis sa batas."

That is why Jesus Christ was teaching His love. He had no fear; He had no qualms mingling with sinners. And if Christ is the Good Shepherd who brings back the lost sheep, we who are followers should try to follow Jesus, and must also be exhorted to exhibit this degree of love for one another. Beginning with our own home, especially those among us who have grown cold in their relationship with God, ay kinakailangan po nating mapanumbalik sa kanila ang pagmamahal sa Diyos, by means of our loving them also.

Now you will understand why Jesus Christ teaches us to "Love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you." Why? Dahil kung mahal tayo ng Diyos, mahal din ng Diyos ang mga taong iyon. Kung mahal din sila ng Diyos, it is that love which should be pushing us forward to bring them back to the family, which is centered in the love of God.

So mga kapatid sa pananampalataya, hilingin po natin sa Diyos na makita po natin ito. Na tayo ay makipag-ugnayan sa Diyos - out of love - not out of meticulosity for the observance of the law.