NOTES for Joh 2:13-22

When we think about it, it seems strange to find, among the Christian feasts, a feast celebrating the dedication of one particular church. Events in Christ's life, feasts devoted to the Virgin Mary and the Saints—all these make sense. But a building: why is it so important to us? Of course, the history of the Lateran Basilica is interesting; after all, it remains the church of five councils and the place where popes were crowned. Today, however, I would like to speak about how it has itself become a symbol of the life of the Church, which, despite everything, is reborn where only ruins can be seen. The Lateran Basilica has changed repeatedly; it has been destroyed by fire and earthquake, and everything valuable has been carried away from it. Not one stone was left upon another on that site. Each time, the Church as a community of people rebuilt it. This is not an expression of stubbornness, but a visible statement of the fact that the Church as a community lives not because it is never destroyed or because hothouse conditions are created for it. Another power gives it life. As the Gospel reading for this feast tells us, the proof of Jesus' authority is that death has no power over Him. Neither fire nor earthquake, neither wars nor people will prevent the rebuilding of what now seems to lie in ruins. For death and destruction have no power where He gives life.