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| Lateran Basilica, Rome |
Deacon Tom writes ©
"Holy Space"
Today
we celebrate the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica. It is
dedicated to St. John the Baptist, St. John the Evangelist, and to Jesus Christ,
our Savior. It became the Mother Church of Christendom around 313 AD when the
Emperor Constantine gave it to the Bishop of Rome. Many Councils, referred to
as Lateran Councils, were held within its walls in the early days of the church.
It was there that much of the dogma of our faith that we profess today was
formulated.
I
have seen this beautiful church and indeed it has a lovely edifice. The
architecture, the decorations, the adornments are beyond description. This is
true for many of our basilicas and cathedrals. Many of our churches are a sight
to behold. Yet, what gives them their real beauty is not the adornments. It’s
not the gold and silver decorations, nor the renaissance paintings, nor the
jeweled sacred vessels. What makes these grand structures so magnificent is the
One in whose name and memory these houses of worship were built - the Lord, God
Almighty.
We
know from our Old Testament history that David desired to build a house for the
Lord and that his son, Solomon, is credited with building the magnificent
Temple in Jerusalem. But buildings come and go. The temple that God wanted to
establish among His people was made of human flesh. It was Christ, the God-Man.
Salvation History is the story of God visiting His people and creating within them
“holy
space” that would be the living, breathing temples of His Holy Spirit.
Whenever
we enter into this “holy space”, we come into a communal celebration to share in
the banquet Christ has prepared for us through His sacrifice on Calvary. We
enter into a mystery that is beyond us and that summons within us a faith that rises
above our understanding. Within this “holy space” we are joined by other
believers to be nourished by the Body and Blood of Christ and enlivened by the
Words of Sacred Scripture. Then, reenergized by God’s love for us, we are commissioned
to take our gifts out into the world and share them eagerly with
everyone we meet. The gifts we receive inside our “holy spaces” will atrophy
and die if we do not bring them to each and every person we encounter; if we do
not used them in every situation we find ourselves, if they are not a part of
all our decisions and judgments we make in the course of the day. We are the church, the living, breathing,
holy spaces God desires to dwell within.
Enjoy
the Day!
Deacon
Tom
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