Dedication of the Lateran Basilica
Ordinary Time Homilies • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 11 viewsWhile churches were sometimes built as fortresses out of necessity, our readings present it as the temple from which healing waters flows with its members on mission, as a community with Christ as foundation stone and capstone and the members as part of Christ, and as the place which makes God present since he dwells there and yet which cannot be destroyed for he is eternal and will rise to immortality. No church is ideal, but these give us the images to give us the direction of growth and to measure out progress towards the full stature of Christ.
Notes
Transcript
Title
Title
The Temple of God
Outline
Outline
We often think of basilicas or temples as fortresses
We often think of basilicas or temples as fortresses
Here is where we preserve or defend the truth. These are the walls that protect the faith as in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher or the synagogue in Innsbruck. This is the Jerusalem, the walls around the a vulnerable people.
But in our texts we have three images of the church that point in a different direction.
But in our texts we have three images of the church that point in a different direction.
First, a church is a temple from which healing water, the water of the Spirit flows.
First, a church is a temple from which healing water, the water of the Spirit flows.
The community with God in the midst is the source of mission. That is Ezekiel’s picture, and one pictures oneself flowing out of the church on mission. That is why it does not matter that such a building could not be built in Jerusalem.
Second, the church is the community with Christ as foundation stone and capstone
Second, the church is the community with Christ as foundation stone and capstone
A physical building may house such a community and may reflect the nature of the community, but the church is the community, and each member is to be part of Christ, drawing their source or foundation from Christ, and finding their goal in the head, Christ, so they are each part of Christ.
Third, the church or temple is both the place where God dwells and God’s or Jesus’ physical presence itself
Third, the church or temple is both the place where God dwells and God’s or Jesus’ physical presence itself
What detracts from this presence, from this person needs to be removed, but at the same time because it is the presence of God the real church cannot be destroyed, for he is eternal and will always rise again. We need to keep our focus on this central reality.
So, sisters, remember that every church or community is really church to the degree it is these three things, whatever its buildings or people look like.
So, sisters, remember that every church or community is really church to the degree it is these three things, whatever its buildings or people look like.
Are they, is that community or that person as part of the community, a source of the healing Spirit flowing from the divine source?
Is that community a community of Christ, with him as foundation and capstone and the members as people who form part of Christ?
Is that community a place where God seems to dwell, where is presence is not just a physical structure or statue, but where the community is Christ in person?
Obviously, no such community is perfect. But if we keep these images in mind that we know how to build the church (including the church building) and whether we are growing it or simply doing religious business in a religious looking marketplace.
