We begin our homily today in Portland, Maine. There is a chair there that is the most important chair in all of Maine for Catholics. It is the chair that Bishop Malone sits in when he presides over liturgy. The Latin word for chair is "cathedra" – and so, it makes sense that the church building that houses the chair is called a "cathedral!" And so, we start our homily today at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland. It is a beautiful edifice – and makes an impressive presence in the Portland skyline that one sees driving down I295. Most likely many of you have been inside the cathedral and have seen "the chair."
Now since not everyone can get to the Bishop's Mass every Sunday as we ought to be doing – since he is the only one in the diocese authorized by the Church to preside here - "smaller cathedrals" or "churches" have been set up in various locations all across the diocese - and delegates from him have been sent out to preside in his place: these delegates being priests - of which I am one. (I, however, in this case am but a "delegate of the delegate" – as I am Fr. Steve's representative because he can't be here on Sunday.) I too, in his place and the bishop's place, preside from "a chair" in this "church."
Now this same pattern happens all across all the countries of the world. And it in this way that the One Church exercises the same ministry, celebrates the same sacraments, listens to the same Scripture readings and is united in one and the same purpose: to love and serve the Lord until he comes again!
Now where this all began, takes us across the ocean to Rome, Italy. When the Church was being developed and organized there in the early centuries, one cathedral was considered not only the duly designated cathedral for the Diocese of Rome (of which the pope is presiding bishop), but it was also considered the mother of all the other cathedrals (and even churches) in the world – and this is the Cathedral of St. John Lateran on Celian Hill in Rome. Now some churches have a special ranking because of their historic or spiritual significance – these are called "basilicas." Again we only have to go as far as Lewiston, Maine to see a real basilica (though a "minor" one, in the scheme of things): designated such because of its architectural majesty and the dedicated service of the Dominican Fathers who ministered there for over a hundred years.
Now, there are four major basilicas in the world and they are all in Rome. St. John Lateran – whose dedication feast we remember and celebrate today – is the first and oldest. It is a very historic place: five key ecumenical councils of the Church were held there throughout the centuries. The official title is the Patriarchal Basilica of the Most Holy Savior and also St. John the Baptist at the Lateran – as it stands on the site of an ancient palace belonging at one time to the Laterani family. (Others: St. Peter, St. Paul O.W., St. Mary Major).
The Emperor Constantine received the Lateran palace as part of his wife's dowry and then donated it to the Church. Thereafter it was the official residence (patriarchum) of the popes until their departure for Avignon, France in 1309. It has undergone many renovations due to earthquakes, barbarian invasions and fires. It was only finally completed in the middle of the 17th century. This feast today commemorates the original dedication of the basilica by Pope Sylvester I on November 9, 324.
What makes this feast so important - that it is celebrated on any day of the week on which it falls – even Sunday – is the fact that this cathedral
is
a sign of devotion to, and unity with, the Chair of St. Peter ( the "rock" on whom the Church was founded by Jesus,) which is situated on the very back wall of another of the four major basilicas in Rome bearing his name - which as St. Ignatius of Antioch wrote: "presides over the whole assembly of charity."
And so, the most important thing that any pope, bishop or priest can do from the chair (which technically is what I am doing when I am even standing here at the ambo) is to be an administrator of charity: which begins with the proclamation and explanation (The Readings, especially the Gospel & Homily) of the story of GOD'S TREMENDOUS LOVE FOR US THAT WAS MANIFESTED BY THE INCARNATION OF HIS SON – AND THE LOVE WHICH CAUSED JESUS TO GIVE HIS VERY LIFE FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS AND POSSIBLE ENTRY INTO ETERNAL LIFE – possible, but not yet a done deal – as we still have to cooperate in our own salvation until our very last breath!
The readings today remind us that what is always more important even than a church or basilica edifice or building: is the fact that the people in it, the "assembly of charity" who gather there to worship God, to be nourished and strengthened by him and sent forth to love and serve others in a self-sacrificial way – are the "real, living, breathing stones" which make up the "real spiritual temple of God!" This is so because the Spirit dwells in our hearts and enables us to do all these things!
May we be God's temple this day! May we let the streams of the river of grace flow through us to others; may we honor our own bodies and selves as we honor the Body and Blood of Christ which we receive – which truly is the resurrected temple he talked about! And may we always be "God's 'assembly of charity'" willing to assist all in need- in season and out of season, when convenient and inconvenient: for it is the
loving
thing to do- and one day we will be judged on how we really tried to love one another!
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