Wherever the River Flows

Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome

Piety

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.” Ezekiel 47:9,12

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. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17

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. John 2:19-22

Study

Today is the feast of the dedication of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, 
the cathedral church of the pope as the Bishop of Rome. Lateran is the "mother and head" of all the churches of the world. The actual physical Lateran's stones are a concrete expression of the Lord's promises to Peter.

Yet we would be remiss in taking this celebration too literally, and the readings for today guide us to the higher, symbolic meaning. The feast reminds us that we are all part of the Body of Christ. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. Christ is the sure foundation (“I am counting on Christ.”) However, the church does not end at the foundation. We are called to be living stones making up spiritual walls of the kingdom (“Christ is counting on me.”)

Action

Consider the mission of St. Francis and his friends. In prayer, the Lord asked Francis to “Rebuild my church.” If we were mechanical engineers, we might take that literally. (Consider the fire that consumes the Notre4 Dame Cathedral in Paris this year). However, that would be too literal. With all the attacks on the church from within and without, how do we help the rebuilding? How do we become more than just the “living stones” at the bottom of the river of life?

It is up to us to be the living water that flows from the Church in every direction. We can not just hug the shore.  We must sail out into deeper waters and bring the Word of God with us.