Homily – Dedication of the Lateran Basilica

Recently a parishioner shared with me a trip she made with other parishioners to churches around Melbourne. She like many has taken up on the Archdiocese’s initiative for the Jubilee Year to visit churches designated as a pilgrim’s site. She was struck by the enormity of one church sitting on a paddock located only 30km from Melbourne. Despite urban expansion it could not completely conceal its farmland heritage.

We’ve all been fortunate enough to visit churches other than the one we frequent. Some with a glorious history of hundreds of years, others, just in their decades. It really makes people wonder how each church came to be from the day the foundation stone was laid to the day of its consecration. Churches carry with them their history – some documented others stored in people’s memory.

A parishioner once proudly shared with me how her grandparents contributed to the purchase of stones that make up the yet to be designated title “basilica”. However small the contribution may be it is significant for the family. Another parishioner shared with me all the Sacraments: Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation and even her Wedding took place in the same church she still volunteers in. Buildings mean a great deal to people. Importantly they facilitate the celebration of life at key moments. They facilitate the ordinary too – a quiet moment when everybody has left. Many generations have gathered regularly to live out their life with the community. The church is a place to meet. Many friendships are formed there. People are there not because of the building but what it represents, the community. Ekklesia the Greek word for church is the gathering of people.

This Sunday the Universal Church celebrates The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica. It celebrates the importance of a building to mark an important place for the people. As Christians we need something tangible to express what is within us. The outward sign of compassion and love are found in the things that we do and in what we say.  Our meeting point is always around the Word of God. The Word forms us interiorly. The true strength of any building is its structure and foundation. May we, as St Paul says, the living stones, be firmly rooted in God’s Word.

By Fr Hoang Dinh