Remembrance Sunday
Dedication of the Lateran Basilica
​"God's Holy Temple ..."
QR Code for Readings at Mass
By scanning this with your phone, you will be able to access each of the Mass Readings for today.
In the words of Pope Benedict XVI (9 November 2008): ‘Today’s feast celebrates a mystery that is always relevant: God’s desire to build a spiritual temple in the world, a community that worships him in spirit and truth’ (cf. John 4: 23–24).
The Basilica of St. John Lateran was the first to be built after the edict (313) of Emperor Constantine, and is the ecclesiastical seat of the Bishop of Rome. As a result, it is called ‘the mother and head of all the churches of the city and the world’.
The readings for today’s feast recall an essential truth: the temple of stones is but a symbol of the living Christian community which, baptised in life-giving waters (First Reading), gives joy to God’s city (Psalm).
In the era of the new Passover covenant, there is no temple building other than that of the Christian community, in whom the Spirit of Christ lives (Second Reading).
Christ is both temple (Gospel) and foundation, from whom we have our food and healing, our refuge and strength, our grace and our holiness.
As Pilgrims of Hope in this Jubilee Year, we pray that we might, through his Spirit living in us, imitate Christ by our steadfastness, courage and joy in the face of deceit, greed and despair.
A moment to reflect....
Behold God’s dwelling with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people.
Entrance Antiphon
God is for us a refuge and strength, an ever-present help in time of distress. Psalm
God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
Second Reading
He was speaking about the temple of his body.
Gospel
Further Reflection
​​
​Gospel John 2: 13–25
The Passover of the Jews was at hand Jewish feasts are given prominence in John’s Gospel: they exemplify institutions before the coming of Christ. Many Jews would converge on the Temple from far and wide, so there would have been an increase in the number of people looking to buy animals for sacrificial purposes.
The money changers sitting there Roman and Greek coinage with the face of the Emperor engraved on it was not allowed by the Jewish authorities. Only half-shekels from the Tyre region, made of pure silver and without facial representation, were acceptable currency. This accounts for the presence of money changers.
‘Do not make my Father’s house a house of trade’ Contrary to the other Evangelists, John is not complaining here about unfair trading, but about trading in that particular place. Jews and Gentiles are equal in God’s eyes: an important notion for the early Church. Jesus begins to reveal his true identity as the Messiah by calling the Temple MY Father’s house. He has a special relationship with God.
His disciples remembered that it was written ... The quotation is from Psalm 69 (70): 9. We see here an example of the disciples understanding and their belief gradually unfolding with the help of Scripture. However, although the disciples are present, there is often a certain delay before they realise the full import of what they have witnessed.
‘What sign do you show us?’ John’s Gospel emphasises ‘signs’ rather than miracles. The Jews want a sign to justify his authority. Jesus’s answer refers to his death and resurrection as the ultimate sign, but the Jews misunderstand his answer.
‘Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up’ At the time of writing this Gospel, the Temple in Jerusalem had been destroyed for several decades. Jesus is the new Temple; John always writes in the light of Jesus’s resurrection.​
​
Basilica of St John Lateran
The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica
Every year on 9 November, the Roman Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica.
To dedicate or to ‘consecrate’ a place to God is to recognise God’s glory and honour. In the earliest days, Christians met in their own homes to hear the teaching of Jesus and to celebrate the Eucharist. But as the Christian faith became more widespread, churches were built.
In the fourth century, Constantine the Great (reigned 306-337) declared Christianity as the religion of the Roman empire, and gifted to the pope a palace previously owned by the Laterani family. This building is now the oldest basilica of the Western world and the oldest public church in the city of Rome. It was initially known as the Basilica of the Saviour, though its later dedication to John the Baptist earned it the title of St John Lateran.
The Lateran Basilica was the centre of the Catholic world for many years and home to the popes: 28 popes are buried here. Christians consider the Lateran Basilica to be the ‘mother church of all churches in the world’, for it stands as a monument to God and all that God does through the Church.​
To aid our reflection on the Sunday readings each week we are reproducing, with permission, content from St. Bueno's Outreach. If you would like to know more about them or access their guided prayer resources, 'Prego', you can contact them via their website.​​​
Father in heaven, may the faith you have given us in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother, and the flame of charity enkindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit ,reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of your Kingdom.
May your grace transform us into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel. May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos in the sure expectation of a new heaven and a new earth, when, with the powers of Evil vanquished, your glory will shine eternally.
May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, a yearning for the treasures of heaven.
May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the earth. To you our God, eternally blessed, be glory and praise for ever. Amen
​
Pope Francis, Jubilee Prayer
Reflection on Remembrance Sunday
​
"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them."
​
​
