Read or listen to this Sunday’s Mass readings here.

• 2 Chronicles 5:6-10, 13—6:2
• 1 Corinthians 3:9-13, 16-17
• John 2:13-22 or Luke 19:1-10

Mom and Dad had been busy making breakfast for a good half an hour now.  All the Pauline children were waiting patiently, seated around the dining room table, wondering when Mom and Dad would be done.  At last, Dad came in with a huge tray covered with a white dishtowel.

“Everybody ready?” he asked, as he looked around at his eager and hungry family.  “We have a special waffle surprise for you!”

With a whooshing fanfare, Dad unveiled the tray.  Adorning it were waffles tilted up together to form an inverted “V.”  One end boasted a cross carefully and cleverly made out of sausage links.  It looked a little like a church!

“Cool, Dad!” Lucy squealed. 

“That’s really neat!” Mary Clare agreed.

Then Vincent, always the questioning one, spoke up.  “I really like your church, Mom and Dad, but I have one question … Why?!”

Mom smiled.  “Well, dear family.  Today is a special feast day in the Church.  It is the feast day of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome!”

“Huh?” they all asked.

“That’s right!” Dad gushed, as his breath-taking church structure was busily being imploded and devoured by six hungry mouths.  “We’ll learn all about it after we eat.”

When breakfast was over, Dad gathered the family into the living room for the Gospel reading.  Today, it was taken from the Gospel of John, chapter 2. 

When Dad was finished, he began, “Today we hear about Jesus and the cleansing of the temple.  Each Gospel writer recreates this special event.”

“So, it really must be extra, extra important!” 4-year-old Hillary offered.

“Indeed it is, Hillary!” Dad chuckled.  “And today, it takes on added importance as we celebrate the feast day of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome!”

“Whoa!  Slow down, Dad!” Vincent heaved.  “Let’s do that one over again!”

Dad smiled.  “Right you are, Vincent!  Today we celebrate the anniversary of the dedication of the Lateran Basilica which was built by the Emperor Constantine in Rome.  This feast day has been observed on this day, November 9, since the 12th century.”

“Who’s Constantly?” Lucy asked again.

Dad’s grin grew from ear to ear.  “That’s Constantine, not Constantly, Lucy,” Dad chuckled.  “Constantine was the first Christian emperor.  He commissioned this church to be built for early followers of Jesus Christ to worship in.”

“That’s nice, Daddy.  What else makes this church so special?” Lucy asked.

“Good question, Lucy,” Dad said.  “You see, this basilica is called the ‘mother church of Christendom.’  This is the church that the Popes were crowned in until 1870.  It was the home of the Popes for 1,000 years.”

“So this feast day celebrates a … building?” Vincent asked, almost shyly.

Mom was delighted with her son’s question.  “Yes … and … no!” Mom replied.  “It is very true that we celebrate the great structure of the Lateran Basilica in Rome.  It was a wonderful statement and sign of devotion of the early Christian Church.  But … our Gospel reading today also reminds us that we, as followers of Jesus, are true and living temples of God.  We have all been made temples of God through Baptism.”

“That’s right,” Dad added.  “For God does not dwell only in structures fashioned by human hands.  Saint Paul tells us that ‘the temple of God, which you are, is holy.’ “  (1 Corinthians 3:17b—emphasis added)

“So, while we celebrate the birth of the ‘mother church of Christendom’ on our feast today,” Mom offered, “let’s not forget that Jesus said that He abides in us.  I always think of Him walking through the corridors of our hearts.  I love that imagery!”

“Then, let’s go to church, to celebrate being Church!” Vincent declared.  And they all set off for Mass.

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As a family, find out more about this special feast day!

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