Today we celebrate the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome—the Pope. Often called the “Mother and Head of all Churches”, it symbolizes the unity of the whole Church. This feast reminds us that the Church is not merely a building of stone, but a living community built upon Christ Himself.

In the Gospel, Jesus drives out the merchants and money changers from the temple. His words resound with authority: “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!” (John 2:16). His zeal for the holiness of the temple reveals His deep love for the Father. Yet this episode also points beyond the walls of Jerusalem. Jesus speaks of the destruction and raising of the temple in three days, referring to His own Body. He is the true and living Temple of God’s presence among us.

This passage invites us to two reflections.

First, we must keep our own hearts pure, for Saint Paul reminds us that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 3:16). The cleansing of the temple becomes a symbol of interior purification. Like the merchants in the Gospel, we may sometimes allow worldly desires, pride, or selfishness to take root in the space meant for God. The Lord calls us to let Him cleanse our hearts so that our lives may be true places of prayer, charity, and mercy.

Second, we are called to love and respect our churches, not only as sacred buildings but as signs of the living Body of Christ. Every stone, every altar, and every cross points to the deeper mystery of God’s dwelling among His people. When we gather for the Eucharist, we become the spiritual temple where Christ is present and active. The Lateran Basilica, though far from us, stands as a visible reminder of our unity with the universal Church and our communion with the successor of Peter.

Let us therefore renew our faith in Christ, the true Temple, and pray that our hearts, our communities, and our churches may always reflect His holiness and love.