The Church That Lives in Us

Today we keep the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome—the Church’s ancient “mother church.” Many imagine St. Peter’s as the Pope’s own cathedral, yet it is St. John Lateran that holds that role. Its façade long proclaimed in Latin a simple truth: mother and teacher of the churches of Rome and of the world. As the Bishop of Rome serves as first among equals, this feast is a sign of the Church’s unity with him, and our unity with one another across place and time.  

If someone asked us what the Church is, what would we say? A building of stone and arches? A sanctuary with pews and windows? Scripture presses us further. The Church is not finally a set of walls; the Church is a people. We are living stones built upon Christ the foundation (cf. 1 Cor. 3:11). We are the dwelling where God chooses to abide. We are the Church.  

Today’s Gospel recalls the moment Jesus…