We celebrate today the dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome.

Look at the reading from Ezechiel. In his vision, Ezechiel saw water flowing from the temple and giving life everywhere the water touched. Wherever the water flows, everything shall live. Hearing those words, think back about our teaching on baptism. The flowing water of baptism gives life, supernatural life, to the one being baptized. When Christ was crucified, his side was pierced and water flowed from his side. The spiritual writers tell us that this flowing symbolizes God’s love being spread over all of humanity.

Look at Paul’s language in the second reading: “You are God’s building built on the strong foundation, Jesus Christ himself.” Then, he uses those words that are both beautiful and true: “You are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you… the temple of God, which you are, is holy.”

All this culminates in the stunning story told in the Gospel of Jesus’ flipping the tables and established procedures. His reason: the temple was a house of prayer, a sacred place, not a place for commerce. Then, he refers to his own body as a temple, a sacred place.

We respect the church building because the building is God’s place. We also respect one another because we are made in the image of God and are living temples of the Holy Spirit, God’s presence in our world. We respect the dead because they were worthy of our respect while on earth. Now, they are worthy of our respect as they rest in peace.

It may seem strange to celebrate the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, a church in Rome. Just as the Holy Father, the Pope, is the leader of Catholicism throughout the world. So, too, his cathedral building, St. John Lateran, is the lead church building of all Catholic church buildings throughout the world.

Catholic churches, Catholic parishes have always been known for their buildings. Appropriately, we treasure our church buildings because they represent the roots of our faith, visible expressions that play out in our church buildings; our buildings are our homes that have become part of us over time. So, over time, we reverence our buildings because they are God’s home as well as the home for us, sons and daughters of God.

As people we celebrate birthdays and anniversaries because they are milestones in our lives. So, too, our church buildings form milestones in our lives.

When we lose respect for our God, then we lose respect for our church buildings such that, at best, they become historical museums or just interesting places. If we lose respect for God, as has happened in the lives of so many today, then we lose respect for his home and just don’t bother going.

But what about human respect. Over the years human respect has diminished. If we do not esteem one another because we are temples of the Holy Spirit, then mutual respect disappears. We have seen that loss in human respect as we witness the casual use of abortion, the increase in physical abuse especially in the family, the breakdown of family life when members have lost respect for the dignity and worth of each member of the family, the increase in crimes against humanity committed by individuals and by subgroups of people.

Likewise, reverence and respect for the dead have waned. Our decreased participation in funerals and the rites for the dead signal a decreased respect for the dead.

So, today, yes, we celebrate the anniversary of the dedication of a particular building. At the same time, this day should remind all of us about the sacredness of our buildings and the sacredness of our beings that are temples of the Holy Spirit.

Our buildings, our lives, our beloved dead all share the same cornerstone - our Savior, Jesus Christ.