“The building of this temple has already taken forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?”Actually, Jesus was referring to the temple of his body. Only when he had risen from the dead did his disciples remember these words; then they believed both the Scripture and the words Jesus had spoken.

Reflections

“Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.”Every Roman Catholic bishop has a church in his title. We call this church a“cathedral” because the cathedra (Latin: chair) of the bishop, the symbol of his au- thority, especially his teaching authority, is there. A cathedral usually serves as the central church in a diocese. For the Holy Father, as Bishop of Rome, his cathedral is the Lateran Basilica. And because this is the Pope’s cathedral, it is called omnium ecclesiarum Urbis et orbis, mater et caput, the mother and head of all churches in Rome and in the world. This celebration of its dedication by the whole church reminds us of the communion and oneness of the Church of Christ whose visible head in the world is the Bishop of Rome.Today then is an opportu- nity for us to thank  the  Lord for the  gift of  his church. This church has become our mother who nurtures us in faith, who strengthens us  with the  sacra- ments, who unites us as brothers and sisters, who prays for us, and who reminds us with unwave- ring commitment that our goal is heaven. In return as her chil- dren, let us love, cherish, obey, and protect her.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2019