There is a beautiful Jewish legend about the place where the Temple was built.
According to the legend, two brothers had adjoining farms. One older brother was married and had a family; the younger brother lived alone. When the harvest came, the younger brother said to himself, “My brother has a wife and children and many responsibilities. I will help him by giving part of my harvest to his family.” So, in the middle of the night, he slipped into his brother’s house and secretly filled his brother’s bins with grain from his own harvest.
Meanwhile the married brother had a similar thought: “My brother has no wife or children and leads a very lonely life. He has no one to care for him in the winter of his days. I will take some of my grain and add it to his harvest so he will never be in need.” And so, during the night, the older brother secretly filled his brother’s bin with grain from his bounty.
For years the brothers never knew why their grain supplies never dwindled – until one night they both set out for the other’s house at the same time. In the dark they met, each carrying sacks of grain to fill the other’s bin. They realized immediately what they had been doing all those years. They dropped their sacks and embraced. And on the spot where the brothers embraced, God directed that the altar of his temple be built. “Here at last is the place where I will build my temple,” God said. “For where brothers meet in love, there my presence will be.”
Today we celebrate the dedication of the Church of St. John Lateran the cathedral church of the diocese of Rome.
When I visited St. John Lateran it reminded me of our Franciscan Basilica, Our lady of Angels in Assisi. It is a large magnificent structure. The most eye catching though, is the small original chapel of the Porziuncola, which sits in the canter of the interior of the Church. It represents the simplicity and compassion of St Francis of Assisi.
As one views the great Cathedrals and Basilicas of the world it is easy to think in terms of that which is grand materially, and that which is powerful. The Porziuncola reminds us of what church should be, a place that represents the humility and compassion of Christ, whose example we are called to imitate in our lives.
And so today as we celebrate the feast of the dedication of the cathedral of St. John Lateran, the mother church of Christianity, let us recommit ourselves in our parish church and community, to be a place where brothers and sisters meet in love.
Image: “31 Legionaries of Christ are ordained priests by Cardinal Velasio de Paolis at St. John Lateran Basilica in Rome, Italy.” by iconlcroma is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.