{"id":79461,"date":"2023-06-27T23:46:28","date_gmt":"2023-06-27T23:46:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/06\/27\/homily-for-the-dedication-of-the-john-lateran-basilica-by-fr-dominic-yamoah-pastor\/"},"modified":"2023-06-27T23:46:28","modified_gmt":"2023-06-27T23:46:28","slug":"homily-for-the-dedication-of-the-john-lateran-basilica-by-fr-dominic-yamoah-pastor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/06\/27\/homily-for-the-dedication-of-the-john-lateran-basilica-by-fr-dominic-yamoah-pastor\/","title":{"rendered":"HOMILY FOR THE DEDICATION OF THE JOHN LATERAN BASILICA By Fr. Dominic Yamoah, Pastor"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The reflection below is my homily on this Sunday<\/span> by Fr. Dominic Yamoah<\/span> at <\/span>Sts<\/span>. Clare\u2019s Clarinda, Sacred Heart, Bedford, and St. Joseph at Villisca. It is a product of my readings online and personal reflection. I am sharing them because they touched my life, and that of my Parishioners and I believe they will influence your life too. May God bless <\/span>you<\/span><\/p>\n
Today we celebrate the dedication of the Basilica of St John Lateran in Rome. Historically, the Basilica of St John Lateran is the oldest Church of Rome and the highest-ranking church in the world, followed by St Peter\u2019s Basilica in the Vatican. As such, it is the Head and mother Church of all Churches. When we celebrate its dedication to God, therefore, we celebrate the mystery of God\u2019s special presence and indwelling in buildings set apart for divine worship, including our own Parish Church.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
This feast is to remind us of the importance of the Church building as sacred space set apart for personal and collective encounter with God. We know that God is everywhere. Yet when the people of God erect a building and dedicate it totally to God\u2019s service, God\u2019s glory comes to dwell in that building in such a way that the building becomes the house of God. Solomon recalls this mystery in his prayer of dedication of the temple in Jerusalem:\u00a0\u201cEven heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, much less this house that I have built!\u201d (<\/span><\/span>1<\/span><\/span>Kings 8:27). Therefore, while we celebrate God\u2019s special indwelling in a temple, we must remind ourselves tha<\/span><\/span>t even though God\u2019s presence is not<\/span><\/span> in the temple<\/span><\/span> alone<\/span><\/span>, <\/span><\/span>everywhere<\/span><\/span>. However, God manifests His glory in a special way in some persons, places, and things. A temple or Church is one such place.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
In our first reading, today we heard Ezekiel\u2019s vision of a river flowing from the Temple in Jerusalem and bringing life everywhere it went (Ezek. 47). \u00a0We could see it as a vision of the people of God receiving life-giving grace from God through the church or temple. Those who receive thi<\/span><\/span>s life giving grace are duty bound<\/span><\/span> to share their abundant blessings with all those whom they encounter outside the church.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
The gospel reading enjoins us to respect <\/span><\/span>this special<\/span><\/span> temple of the Lord. Jesus\u2019 cleansing of the temple gives us the mandate that we are supposed to keep this temple of God clean from profanation in order to continue to make it a special place of prayer. <\/span><\/span>We need to avoid any acts that<\/span><\/span> disrupt<\/span><\/span>s<\/span><\/span> our pr<\/span><\/span>ayer life here<\/span><\/span>. For instance, we should avoid- littering our chapel here with papers and gum, too much talking during celebrations and dressing inappropriately for church services. In addition to <\/span><\/span>that,<\/span><\/span>we need to respond to the church\u2019s call to serve in various capacities to keep the church\u2019s ministries running.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
St. Paul in our second reading brings home the point t<\/span><\/span>hat our bodies are temples<\/span><\/span> of God, for the Holy Spirit dwells in <\/span><\/span>us. We are therefore an urgent call to<\/span><\/span> keep the temples of our bodies clean so that we do not incur the displeasure of the owner of this <\/span><\/span>body that<\/span><\/span> is God. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
It is common to hear people say,<\/span><\/span> this is my body; I do what I want with it. Well for Paul, our bodies are not ours but God\u2019s.<\/span><\/span> Fr. Dominic Yamoah\u2019s body is not his own to do whatever he pleases with it. <\/span><\/span>We need to avoid anything that dishonors this body: acts of abortion, social vices, abusive languages and all <\/span><\/span>other acts<\/span><\/span> that dishonor this temple of God.<\/span><\/span> If these negative acts have been part of our lives, we need to ask for God\u2019s grace to turn a new leave.<\/span><\/span> We rather need to incorporate into our bodies those acts of love and <\/span><\/span>kindness that<\/span><\/span> the Spirit of God inspires in us.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Today, dear people of God, on this feast of the dedication of the temple, let us renew the dedication of our church here and ou<\/span><\/span>r bodies as God\u2019s temple. This week, Fr. Dominic Yamoah<\/span><\/span>resolve<\/span><\/span>s to make God proud as I offer all that I <\/span><\/span>have<\/span><\/span> i<\/span><\/span>n His service. May you also do <\/span><\/span>same<\/span><\/span>. <\/span><\/span>Happy weekend to you<\/span><\/span>!!!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Keep Fr. Dominic Yamoah and His new Ministry in your Prayers.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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