The Place of Right Praise

In this homily, Bishop Robert Barron discusses the significance of the dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome, emphasizing its importance as the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome and the mother church of Catholicism. He explores the theme of the temple in the Bible, from Ezekiel's vision of the restored temple and the water flowing from it to Jesus' cleansing of the temple in the Gospel of John. Barron connects these readings to the idea of Jesus' body as the new temple, the Eucharist as a representation of his sacrifice, and the role of believers as the water flowing from Christ to renew the world, urging listeners to see church buildings as symbolic evocations of the body of Christ and to live as transformative Catholics in the world.