SACRED,  SACRED, SACRED

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “Sacred, Sacred, Sacred.”

I was  tempted to add, “Holy, Holy, Holy” - three words we say at the end of the Preface in every Mass.  But I’ll stick with “Sacred, Sacred, Sacred.”

We usually don’t say those three words - “Sacred, Sacred, Sacred” - as a prayer, but we do feel that sacred feeling from time to time - when we experience sacred space, place, things and people.

Today, November 9^th, we celebrate a sacred place, a holy place, the church of St. John Lateran in Rome.

It’s the main cathedral church of Rome -  that space going back over 1000 years before St. Peter’s. It’s the place of 5 Ecumenical Councils - plus all kinds of other major church events.

If you’ve been to Rome I’m sure you went to the church of St. John Lateran, as well as St. Mary Major -  besides St. Peter’s.

WENDELL BERRY

I noticed a quote in the opening reflection for today’s feast in the loose-leaf lectionary that they use here at Holy Cross in Rumson.  We have the same loose leave Lectionary at San Alfonso.  Here’s the quote. It’s from Wendell Berry, “There are no unsacred places; there are only sacred places and desecrated places.”

That quote got me thinking.  First of all that quote seems to miss the in between - those spaces, places, situations and people that don’t grab us.

Next:  “desecrated places.”  I’ve seen and I’ve heard about places that have been desecrated: cemeteries messed up - tombstone’s overturned, swasticated graffiti inside churches or outside on the walls of synagogues.

A COUPLE OF ACTION APPLICATIONS CONCERNING THE SACRED

Here are a couple of action applications.

First - whenever you travel, drop into sacred places and pay respects or be inquisitive or nosey.  Catholic churches [for example, check out the quality of the stations of the cross];  Christian churches [like the tall  white wooden Congregational buildings in New England], Jewish synagogues [spot the tabernacles]; Quaker Meeting places [great wooden floors], Moslem [great rugs],  etc. etc. etc. Sit there and sometimes you might get angry like Jesus as we heard in today’s gospel - with the money changers or the noise or the unawareness of people visiting.  Say to Jesus: “Now  I get it.”

Second - make it a point to visit other sacred places like Civil War battlefields, the World Trade Center, or  any cemetery. Study the stones. Read the signage. Pray for the dead. Just pause at the sacredness of the place.

Third museums: see all the stuff under glass, check paintings and sculptures.  Find the most important works in the collection.

Fourth cookie lines: I’ve experienced getting cookies in parish halls - I’ve often  noticed 12 ladies standing there behind a table. They seem to be saying, “Pick my cookies!”  I like to watch the faces of the cookie makers, when their cookie is picked. What is the history, the story about a special cookie? Where did she get the recipe?  

Fifth: ask people about their  grandkids, etc. Pictures that were mainly in wallets are now to be seen on cellphones.  Then there are the other people in one’s life. What about them?  Do we see what Paul sees - mentioned in today’s  second reading - the people who  build up the body of Christ? Do we see all the people of the planet  as one - a sacred one - a sacred whole community.

CONCLUSION: ST.  JOHN’S DELPHOS, OHIO

On this feast of the Church of  St. John Lateran in Rome, let me close with a story about St. John’s Church in Delphos, Ohio.

The church needed renovation - updating - patch work.

I heard that the folks in the parish - even though there was money for updating in the bank - didn’t want pastors to “tinker” with their parish.

Well, a pastor came in who was able to pull it off.

I heard there were a lot of complaints - till the renovation was revealed.

Surprise!  Once folks saw their church renewed they brought relatives and friends, visitors and neighbors to see how beautiful - how sacred their sacred space was.

Sacred.  Sacred.  Sacred.