Homily for the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, delivered in the Chanel College Chapel, Gladstone, Qld.

"The angel brought me to the entrance of the Temple, where a stream came out from under the Temple threshold and flowed eastwards, since the Temple faced east. The water flowed from under the right side of the Temple, south of the altar. He took me out by the north gate and led me right round outside as far as the outer east gate where the water flowed out on the right-hand side. He said, ‘This water flows east... flowing into the sea it makes its waters wholesome. Wherever the river flows, all living creatures teeming in it will live." (cf. Ezek 47).

"The waters of a river give joy to God’s city, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within, it cannot be shaken; God will help it at the dawning of the day." (cf. Ps 47).

"Just before the Jewish Passover Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and in the Temple he found people selling cattle and sheep and pigeons, and the money changers sitting at their counters there. Making a whip out of some cord, he drove them all out of the Temple, cattle and sheep as well, scattered the money changers’ coins, knocked their tables over and said to the pigeon-sellers, ‘Take all this out of here and stop turning my Father’s house into a market.’ Then his disciples remembered the words of scripture: Zeal for your house will devour me...'" (cf. Jn 2).

Artwork: an image depicting a Basilica but also the "overturning" action of Jesus upon our places and the practices of worship, generated using the Wonder App.