In the fourth century, the Roman Emperor Constantine donated a tract of land to the bishop of Rome for the purpose of building the city’s first cathedral.  Today’s feast celebrates the dedication ceremony for that original Lateran Basilica of Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist in 324. 

During the years that the Pope resided in Avignon, the cathedral and the papal residence at the Lateran Basilica fell into disrepair.  When the Pope returned to Rome in 1376, he resided at several different locations while a permanent residence was built on the Vatican hill.  Although the Pope no longer resides at the Lateran Basilica, it remains the cathedral parish church building of the diocese of Rome.  The current version of the Basilica was completed in 1735. 

The annual celebration of the dedication of the Lateran Basilica serves as a reminder of the unity that is characteristic of the Catholic Faith.  Each bishop leads his diocese in union with the bishop of Rome, and each local church lives the Faith in union with all believers. 

A prominent pope of the twentieth century was fond of saying the union does not require uniformity.  His actions, however, seemed to favor uniformity over union.  He was not alone.  Many Catholics feel that ecclesial unity is defined by uniformity in practices and attitudes.   

The consequences of a desire for uniformity are easy to see.  The Catholic Church today is at least as fragmented and conflicted as secular society.  Some Catholics want to restore the Church to an imagined past golden age of liturgical and ethical stringency.  Some want to push the Church into a new golden age of innovation and advancement.  Some Catholics define orthodox belief as being retrograde and static; others define it as a catalyst for social change. 

The decreasing ability of Catholics to agree on what constitutes Catholicism is, in my opinion, a severe indictment of the attitudes that yearn for uniformity of practice and opinion.  Perhaps, it is worth reflecting on the meaning of ecclesial union. 

When the Catholic Church says that catholicity, that is, universal ecclesial union is the hallmark of the Catholic Faith, it means that all the baptized share in the universal dispensation of mercy made possible by the death of Jesus.  Church union is the result of God’s actions rather than human actions.  Participating in Church union is likewise the result of focusing on God rather than on oneself.   

Union between Church leaders and union among Church members can only be the consequence of acknowledging that all are equal in God’s sight; all are in need of forgiveness, all are offered redemption through faith in Jesus’ resurrection, and all are made righteous by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

In contrast to union, uniformity focuses on individual differences rather than the universal need for redemption.  The desire for uniformity abhors the differences between individuals because the desire for uniformity is based on fear.  As an individual’s fears are unique to that individual, uniformity must always be imposed by an individual on a group.  Current events illustrate this truth.  Venezuela’s President fears the possibility of military intervention by the U.S. and, as a result is directing increasing amounts of his country’s resources to preparation for armed conflict; by comparison, the citizens of Venezuela are fearful of starvation caused by decreasing government attention to the state of the economy. 

Union results from the free choice to allow others to find the freedom that Grace allows; uniformity results from distrust of others.  Catholicism values union above all else because faith is possible only as a free choice to discern and follow God’s saving will for the world. 

While the discussion above might sound very abstract, it is a description of what is easily visible.  Today’s first reading describes God’s will as being like fresh, clean water irrigating a desert. (Ez 47:12)  In the prophet’s vision, God’s saving will makes the world alive and fruitful in the same way that water makes farms and orchards produce abundant crops. 

The consequences of unity in the Catholic Faith are as easy to see as the consequences of the desire for uniformity of opinion.  Union among believers results in new life for all the world.  Most importantly, union cannot be forced or imposed; it can result only from free cooperation with God’s Grace. 

On this feast of Church unity, there is clearly visible evidence of both ecclesial communion and ecclesial discord.  An appropriate celebration of this feast requires that we relativize our personal opinions and universalize our commitment to lifelong repentance and conversion.  The Lateran Basilica is testimony that God intends the Church to be a temple of the Holy Spirit rather than a shrine to self-concern. (1 Cor 3:16-17)