Psalm Reflection: The Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome - Cycle C

“The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!” - Psalms 46

I love being in the water, but at the same time I have always had a nervous apprehension about it. 

I never got my swimming badge in Boy Scouts because I was afraid of how deep ocean water was where we were meant to dive in, but I loved to wade into the ocean and bodysurf the waves endlessly.

Growing up near a lake, I would always be jumping and flipping off of the docks into the water, but I was never a strong enough swimmer to stay in the water, particularly deep water, for very long. 

When I was in high school, my parents took us on a trip to Arizona to see if we would want to move there and to visit some of their old friends. While we were out there we decided to go inner tubing down a river. 

I remember being so excited when we got there. The river was calm, not deep at all, and it seemed like it would make for a relaxing afternoon, like a natural lazy river. However, as we started floating down the river, the current started to speed up. Before we knew it we were no longer in a calm, lazy river, but we were flying down a river through some smaller, white water rapids. 

I was managing just fine, until I had floated apart from my family and found myself spinning in a natural vortex in the river. I remember screaming out, and everyone around me looking at me like I was clearly overreacting. The river, which was meant to be a source of joy and relaxation, was also a reminder of the power and danger that water can bring.

Water is necessary for life, we would die without it. We need it to clean ourselves and to ensure our food is clean. It is necessary for irrigation and planting.

Water is also dangerous. If we do not know how to swim we can drown. Floods and tsunamis are destructive forces of nature that can wipe out entire communities and endanger lives.

That is why water is a perfect sign and symbol for baptism. Baptism is necessary for eternal life, and cleanses us of our sins making us a new creation in Christ. Baptism is also destructive, killing the old self and destroying original sin. The destructive and regenerative waters of baptism are what bring us back to the Lord and remedy the separation caused by sin.

This idea is an echo of the Psalm response this weekend: “The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!” This response, from Psalm 46, was a Psalm attributed to the sons of Korah, a group of Levite singers in the temple. The verses reflect a time of great turmoil, like that of a military threat or natural disaster, using images of the earth shaking and mountains plunging into the sea. It is out of this place of destruction and instability that the psalmist speaks with unwavering trust in God. 

This Psalm is likely referring to the prophetic image of the river flowing from the heavenly temple in Ezekiel’s vision (Ezekiel 47:1-12), foreshadowing the heavenly Jerusalem where God’s presence is the ultimate source of peace and joy (Revelation 22:1-2).

“Then he brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and there I saw water flowing out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple faced east…Now it was a river I could not wade across. The water had risen so high, I would have to swim—a river that was impassable. Then he asked me, “Do you see this, son of man?” He brought me to the bank of the river and had me sit down. As I was returning, I saw along the bank of the river a great many trees on each side. He said to me, “This water flows out into the eastern district, runs down into the Arabah and empties into the polluted waters of the sea to freshen them. Wherever it flows, the river teems with every kind of living creature; fish will abound… Along each bank of the river every kind of fruit tree will grow; their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fresh fruit because the waters of the river flow out from the sanctuary. Their fruit is used for food, and their leaves for healing.” - Ezekiel 47:1-12

“Then the angel showed me the river of life-giving water, sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of its street. On either side of the river grew the tree of life that produces fruit twelve times a year, once each month; the leaves of the trees serve as medicine for the nations”. - Revelation 22:1-2

As we read these passages and proclaim this Psalm at Mass, we should be reminded of God’s healing power and how we have been healed and brought back to Him through the waters of baptism. That spiritual river of baptismal waters is a foreshadowing of the joy of Heaven where we will dwell with the presence of the Lord forever, and sin shall be no more.

Although giving our lives to the Lord completely can be scary and we will need to let certain habits, ideas, and relationships die, the new life promised to us far surpasses anything the world has to offer. As we proclaim this Psalm, let us remember that we have been swept up in the waters of baptism and if we trust in the Lord and persevere, we will gladden the city of God, where we will dwell with God forever. 

Lastly, the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica is celebrated this Sunday and every year on November 9th. The Lateran Basilica, the oldest and highest-ranking of the four major basilicas in Rome, is known as the "Mother and Head of all Churches in the City and the World." It symbolizes the unity of the Church and serves as a reminder that we, as baptized Christians, are living stones in the spiritual temple of God (1 Peter 2:5). 

Just as the Lateran Basilica stands as a physical dwelling for God’s presence, the waters flowing from the heavenly temple in Ezekiel’s vision and the river of life in Revelation remind us that God’s presence is the ultimate source of healing, joy, and renewal. This feast invites us to reflect on how the Church, through the sacraments—especially baptism—becomes a conduit of God’s grace, transforming us into His holy dwelling. 

As we celebrate this feast, we are reminded that the waters of baptism not only cleanse and renew but also unite us as members of the universal Church, the "city of God," where we are called to dwell with Him forever.

How do you respond to moments in your life when you feel like you’re caught in a “vortex” of uncertainty or fear? How can you grow in trust that God’s power is greater than the forces around you?

Are there areas in your life where you feel God is calling you to let go of the “old self” so that you can embrace new life in Him?

How have you experienced God’s healing power in your life? Are there areas where you still need to invite His healing waters to flow?

Baptism is not just a one-time event but a lifelong call to live as a new creation in Christ. How can you live out your baptismal promises more fully in your daily life? What habits or relationships might God be asking you to surrender to Him?

Revelation describes the river of life flowing from the throne of God, bringing healing and abundance. How does this image inspire hope in your spiritual journey? How can you share this hope with others who may feel spiritually dry or disconnected?

I am praying for you. Please pray for me and my family, and I will see you in the Eucharist.

Matt

This reflection is based on the Responsorial Psalm for this Sunday, November 9th, 2025, the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome - Cycle C: Psalms 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9.