CHURCH DEDICATION: A CALL TO REDEDICATE OURSELVES TO GOD

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT, YEAR C /DEDICATION OF THE CHURCH OF THE ARCHANGELS, GADUWA, ABUJA, 07.12.2024. HOMILY BY ARCHBISHOP I. A. KAIGAMA.

1st Reading Nehemiah 8: 1-4a,5-6.8-10; 2nd Reading 1Corrinthians 10:16-21; Gospel John 4: 19-24

CHURCH DEDICATION: A CALL TO REDEDICATE OURSELVES TO GOD

While we talked more about preparation last week, the first Sunday of Advent, this week, the second Sunday of Advent, presents the message of repentance, with John the Baptist’s voice loudly and clearly echoing: “Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight.” This is a call to radical conversion and active commitment to the faith.

The Christmas decorations, carols, and material preparations are all necessary, but what matters is to be aware that our minds are filled with evils, and malicious thoughts; there is a need to repent; removing whatever constitutes an obstacle to encountering Jesus Christ.

Even though our focus is on the need to repent, our readings today deliberately chosen, are for the dedication of a Church.

Your church of the Archangels, Gaduwa, is one of the most magnificent churches of our Archdiocese, befitting of a place of worship to God “in spirit and truth.”

I must commend the Salesians of Don Bosco, especially those working currently here, led by Fr. Ambrose Anene, the parish priests, and all the priests who have worked in the past and lay people who have worked and are still working to ensure that the work of God continues to grow and succeed. Your contributions and sacrifices have not been in vain. May God bless you all.

Only last Saturday, we consecrated our Archdiocese to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. This consecration becomes effective only if we all seek from God interior renewal and purification. The dedication of this church today makes it a special place of prayer (cf. Is 56:7). As we dedicate it, we also dedicate ourselves to being faithful members of the Body of Christ. Just as the walls of this building are very solid, so too must our faith be firm.

The Ceremonial of Bishops paragraphs 864 to 915 contain instructions about the dedication of a church:

“From early times the name ‘church’ has also been given to the building in which the Christian community gathers to hear the word of God, to pray together, to celebrate the sacraments, and to participate in the Eucharist.

“Since the bishop has been entrusted with the care of the particular Church, it is his responsibility to dedicate to God new churches built in his diocese…. A day should be chosen for the dedication of the new church when the people can attend in large numbers, especially a Sunday. Exception is made for “the Easter Triduum, Christmas, Epiphany, Ascension, Pentecostal, Ash Wednesday, the weekdays of Holy Week, and All Souls.

“The celebration of the Eucharist is inseparably bound up with the rite of the dedication of a church; when a church is dedicated therefore, the liturgical texts of the day are omitted, and the texts proper to the rite are used for both the liturgy of the word and the liturgy of the Eucharist.”

In a dedicated church, we believe that it becomes a building in which we are attracted to God, and being with God unites us with one another. The three Readings today are intended to show us under very different aspects, the meaning of a sacred building as a house of God and a house of men and women.

There are accounts of the people of Israel rebuilding the Holy City and the temple after their return from exile. To build, there was the need for unity, coming together for the common good and interest, with the king and the people offering their time, talent, and resources to rebuild the temple of the Lord. This would not have been possible unless the people were first united.

The first reading (Nehemiah 8: 1-4a,5-6.8-10) shows how the holy Word of God was solemnly read and explained and the people were urged to make a gift to those who have nothing [target alleviating the hunger of 3 people this Christmas]. The church building exists so that God’s Word may be read, listened to, explained, and understood; so that God’s Word may be active within us as a force that creates justice and love.

The gospel (John 4: 19-24) presents us with the knowledge about worship. Our last general assembly which ended a week ago had as its theme; Deepening our Catholic identity and spirituality” showed that we must all see ourselves as temples of the Holy Spirit and the church as a place of encounter with God. Yesterday, at my interaction with the youth, one asked if he could receive important information by mobile phone while the liturgy is going on. Remember why Jesus drove out the merchants from the temple? Because they were bastardizing the house of the Father. Only two principal actions should take place in the house of God: the celebration of the word of God and the celebration of the Eucharist. 1st Corinthians 10:16 – “The cup of benediction that we bless, is it not a communion in the Blood of Christ? And the bread that we break, is it not a participation in the Body of the Lord?” 1st Corinthians 10:17 – Through the one bread, we, though many, are one body: all of us who are partakers of the one bread. 1st Corinthians 10:21 – You cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons. You cannot be partakers of the table of the Lord, and partakers of the table of demons.

Permit me to note in conclusion that, as we dedicate this fine Church, there are many struggling pastoral areas created recently. I ask all the faithful and people of goodwill in the Archdiocese to be sponsors in buying land for church purposes, and building of churches or parish houses for priests who serve the people in these pastoral areas.

May the dedication of this church and the confirmation of over 200 candidates today bring an outpouring of blessings and transform you all into living temples of the Holy Spirit.

Let us also rededicate ourselves as living temples of the Holy Spirit. Let this sacred place and the members of this church become a source of grace, a beacon of hope, and a fountain of love for all who enter here or meet us. We Nigerians, drawing from our religious riches must all endeavour to bring an end to corruption through our lifestyle, and impart the presence of God in whatever we do and everywhere we go.

May our worship be pleasing to God and to our petitions, may God give positive answers. Amen.