The Psalm (95/96) has this title: "When the house was being built after the captivity." "What house?", you ask. The Psalmist answers immediately: "Sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all the earth!" Thats what house. When all the earth sings the new song, it is the house of God. It is built by singing; it is being founded on believing; it is being erected by hoping; it is being completed by loving. Its being built now, and it will be dedicated at the end of the world. Let the living stones rush together, then, toward the new song; let them rush together and be fitted together and thus become the structure that is Gods temple. Let them acknowledge the Savior and receive him as the one who dwells there. (Augustine, Sermon 27, 1; PL 38, 178)

Rev. Joseph A. Komonchak, professor emeritus of the School of Theology and Religious Studies at the Catholic University of America, is a retired priest of the Archdiocese of New York.

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