The Church The People of God
Outline † The Church’s Origin, Foundation, and Mission † The Mystery of the Church – Visible and Spiritual
† The People of God – – – –
Priest, Prophet, and King Body of Christ Bride of Christ Gifts of Service
The word “Church” † When I think of the word “Church” what do I think of? †
752 In
Christian usage, the word "church" designates – the liturgical assembly – the local community – the whole universal community of believers.
† These three meanings are inseparable.
THE CHURCH'S ORIGIN, FOUNDATION AND MISSION
The Church Instituted by Christ Jesus †
To fulfill the Father's will, Christ ushered in the Kingdom of heaven on earth. The Church "is the Reign of Christ already present in mystery." 763
† "The origin and growth of the Church are symbolized by the blood and water which flowed from the open side of the crucified Jesus.“ • The water symbolizes baptism which makes one a member of the new covenant family; the Church • The blood symbolizes the Eucharist which helps to grow and sustain the members of the covenant family
The Church Instituted by Christ Jesus † "For it was from the side of Christ as he slept the sleep of death upon the cross that there came forth the 'wondrous sacrament of the whole Church.'" As Eve was formed from the sleeping Adam's side, so the Church was born from the pierced heart of Christ hanging dead on the cross. – Eve is wife of the first Adam, the Church is the “spotless bride” of the second Adam; Christ – Eve is the mother of the living, the Church is also called a mother – Mary is the icon of the Church as spouse of the Holy Spirit and mother to all those who believe in her son • Rev 12:17 • Lk 1:35
THE MYSTERY OF THE CHURCH
Both Visible and Spiritual †
"The one mediator, Christ, established and ever sustains here on earth his holy Church, the community of faith, hope, and charity, as a visible organization through which he communicates truth and grace to all men." The Church is at the same time: 771
– a society structured with hierarchical organs and the mystical body of Christ; – the visible society and the spiritual community; – the earthly Church and the Church endowed with heavenly riches
† These dimensions together constitute "one complex reality which comes together from a human and a divine element“
Priest, Prophet, & King
Priest, Prophet, and King †
Jesus Christ is the one whom the Father anointed with the Holy Spirit and established as priest, prophet, and king. 783
– As priest he offered himself as the sacrificial victim that would take away the sins of the world – As prophet he proclaimed the good news of God – He is the new Davidic king who reigns over the people of God, who as King came to serve and not to be served
† The whole People of God participates in these three offices of Christ and bears the responsibilities for mission and service that flow from them.
A Priestly People †
..."Christ the Lord, high priest taken from among men, has made this new people 'a kingdom of priests to God, his Father.' The baptized, by regeneration and the anointing of the Holy Spirit, are consecrated to be a spiritual house and a holy priesthood.“ 784
† How do we exercise our priestly role?
– And what is as priestly as to dedicate a pure conscience to the Lord and to offer the spotless offerings of devotion on the altar of the heart? (St. Leo the Great) – Job 1:4-5 4 His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each on his day; and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, "It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts." Thus Job did continually. – Do penance for our sins and those of others. Offer ourselves as “a living sacrifice” to God (Rom12:1)
A Prophetic People † What does it mean to be a prophet? – To proclaim the will of God
†
785 "The
holy People of God shares also in Christ's prophetic office – when it "unfailingly adheres to this faith . . . once for all delivered to the saints," – when it deepens its understanding and becomes Christ's witness in the midst of this world
† How do we exercise our prophetic role? – We must make Christ manifest to the world through both word and deed
A Royal People †
...Christ, King and Lord of the universe, made himself the servant of all, for he came "not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." 786
† How do we exercise our royal dignity? – For the Christian, "to reign is to serve him," particularly when serving "the poor and the suffering, in whom the Church recognizes the image of her poor and suffering founder." The People of God fulfills its royal dignity by a life in keeping with its vocation to serve with Christ. – What, indeed, is as royal for a soul as to govern the body in obedience to God? - St. Leo the Great
† To be royal is to be a person of integrity (wholeness) with both our external concern for our fellow man and our internal piety to our Creator
The Body of Christ
One Body †
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Believers who respond to God's word and become members of Christ's Body, become intimately united with him: – This is especially true of Baptism, which unites us to Christ's death and Resurrection – The Eucharist, by which "really sharing in the body of the Lord, . . . we are taken up into communion with him and with one another.“
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1 Cor 12:26 If one member suffers anything, all the members suffer with him, and if one member is honored, all the members together rejoice."
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Finally, the unity of the Mystical Body triumphs over all human divisions: "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.“
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Do I really believe that I am intimately united to the person sitting next to me?
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And if I am how does this effect my view of them and my actions?
Christ is the Head of this Body †
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Christ "is the head of the body, the Church." He is the principle of creation and redemption. Raised to the Father's glory, "in everything he [is] preeminent," especially in the Church, through whom he extends his reign over all things.
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Christ unites us with his Passover: all his members must strive to resemble him, "until Christ be formed" in them. "For this reason we . . . are taken up into the mysteries of his life, . . . associated with his sufferings as the body with its head, suffering with him, that with him we may be glorified.“ – John 15:20 Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.
† Am I willing to follow the Master?
– because Our Lord unites our sufferings to His then they can become redemptive as His sufferings were.
The Bride of Christ
The Church is the Bride of Christ †
… The Apostle speaks of the whole Church and of each of the faithful, members of his Body, as a bride "betrothed" to Christ the Lord so as to become but one spirit with him. 796
– The Church is the spotless bride of the spotless Lamb. – "Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her.“
† Do you think the Church is spotless? † Can Christ have more than one spouse?
The Church is the Bride of Christ † …. "The two will become one flesh. This is a great mystery, and I am applying it to Christ and the Church." And the Lord himself says in the Gospel: "So they are no longer two, but one flesh." – They are, in fact, two different persons, yet they are one in the conjugal union, . . . as head, he calls himself the bridegroom, as body, he calls himself "bride.“
† How does this understanding of the Church and Christ effect my own marriage? † If the Church and Christ are truly one as I am with my spouse how does this effect my view of the Church?
Gifts in the Service of the Church
Charisms †
Whether extraordinary or simple and humble, charisms are graces of the Holy Spirit which directly or indirectly benefit the Church, 799
– ordered as they are to her building up – to the good of men – to the needs of the world.
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Charisms are to be accepted with gratitude by the person who receives them and by all members of the Church as well. They are a wonderfully rich grace for the apostolic vitality and for the holiness of the entire Body of Christ, provided 800
– they really are genuine gifts of the Holy Spirit – are used in full conformity with authentic promptings of this same Spirit, that is, in keeping with charity, the true measure of all charisms.
† What gifts do I think the Lord has given me to serve the Church and others?
A reply of St. Joan of Arc to her judges sums up the faith of the holy doctors and the good sense of the believer:
"About Jesus Christ and the Church, I simply know they're just one thing, and we shouldn't complicate the matter."
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