CHURCH IS IN THE PEOPLE

I have listened to what people appreciate and remember about the weddings they attend. They seldom speak of the dress, the decorations, the food served or the music played. What they remember and clearly appreciate is the way they were treated. They will remember ‘the Bride’s parents welcomed us,’ ‘the groom showed such appreciation for his grandparents,’ and “the family were very hospitable all around.” It is the people that count. 

 

This is how we must understand Christianity. Our religious faith is not first of all a bunch of religious duties and obligations. It is all about the people being transformed into Jesus Christ. The mystery of salvation must be manifested in the lives of the ordinary believers.

 

This does not push aside all the powerful tools we have in the Church but it puts things in perspective. Everything in the Church is meant to serve and nourish the transformation of the believers. We have such strong tools at our disposal. We have a clear doctrinal statement of what the faith consists of (i.e., the Catechism of the Catholic Church); we have a leadership that protects, supports and on many occasions challenges the believer to live their faith in a realistic manner. We have seven official sacraments. The Canon Law of the Church outlines a map for us to function and work together as a worldwide church. 

 

All of these are not ends in themselves. They are means to promote the goal of the Christian life, that is, the transformation of the people to become the living extension of Jesus Christ. What happened in the life of Jesus must now happen in the lives of our people and our parish community in the here and now.

 

With this blog I want to share my reflections and questions on this journey of faith. On this side of the grave we will never have it all made. The life of faith is a real pilgrimage. We set out to find the fullness of God, to be transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ. Our life is a quest to come into the fullness of the life and person of Jesus Christ. This is the meaning of eternal life. We are already sharing in the life of the Trinity here on earth but we are walking toward completion, that is, life in God for all eternity. 

 

The Church is not credible and worthwhile only by itself. It is the lives of the believers (their personal witness) that makes Christianity worthwhile.

 

I think of Bryan, who worked hard after he was retired from his administrative position on one of our large corporation, to reach out to refugees, bring them to re-establish their family in Canada, and befriend them in the first several years of their Canadian life. He made the love of God so believable by his commitment to the poor of this world.

 

I think of Doug, who had suffered brain injury as a young man, who took upon himself the task of welcoming everyone to Sunday Mass with a beautiful smile and his ever-present hand-shake. He shared the gift of welcoming that everyone looked forward to receiving every Sunday.

 

Church and faith; it is in the people. I want to be a disciple of Jesus because of what I see in the lives of my fellow believers. There is a bottom line to being Church and it is Christ living and working in the lives of the people.