19/03/2013. People of God. I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works That I know very well.

Transcription

1 . 1 People of God I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works That I know very well. Ps 139:14 2 1

2 Finding God in all things The universe is charged with the grandeur of God Gerald Manley Hopkins The Catholic Sacramental approach sees God in and through all things. 4 2

3 Who do we think we are? The People of God We could have no greater affirmation of our worth than for God to dwell in this human condition. 6 3

4 From the rubble of Good Friday, God unlocked the tomb of human fear and limitation so that from Easter Sunday there emerged a people who are 7 These words of Peter identify us. They guide us to understand who we are. And it is this understanding revealed again in the outcome of Vatican II a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a people set apart to sing the praises of God who called you out of darkness into God s wonderful light. Once you were not a people now you are the people of God. (1 Peter 2: 9-10) (Drumm) 8 4

5 Lumen Gentium The Church is in Christ; it is a sacrament of Christ, a mystery of depth It is the Body of Christ It is the People of God, among whom the baptized are called as ministers 9 The Church Prior to the council, the laity were seen as participating in the mission of the hierarchy, but not having a mission themselves. It is led by the bishops, bound as a college, in unity with the pope, in a bond of charity and peace (Ch 3) Priests seen as helpers to bishops in #28 Deaconate restored in # 29 The role of the lay people is to be church in the world, without dualism The call to holiness is universal, and the way to holiness is love 5

6 Church in Today s World Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et spes Vote: Human persons are dignified with God s own voice echoing in their depths We have an inborn hunger for God All people share this and it can lead us to global community First document in the history of the church that addressed all human kind Underscores the Church s commitment to social teachings and human rights. Puts service and work for justice on a par with Eucharist for Catholics. Looks out from a sacramental perspective We all have the potential to be truly holy. CCRS Sacraments 12 6

7 Church in Today s World, cont Humans live with growing interdependence We all share in the common good Religion and everyday life are tightly linked Baptism Initiation into faith community Call to discipleship Invitation to prophecy A life of faith in the service of others CCRS Sacraments 14 7

8 Baptism Apostolat of the laity Restored baptism as the essential sacerdotal sacrament - priestly people Prior thought: that laity shared in the vocation of the ordained Establishes idea of Domestic Church First document in history to address the laity in these terms. The domestic church is a key idea which we re still trying to implement today. We don t live in the world and go to church. We are the Church and we reach out to the world. A very key distinction. CCRS Sacraments 15 Gaudium et Spes The joys and hopes the sorrows and anxieties of women and men of this age, especially the poor and those afflicted in any way, are the joys and hopes, the sorrows and anxieties of the followers of Jesus Christ 8

9 The Church in the World Love of neighbour Unconditional respect Recognising the divine presence in other people regardless their successes or failures, their sameness or otherness to ourselves. CCRS Sacraments 17 Church : As the people of God The Church is in Christ; it is a sacrament of Christ, a mystery of depth 9

10 and the way to holiness is love Jesus healed the sick, Fed the hungry, Condemned injustice, Defended victims, Included the marginalised, Showed deep compassion for the poor and afflicted And told his disciples to do like wise. Religion and everyday life are tightly linked 10

11 I came that you may have life and have it abundantly. (John 10:10) With thanks to 21 11