The church as the Body of Christ

November 1, 2022

“They continued steadfastly in the Apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of the bread, and in the prayers . . . and the Lord added daily to the church those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42,47.

We’re all familiar with the story of Mary and Martha. Jesus is a guest in their house, and while Martha is busy preparing a meal, Mary sits at Jesus’ feet, attending to His every word. Jesus tells Martha that she is anxious and distracted with many things, but that only one thing is needful – that is, to be in His presence, and to deepen her relationship with her Lord.

In the passage above, Luke, the author of the Book of Acts, describes the early church community in Jerusalem. His description serves as a kind of “mission statement” for the Church, not only in the first century, but in our own.

Like Martha, we can become busy and distracted with many things that are worthy in themselves, but when measured against “the one thing needful,” can cause us to forget our real mission. As St. Paul tells us in I Corinthians, we are the Body of Christ. This is more than just a metaphor. The Church as Christ’s Body is quite literally His continued presence in the world, enlivened and empowered by the Holy Spirit. As His Body, we are called to continually grow in the knowledge and love of the Lord, being built up as His community in fellowship, sharing in the grace of the sacraments, in common prayer and worship. When we live into this mission, others are drawn into fellowship with Christ, because they encounter Him in us. In this sense, the Church does not exist for itself, but to draw others into the Kingdom of God.

As a parish, we must constantly examine ourselves against the vision of the Church as found in the Book of Acts. Are we living up to this mission, or, like Martha, do we find ourselves distracted, neglecting the “one thing needful?” May God give us the grace to reclaim our mission as the Body of Christ. May what is said of the Church in Acts be said of us.

Faithfully, Fr. David

 

  

 

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