What do you think of when you hear the word "Church"?

You might have thought of a building or the pope and the bishops. Perhaps you thought of your group or the Mass.

The word Church has many different meanings. For Catholics, however, Church is more than a building, or a group of people, or a liturgy.

The truth is expressed at the beginning of Mass: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” It is here that our unity as Christians lies. For the Church is people: People united, not by something, not a building, or a hierarchy, or a group but by someone.

The Second Vatican Council points out that the Church shines forth as “a people made one with the unity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit” (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, #4). The Church is the community of all those who have been drawn into the life of God. The Church is the continuing presence of Christ leading people to the vision of God. The Church is a people with one “soul”–the Holy Spirit dwelling in their hearts.

So, Why Do We Need Church?

We are made in the image and likeness of God. Since God is “Community” (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), we need community. Jesus came to draw us into the “community love” of the Trinity. He lived, died, and rose to bring all people into one family (John 10:16). At the Last Supper, he asked us to love one another as he loves us (John 15:12). He prayed that we would be one, as he and the father are one (John 17:20-21).

Jesus formed the community of believers into the sign of his continuing presence in earth. He said, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them” (Matthew 18:20). When Paul was persecuting Christians, Christ asked him, “Why are you persecuting me?” This encounter helped Paul to understand the unity between Christ and believers. Paul later wrote to the believers saying: “You are the body of Christ.” (1Cor. 12:27).

Look up these passages in the New Testament and see how the Bible describes the Church: Colossians 1:18; 1Peter 2:9-10; Ephesians 2:19-20; 1 Corinthians 3:9; 1 Timothy 3:15; and Galatians 3:28.

As a member of the body of Christ, which “part” are you? And why?

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