The nature of the Church is better described than defined because it is a mystery, and its description is most effectively done through the use of symbols and images. One of the frequently used images of the Church is the Body of Christ. This image is firmly rooted in the Bible (1 Corinthians 12: 12-22, Romans 12: 4-5, and Ephesians 1: 22-23), and speaks to human experience.
The image of the body highlights unity, diversity, and interdependence as essential elements of the Church. Like a body, the Church is one with individual parts. These parts are different in their constitutions and functions and the body works well only to the extent that each plays its proper roles optimally well. In this body, the life and role of everybody count.
The understanding of the Church as the body of Christ underlines the importance of active and conscious involvement of the different members in the life of the one body. It emphasizes sharing, fellowship, communion, dialogue, and communication among the members of the body.
Christ has called us and is calling us to be active participants of his body. He is the head of the body and we may be like the ears, eyes, mouth, hands, legs, hearts, neck, teeth, stomach, or brains. There is nobody who is nobody and who has nothing to offer. Everybody has a role to play, and nobody is passive or uninvolved. In the one body, we co-exist, co-work, co-suffer and co-celebrate.
Are you aware of which part of the body you are in our parish? Are you actively and consciously involved and participating in the life of this body? Thank you for the different roles you play that contribute to keeping St Gregory’s Church alive and active since 1947.
Let us get more actively and consciously involved. Let’s commit to active participation in the life of the body of Christ. There are many ways we can do this. If it is not clear to you how or where you can get involved, pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, ask me, or ask someone who is already involved.
Happy membership of Christ’s body! Happy Active involvement! Happy conscious participation!
-Fr Bona