Church: The Sacrament of God’s Grace Chapter 6

Sacrament? VISIBLE sign instituted by God (Christ) to give invisible grace. (Sacraments are outward signs of inward grace, instituted by Christ for our sanctification)  Jesus is the ultimate sacrament of God The Church is also considered to be a sacrament of God.

The 7 Sacraments INITIATION HEALING VOCATION Baptism Reconciliation Marriage Confirmation Sacrament of the Sick Holy Orders Eucharist

Church, legacy of Jesus, work of the Spirit Page 107, story of hermit Anthony Challenge: how to proclaim & put into practice gospel ethics? Who can live this type of perfection? “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult and left untried.” G.K. Chesterton  Chapter 5, What’s Wrong With The World, 1910)

The Church begins to take form 50 years after crucifixion, disciples gather in many places Become known as “christians” “break bread together” as taught by Jesus on day after Sabbath Not structured yet Charismatic, wandering prophets / teachers Leaders began to organize communities Help 2nd generation of believers How to take Jesus’ words, deeds  practices, teachings, moral behaviours & worship Authority for resolving disputes

The role of the Holy Spirit Read Acts 2.41-47 (p. 108) Holy Spirit: the link connecting Jesus with the first followers Those who followed Jesus, experienced the Resurrection, eyes opened to see & interpret His story They baptized, taught, prayed with new followers Broke bread Shared possessions Church begins to take shape guided by the Spirit

Paul: Apostle to the Gentiles Paul wrote his letters to Christian communities before the Gospels were written He wasn’t originally a follower of Jesus Persecuted Christians Saul, Shammaite Pharisee, Christians were seen as “polluters” of Jewish Law and this stood in the way of Israel’s being free from foreign domination See Acts 9.1-10.22 (page 110 text)

Conversion “Conversion today” p. 112 Change: Mind Heart Behaviour Turning one’s life “upside down” Making a u-turn “Conversion today” p. 112

Jesus was dangerous for Saul So were the followers of Jesus They had different agendas They didn’t take the law seriously Didn’t show reverence for the Temple Proclaimed Jesus as risen from the dead How could this be? The world was in the same rebellion The pagans hadn’t been defeated Saul’s experience of the blinding light  Jesus was the Messiah, the anointed one of God Until Jesus returned again, it was the age of the Church Paul became convinced that the Gentiles were part of fulfilling God’s promise

The Church develops a self-understanding: The Trinity in history God played a role in the life of the early Church Holy Spirit’s descent on Pentecost Christian living = “living in the Spirit” Connection to each other  “Body of Christ” Purpose of the Church? To reflect a communion of love & life similar to God’s (i.e. Trinity see note page 113, CCC #1997)

God seems to revel in diversity! E.g. the growing diversity of different peoples Call of Abraham &, Sarah: restoring creation after sin of Adam Call of Moses to create a new nation Call of prophets The mission of Jesus

Matthew 23.37 “How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!”

John 17.25-26 “Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

Church: instrument of God’s love / grace Church where the love of God for Jesus is made visible Church reaches out: Poor Sick Church: a sacrament of God’s activity of gathering, a sign of God’s love in the world

The Spirit’s Mission To complete what the Father sent Jesus to do: To show the world how great God’s love is John 13.1 “Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.”