REFLECTION PAPER– MARCH/APRIL 2004
The Church – the Family of God
Scripture Texts – read:
Marc 3, 31-35; Acts of the Apostles 1,3-10. 12-14;
Acts of the Apostles 2,1-4; 14. 22-33; 38. 42-44
Acts of the Apostles 4, 32-34a
References to Lavigerie and his missionaries
Lavigerie (+ 1892) was a child of his time.
As a Cardinal he participated in the first Vatican Council (1869-1870). At that time the vision and the theology of the Church were still very pyramidal (from the top downwards). The terminology
‘mystical body’ or ‘bride of Christ’ to indicate the Church were in use. But the deeper meaning and insight of the Church as “God’s People on the Way” (Vatican Two – 1964) or “God’s Family” (African Synod – 1994) had not surfaced.
And yet, the Cardinal was a typical “man of the Church” in the best sense of the word.: totally dedicated to the Catholic Church and its universal mission. As a member of the Rota in Rome he suffered under the narrow-mindedness of the Roman Curia. When his missionaries took responsibility for the formation of the Greek-Melchite seminarians in Jerusalem, he firmly opposed the ‘latinisation’ of the Melchite Rite. He respected and defended the authenticity of the Eastern Church as priceless treasure.
Church history to him was more than a mere hobby; he wanted to remain faithful to the deep insights of the first ‘Fathers of the Church’, especially those of North Africa: Tertullian, Cyprian, Augustin. They link us to the historical Jesus and to the Christian communities of the early Church.
He dreamed of the restoration of the once so flourishing Church in North Africa, especially in Alexandria, Algeria and Tunesia.
He felt proud of his See of Algiers and his Primacy of the Church in Africa, in order to win the whole of Africa over to Christ.
He was totally and unconditionally dedicated to the universal Church and to the Successor of Saint Peter. To him the Pope not only represented Christ on earth, but he was also the custodian of the catholicity and unity of all the churches all over the world.
To him strict obedience was very important and he not only ingrained in his missionary institutes, but practised it himself.
His “toast of Algiers” became famous, when, at the request of Pope Leo XIII, he toasted the French Republic. Yet he knew that by doing so, he would antagonise and repel his dynasty-minded money-lenders.
On his desk he kept a small statue of a ‘seated’ saint Peter, as could be found in Saint Peter’s Basilica); and at the occasion of a retreat in 1885, he told his theology students that on one point he wanted to be their flawless example: that of obedience to the Holy See.
“If ever I would be lacking in this essential point and would not direct my behaviour towards it – not only commands but even the least wish –, then, on that day, you may reproach me openly and consider yourselves absolved of any obedience towards me”.
Explanation – Meditation
Because of the silent decline of faith in the secularised western world, the Church has no longer a good reputation in the press.
Not only the open nor the hidden attacks of so called liberal politicians deny the Church her moral authority, and accuse her of meddling in matters private and political.
It is also the dissoluteness of modern man, who wants to decide for himself whether something is good or evil and who sees God and/or the Church as an obstacle to his freedom.
Oftentimes the Church is nailed to her point of view on matters of abortion, euthanasia etc. There are also those frustrated people who spit their cheap and unfounded criticism upon their ‘mother’ the Church.
The Church’s holiness is rooted in God’s holiness and vocation. The Church holds God’s treasure in earthen vessels, breakable as they are.
However, she is a Church of sinners who can be converted and sanctified by God’s grace.
The Church of the 21st century certainly has still to grow in humility,
but she cannot be unfaithful to her vocation and mission. God has wanted her both as a sign and as a sacramental instrument to make known to the whole world his endless love in Jesus Christ.
God is at work in the Church and He wants to draw all people to Himself = to make them (w)hol(e)y.
The second book Luke wrote (after his gospel) is the ACTS OF GOD which continue and which the apostles –those of the early Church and the modern ones – have to make visible.
In the course of the Church’s history and theology, the Church has been called by various names: Bride or Mystical Body of Christ.
But since Vatican Two the accent is on the Church as People of God.
During her Synod in 1994 the Africa Church saw herself more as God’s Family. However, this theology has to be developed in greater depth.
However, it is clear that God wanted ‘to need’ the Church and he has entrusted to her the mission of His Son: through the cross and in the Spirit to reconcile all people to Himself and to each other.
Strengthened and inspired by the Spirit in the midst of the world, the whole of the Church needs to renew everything according to the mind of Jesus Christ, and make of this world his Kingdom.This has to be
realised at every level of people’s life, and all Jesus’ followers have to co-operate in this endeavour, each one according to the gifts received from the holy Spirit thus.
In the present time, when people oppose any form of heavy structures
it is important to go back to the initial inspiration and its source. This means to go back, with the Church, to the early followers of Jesus,
who accepted to live according to the mind and heart of Jesus Christ;
and who, like Jesus, were ready to accept and do God’s will.
The community of believers recognising Him as the One sent by the Father, wanted to live his merciful and limitless love in daily life. The Jews, to whom Jesus was sent originally, knew the greatest commandment of love of neighbour. Jesus however did away with any narrowness by making Himself everyone’s neighbour.
It is God’s holy Spirit who inspires the disciples and urges them to freely witness to Jesus crucified and risen (Pentecost).
Jesus makes it clear to Saul the persecutor that He identifies Himself
with every member of the young Christian community (Acts 9,4).
Paul himself teaches us in his letters how each member of the Church is responsible for the totality, each one working in his/her own way
for the good of the Church (1 Cor.12).
The binding force is their common prayer, to apply themselves seriously to the teaching of the Apostles, to break the bread together and their being of one mind and heart, no one lacking anything.
Questions for further reflection
1) Do I see the connection of this paper with the previous Stepping
Stones?
2) Look for the main idea in the suggested Scripture texts. How
would you describe the “Church”. How did the African Synod see
the Church?
3) One does not believe on one’s own, without a community of
believers. We received our faith through God’s revelation to people
chosen by Him to be His representatives or spokespersons.
Together we read God’s will in our human history. Am I not too
individualistic? Do I not run the risk to ‘found my own little
church’ according to my own insights which have nothing to do
with God?
4) How do I nourish my catholic faith: Bible study? religious studies?
the Breaking of the Bread (Eucharist)? community and persevering
prayer? Sunday mass? Do I feel united with the universal Church?
Do I in truth feel united with all those who share the mind of Jesus,
not through the bond of blood but through the spirit of the gospel?
Am I open to what happens in other churches?
5) Why is the first Scripture reference not a rejection of Mary?
How is Mary the example and ‘mother’ of the Church?
6) How do I realise that (community) prayer is a necessity for the
Church? How do I see this for myself and for the MMA?
7) Those who appeal to the charism of Lavigerie ought to be ‘people
of the Church’ and ‘commiserate’ with the Church. How do I bring
this into practice? how do I defend ‘my’ Church, my ‘Mother’?
How is my attitude towards ‘Rome’, the Pope? Do I see the Pope,
the successor of Peter, as the one who takes care of the ‘bond of
love and of truth’ in the “Family of Jesus”?
8) Do I love my Church through whom I receive the faith and the
sacraments? The Church certainly has her imperfections and
weaknesses, but God dared to take the risk to let Himself be given
to the world through human hands. And am I not a sinner who can
be forgiven? Conversion remains a necessity!
Eric Cuppens m.afr.- Keizerstraat 25 – B 200 Antwerpen
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