Church as Sacrament

Prior to this reading, when I thought of the word sacrament I always thought of the seven sacraments of the church. I was not aware of the wide scope of our lives that are a part of sacramental theology. This reading has really opened up for me the meaning of sacrament in the Church. In speaking of how the idea of sacrament has changed in the church Mark Searle writes "From speaking of sacraments as a 'means of grace' to speaking of them as encounters with Christ himself; from thinking of them primarily as acts of God to thinking of them mainly as celebrations of the faith community; from seeing sacraments as momentary incursions from another world to seeing them as manifestations of the graces character of all human life" (Johnson 29). This quote really summarized for me what I had read in the first chapter of Vorgrimer. A sacramental theology or view of the world means that we see God's presence in every person, every being, everything we encounter in God's creation. Seeing the world in this way brings about a new respect and awe for creation and all that God has created to show God's love and draw us closer to God's self.  "That means that not only the 'official' high points of this life are realization and expression of the presence of God, God's love and God's salvation, but that God is also expressed in the tiniest and most humdrum parts of life" (Vorgrimer 17). This is such a beautiful reminder of the way we are called to see the Divine presence in all that is around us, something I needed a reminder of this week. I think about what this means for me on days when I feel stressed out, in those moments I need to realize and reflect on all the symbols of God's love that surround me. This reminds me of a song that was one of my father's favorites, he said it helped him to "see the extraordinary in the ordinary". I think that is what sacramental theology calls us to do. What other themes of sacrament did you draw from the readings?

Watching and Waiting

Dear Class,
Check out these online resources as we experience the papal transition.
America Magazine's Page on the Papal Transition
Vatican News 
All Things Catholic Blog on NCR by John L. Allen Jr.
Papal Interregnum (Vacancy in the Holy See) by EWTN

Good Stuff!

Blessings,
Daniella

The Church is Apostolic-

Hi everyone!
Thank you Walter for a great start to this week and deep thoughts from each reading!

Having grown up part of my life in a Pentecostal church, the word apostolic has definitely been part of my vocabulary.  Yet while studying, I do not think I understood the true meaning of this word.  In all honesty, I thought of an "apostolic" church as one that baptizes in Jesus name and believed in the gift of tongues and prophesying as revealed in the book of Acts... literally. I too along with Sullivan was concerned with the reasons that justify our profession of faith in the church as "apostolic."  It was not until the reading in Sullivan that I came to a deeper revelation of this term, apostolic, and to who and what it was referring to.  Apostolic is defined in Sullivan's reading as, "the expression of a relationship to the apostles, whether it be origin, similarity, fidelity, succession or some other way that persons or things would be "of the apostles" or "like the apostles" (152).   One who called himself an apostle of Christ, Paul, amazes me in so many ways.  Paul not only taught, but exemplified how we are to become an apostle and become like Christ in all our ways.  He was the strongest persecutor, yet passionate and so committed to Christ.  As stated in 1 Corinthians 15, "But by the grace of God, I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain."  His strength of conviction is compelling in a personal way of "Oh God, that I might recognize and act on my conviction."  Paul lived apostleship.  In 2 Corinthians, Paul speaks of the true signs of an apostle. 

The apostolicity of faith and of the church's ministry were interrelated bringing about the quality of the whole church and the responsibility of those who had the official ministry of teaching in the churches.  From this, we can appeal to the following factors.  First, the church clearly understood that the pastoral charge given to the apostles of "making disciples, baptizing, teaching people to observe all that Jesus had taught them" (Matthew 28:19-20), was to CONTINUE to the END of the age. 
"For in many ways, the original apostles roles were unique and intransmissible, but their pastoral ministry was to continue, others had to succeed them, and therefore their mandate, and the authority to carry it out, had to be transmitted to others" (Sullivan, 183).

Within my ministry praxis, Paul's call is brought to my life in a very simple, yet powerful way. Three main points in recognizing and distinguishing the call to apostleship involves: (1) the call is from God; (2) it involves being a recipient of divine revelation; (3) it is a call and mission to preach Christ.
This call is to you and me... together, WE are to carry out the one and only message of Jesus Christ to all.  We are apostles!
So Yes, Walter, seems like all of the tools and resources ARE freely given to us... I am ready!  More so than I ever have been... Truly-

Apostolic Church

Dear Class,

         What an incredibly potent time within which we live. This week as we study the “Church as Apostolic,” synchronicity surrounds us, in the world, in the church, in our class and in our lives. With the current resignation of the Pope, we are witness to Apostolic Succession on a scale unimaginable as history making unfolds before our eyes. The basis for this line of continuity begins with Peter, the ”rock” of Matthew 16:18-19 and continues to this very day, remaining a pillar of the Catholic credo. While the Roman church holds fast to its ongoing validity, it has been a source of contention in times past (Rausch 98-99, 166-120), and presently towards the future of ecumenical resolution with the Reformed Churches. Throughout Chapter Six, Rausch characterizes the major source of tension between these two as one of authority, the “teaching office” of the former vs. “sola scriptura” of the latter. In my ministerial life I have endlessly encountered this dichotomy and took respite in his closing observation that in attempting to answer the big questions concerning God by clinging exclusively to either of these extremes is to “risk falling into a species of fundamentalism, whether of the Bible or the magisterial text. The Spirit is limited to neither hierarchy nor text: it is present in the whole Church” (130). Amen!

A middle road out from these remote edges is expressed within my faith community as the “Quadrilateral”, a four-fold approach to theological discourse. This model was created by Albert Outer, theologian (SMU) and author of “Methodist Observer at Vatican II (1967). I have designed a graphic depicting this spiritual geometry, which I have attached for your review:

Through the Sullivan readings I was taken deeper into the ministerial root of the word as “one sent out” (154). I was deeply moved by the author’s depiction of Paul, the great apostle, the one who was not personally selected by Jesus, but was hand selected by the Christ. Herein St. Paul’s criteria for apostleship is referenced as “1) to have seen the risen Christ, 2) to have received from him a mission to preach the gospel, and 3) to have one’s ministry confirmed by its fruitfulness, by signs and wonders, and by one’s suffering for the sake of the gospel” (156-157). This amazed me further as Paul states in 2 Cor 11:13, 22-29 that it is his suffering that qualifies his calling, that by paying his dues he is legitimized above the “false apostles.” As an aside, and with all respect, the aforementioned three standards work just fine for me.

From the third chapter of Lumen Gentium come some of the most inspiring words of the Second Vatican Council, “The apostolate of the laity is a sharing in the church’s saving mission. ”Based upon Paul’s ode to equality (Gal 3:28) we are all called to be “the witnesses and the living instruments of the mission of the church itself” (51). The imminent question of how this works in conjunction with the hierarchy is answered on pages 56 and 57, “The sacred pastors should recognize and promote the dignity and responsibility of the laity in the church…assign offices to them…leaving them freedom and scope for activity. Indeed, they should encourage them to take work on their own initiative.” I am especially drawn to the luminescent parting words of the chapter, “In a word: ‘what the soul is in the body, let Christians be in the world.”

Looks like all the provisions, resources and credentials required for the journey…are freely given. Ready to walk?           

               

The Church as Catholic-

I am right there with you Simone and Rose.
Wow... I had never studied catholicity before, as I was also enlightened on what this truly means for the church.
The whole time I was reading the article, I was thinking... Oh my... where have we gotten off thinking we have the authority to judge and make that bold of a declaration when in reference to God's people.  I also was thinking... What would Jesus have done?  Not... what would the Lutheran clergy think or do, but what would the Almighty who reigns above all do?  How would He have responded to such a tragic event?  Within Pastor Morris' respond, he defined what this term Catholicity means.  It is within scripture where we turn to for the infallible word. "The Church is the one body of Christ in which divisions between peoples, specifically Jews and Gentiles, have been overcome." (Colossians 1:24-27)
Rausch states, "As this broken bread was scattered upon the mountains and being gathered together became one, so may thy Church be gathered together from the ends of the earth into Thy kingdom."  For the Church is scattered about with different beliefs, doctrine, etc., no doubt, but we are called to be gathered with all... to unite as one body so that we may be the light to unbelievers.
The readings introduced catholicity and what it means.  My prayer is that we all could truly come to an understanding of  the term, catholicity and how each Church should exhibit the "external marks of catholicity, openness to other churches, loyalty to the apostolic tradition, and a universal openness towards all human beings who profess faith in Christ."
Pastor Morris only did what Christ would have done... he reached out to the lost and hurting souls, which is what the Church is called to do and be.
In Jesus Name-  I pray to always have an adequate image of the Church that is visible and real.
God Bless-

Way Too Much to Say

           Family, this weeks readings are very soul stirring to me. It seems to me, as if I am all over the place with my thoughts. I feel so strongly about the need to remain focused on The Lord during these times, sometimes I want to bust. Religion should not be the catalyst to destruction of faith, but the building up of faith. I fear that too often, we forget to remove self, when doing the works of  God. 

Mark 8:34-36 reads, "And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (KJV). It's not about what we want, but what thus says The Lord. I'll leave you with this song by Kirk Franklin, Silver and Gold...