THEOLOGY II

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH: NATURE AND

MISSION
MATTHEW 16:18
Jesus replied: “I for my part declare to
you: you are ‘Rock’ [Peter]. And on
the rock I will build my Church, and
the jaws of death shall not prevail
against it.”
MATTHEW 16:18
You are fellow citizens of the saints and members
of the household of God. You form a building
which rises on the foundation of the apostles and
prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the
capstone… In Him you are being built into this
temple, to become a dwelling place for God in
the Spirit.
INTRODUCTION:
The first great “living”
work of the Holy Spirit, the
“Giver of life,” is the
Church.
The word “Church”
means “that which
pertains to the Lord.”
 GAUDIUM ET SPES (JOY AND HOPE)
For the Church is none other than that
community of men and women “who, united
in Christ, and guided by the Holy Spirit, press
onwards towards the Kingdom of the Father
and bearers of a message of salvation intended
for all men.”
EXPOSITION: THE NATURE OF THE CHURCH

Mystery and Sacrament

CONTEXT: FOR FILIPINOS, THE CHURCH IS…

Familiar 
Too familiar 
 FOR FILIPINOS, THE CHURCH IS…

Community, where people pray


Building, where people pray 
 FOR FILIPINOS, THE CHURCH IS…

An assembly united in

Christ 
Comprised simply of its
organizations 
In reality, the
church is…
A community 
A building 
 While the
Church is…
A building 
A community 
The common sense view
of the Church as just one
“human association”
among many. 
The Church is a home but
not just a home --- where
one feels belongingness
(accepted and loved).
The Church’s meaning and
mission cannot be reduced
to relieving our insecurities
by social “togetherness.”
MATTHEW 4:4

“Not on bread alone is man to

live, but on every utterance that
comes from the mouth of God.”
SECOND PLENARY COUNCIL
The Church is much more
than a building, or a group of
men and women, or a social
grouping.
 Seeking this “more” leads us
directly to Christ our Lord and his
Holy Spirit, both sent to us by our
heavenly Father who “wants all
men to be saved and come to know
the truth.”(1 Timothy 2:4)
 “more”
The people of God
Old testament – qahal called together or an
assembly convoked by
New testament - ekklesia
God

Stressing the action of God in

calling us (the people) together.
THE CHURCH THUS CLAIMS TO BE…

A faith-assembly whose root

cause is God’s free call to all
to share His divine goodness
and love in Christ.
GOD IS…

The ever-present source and

ground for the Church and is
the reason for explaining it as
“Mystery” and “Sacrament.”