Cathal Barry
The Catechism lists a number of characteristics of the people of God, writes Cathal Barry
The Catechism of the Catholic Church lists a number of characteristics of the people of God, that clearly distinguish them from all other religious, ethnic, political or cultural groups found in history:
- The People of God are not the property of any one people group.
- Membership comes from faith in Christ and Baptism, not from physical birth.
- This People has for its Head Jesus the Christ (the anointed, the Messiah). Because the same anointing, the Holy Spirit, flows from the head into the body, this is “the messianic people”.
- Their dignity is to be children of God because God’s Spirit dwells within.
- Their law is to love others as Christ loved them (John 13:34).
- Their mission is to be the “salt of the earth and light of the world”, a most sure seed of unity, hope, and salvation for the whole human race.
- Their destiny is the Kingdom of God, in time and eternity.
The Church teaches that since Christ was anointed priest, prophet and king, every member has these three offices and carries their responsibilities.
On entering the People of God through faith and Baptism, the Catechism states, “one receives a share in this people’s unique, priestly vocation”.
They share in Christ’s prophetic office by adhering unfailingly to the truths given to the saints. They share in Christ’s royal office by serving the poor and the suffering.
As Pope Leo the Great said: “The sign of the cross makes kings of all those reborn in Christ and the anointing of the Holy Spirit consecrates them as priests, so that, apart from the particular service of our ministry, all spiritual and rational Christians are recognised as members of this royal race and sharers in Christ’s priestly office.”
The Church teaches that from the beginning, Jesus associated his disciples with his own life, revealed the mystery of the Kingdom to them and gave them a share in his mission, joy and sufferings. Jesus spoke of a still more intimate communion between him and those who would follow him: “Abide in me and I in you. I am the vine, you are the branches” (Jn 15:4-5).
He announced a real communion between his body and ours. “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me and I in him” (Jn 6:56).
When his visible presence was taken from them, the Church holds that Jesus did not leave his disciples orphans. He promised to remain with them until the end of time; he sent them his Spirit. As a result communion with Jesus has become, in a way, more intense.
As the Second Vatican Council taught: “By communicating his Spirit, Christ mystically constitutes as his body those brothers of his who are called
together from every nation.”
The comparison of the Church with the body casts light on the intimate bond between Christ and his Church.
Not only is she gathered around him; she is united in him, in his body.
Three aspects of the Church as the Body of Christ are to be more specifically noted:
- She is one body.
- She has Christ as her head.
- She is Christ’s bride.
