WHAT IS THE CHURCH?

Iglesia san Mateo

The word “church” comes “Kyriaké,” a Greek term meaning the one that belongs to the Lord, the assembly. But when we hear this word, we immediately think about a building, the temple... or also in a religious institution or organization, it is preferable to understand the church as an assembly (community) of believers in Jesus Christ.

In the First letter to the Corinthians (1 Cor 12:12-31), Saint Paul uses the image of the body to explain the Church... It is a living organism, made up of many members, but the head is Christ. In this example, every member, every person, is part of the Church. We are members of the body of Jesus; so, each one has his mission and his being and doing in the community we are called to serve.

In a broad sense, we must also understand the Church as a community composed of many communities which, following the example of the body, each community also has its function, its task, its mission and charism or gift, in the following of Christ and in the mission of proclaiming to all his Good News of Salvation.

Fr. Tarcisio