A moment in the development of language in the early church can be found in the adjectives and adverbs that qualify their way of dealing with one another. For example, the sharing of the gifts of the Spirit was to be done “for the benefit of the community” (1 Cor14:12); “prophesying in turn, so that everyone will learn something.”( 1 Cor 14:31); everything was to be done “with propriety and in order” (1 Cor 14:40), “everybody is to be self-effacing” (Ph 2:3) in mutual relationships; …they were to grow as a body “fitted and joined together, every joint adding to its own strength.” (Eph 4:16). In the sections that deal with admonishment or disapproval, everything was to be done “in a spirit of gentleness” (Gal 6:1), and proclamation was be done “boldly” (Eph 6:20)
If we examine these and other aspects of the language, we realise that some constant themes emerge: order, kindness, diligence, care and attention, sufficient organisational ability to avoid confusion or dispersal… The counsel given in the Church was for itself, with the purpose of establishing order, unity, humility and obedience, to assist in overcoming impulsiveness, inopportune or untimely declarations, and the inability to gather ideas and put them together.
Card. Carlo Maria Martini
Il consigliare nella Chiesa
Al Consiglio pastorale diocesano, 15 aprile 1989
(published by the Priestly Branch of the Focolare Movement)
A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark 2:13-17
13 He went out again beside the sea; and all the crowd gathered about him, and he taught them. 14 And as he passed on, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. 15 And as he sat at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were sitting with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him. 16 And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
From the Acts of the Apostles we can see how all Christian communities, growing and multiplying according to the laws of living organisms, all follow the same guidelines. The practice of Jesus’s commandment is the raison d’être of the community itself, and is the totally new and original aspect that sets this community apart from others.
The whole pastoral activity of the Apostles can be summed up as enabling everyone to live the new commandment, which is the summary of the Law and the Prophets. John writes, “This is the commandment that he has given us, that anyone who loves God must also love his brother” (1 Jn 4:21)
The Apostles experienced this communion with Jesus and were the first to be aware of the Kingdom of God among them. Their task was to enable others to enter into and share in this communion, for this is the original “civilization” that God wanted to share with us.
Silvano Cola
Scritti e testimonianze
Gen’s, Grottaferrata 2007, p. 57
(published by the Priestly Branch of the Focolare Movement)
A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark 2:1-12
1 And when he returned to Caper’na-um after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, not even about the door; and he was preaching the word to them. 3 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 4 And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay. 5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “My son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this man speak thus? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question thus in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, `Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, `Rise, take up your pallet and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins” — he said to the paralytic — 11 “I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home.” 12 And he rose, and immediately took up the pallet and went out before them all; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
Communion must be cultivated and extended day by day and at every level in the structures of each Church’s life. There, relations between Bishops, priests and deacons, between Pastors and the entire People of God, between clergy and Religious, between associations and ecclesial movements must all be clearly characterized by communion. To this end, the structures of participation envisaged by Canon Law, such as the Council of Priests and the Pastoral Council…
The theology and spirituality of communion encourage a fruitful dialogue between Pastors and faithful…Significant is Saint Benedict’s reminder to the Abbot of a monastery, inviting him to consult even the youngest members of the community: “By the Lord’s inspiration, it is often a younger person who knows what is best”. And Saint Paulinus of Nola urges: “Let us listen to what all the faithful say, because in every one of them the Spirit of God breathes”.
Pope John Paul II
Novo millennio ineunte 45
(published by the Priestly Branch of the Focolare Movement)
「耶穌回答說：『女人，這於我和妳有什麼關係？我的時刻尚未來到。』」(若2:4)
Recent Comments