Signposts On The Way

The theologian, Avery Dulles, authored a classic book entitled, Models of the Church, in which he identified five models of the Church.  Upon further reflection he realized that the model needed in our world today is a community of disciples.

In a previous reflection I identified four elements that transform communities and developed one, discerning the gifts of each member of the community.  Gift and call always go together.  We can only discern where and how God is calling us in ministry when we become aware of the fullness of our gifts.

In this reflection I would like to touch briefly on the additional three elements.  First, Christian communities share faith.  Sharing faith does not mean saying prayers together.  Sharing faith means sharing experiences of faith, for example, where have I experienced God in the last twenty-four hours, or who has most reflected Jesus to me?  The second element is being filled with life.  I’m sorry to say that I have experienced too many individuals in the church, especially among the leadership, who complain of being burned out.  Remember, Jesus said he came that we might have life, and have it to the fullest.  The final element is to be disciples of forgiveness.  St. Pope John Paul II declared that if you search the scriptures, you will find that there are two characteristics that emerge to describe Jesus: healing and forgiveness.