THREE STREAMS SERIES: THE CATHOLIC STREAM
Sunday, January 15, 2012, at Christ Church Quaker Farms
Last Sunday, we began our Bicentennial commemoration by reflecting on how Christ Church celebrated Christ for 200 years. Christ Church has a wonderfully unique story and history, of which we will hear more in the year to come. But today, I want to explore some of our rich heritage…a SHARED heritage which is central to this church, to the national Episcopal Church, and our extended church family of the world wide Anglican Communion, as well.
Our parish webpage says, quote, "Christ Church is motivated to be a Christ-centered, Spirit-filled, Bible based, Spirit-filled, & eucharistically oriented Church." Unquote. This statement is based upon the writings of Episcopal Bishop Leslie Newbegin who about the early church, as described in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles. He maintains that all Christians churches have received an incredible legacy, a legacy which has been largely unclaimed. He contends that Jesus' church on the world is like a mighty river of faith—whereby we can all, according to today’s psalm, drink the waters of God’s delights to receive the spiritual refreshment of healing, hope, and heaven. This mighty river of faith is composed of three streams—three streams. Without each of the three streams, the river would be deficient.
If you would turn to the diagram toward the back of today’s bulletin, you will find an illustration that illustrates the mighty river. As you can see, the mighty river of faith is composed of the catholic (universal/sacramental/tradition) stream; the apostolic stream, focusing upon teaching of God’s word; and the holy stream, which is empowerment for ministry through the Holy Spirit. Beginning today and continuing for the several weeks, we will reflect on each of these streams, and explore how they can enrich your own spiritual lives.
Now, the small “c” catholic stream is NOT the same thing as Roman Catholicism, with whom we have major doctrinal differences. No, the term ‘catholic’, with a small “c” comes from the Latin word, meaning universal. The term started to be used in the 2nd century, AD, to describe the universal scope of the Christian church throughout the world. The Roman Catholic Church is just one expression of the “small c” universal catholic church. Specifically, the small “c’ catholic stream focuses upon Jesus’ presence in his universal church, whereby his followers can partake of the riches of life-giving Christian traditions, historical liturgy, and the sacraments, which are outward and visible signs of God’s love for us.
One of the riches of the catholic stream is the Nicene Creed, which is quoted at the top of the page. This ancient statement of belief is said weekly by Episcopalians, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Methodists and many other liturgical and protestant groupings, across the whole world. The one, holy catholic Church does not refer to the papacy, or to denominations, or to differing practices of worship or music. Membership in the universal Catholic Church is entirely determined by baptism and commitment to Jesus Christ. PERIOD.
The universal Catholic Church is mystical. It reaches back to the first Christians who followed Jesus and encountered Him after He rose from the dead.
• It encompasses all people, both the living and the dead, committed to Jesus Christ, individually, and as lived out in our community life as the family of God.
Today’s reading from ‘Ephesians’ described this mystical, universal church, as being the actual BODY OF CHRIST, here on earth. And that Body has many parts, which are you and me. The Bible says that together, we are the Body of Christ.
• Jesus has no other physical body on earth but you and me, to serve as
1. As his hands to reach out in friendship,
2. as his lips to speak words of encouragement,
3. and as His heart to love and forgive every single person.
• Now, our reading form Ephesians tells us that this Body has a Head, And that Head is not the Pope, nor the Bishop & diocese; nor the clergy and the Vestry. The Head of the Church is Jesus.
• So, this is today’s power point, which I ask you to repeat after me:
THE CHURCH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST. WE AE THE PARTS OF THE BODY.
JESUS IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH.
The sad truth is that most Christian leaders do not fully understand and live out this crucial and foundational truth. Most non believers and many Christians only see the church as some human association and institution, which is lead by human leaders with their own selfish-personal- agendas. But that is only the smallest tip of the iceberg.
If the church is just human institution, then it would not have lasted for 2000 years.
• It would not have unselfishly fed the hungry, comforted the lonely, prayed for the sick, and ministered to the dying.
• It would not have stood defended the weak against mass murderers.
• It would not have launched an underground resistance that ultimately led to the fall of the Iron Curtin.
Instead, it would have been totally destroyed by human sin and self interest, long ago. (pause). And indeed, human sin and self interest has grievously infected, wounded, and crippled the church at various times. But just as the Body of Jesus walked out of the tomb when He rose from the dead, so now His Body, the universal small ”c” catholic church, is alive and active and powerful in many millions of ways that are apparent to those touched by the love of Christ.
Now, the reality that Jesus is Head of the church has many profound implications for revitalizing local churches, such s our own. Although we do not have the time to explore all these profound implications today, we shall in the future. It has been my experience that when local churches, such as ours, fully embrace Jesus as the true head of the Church , that the people and the congregation become transformed in wonderful ways:
• The congregation becomes more harmonious and begins to grow, numerically, spiritually, and financially.
• People don’t feel judged by others, but feel accepted and cared for, even in the midst of hard times and disagreements.
• The church becomes active in serving one another, and in reaching out in love to the world around us.
Here’s another example: When Jesus is fully embraced as Head of the church, the liturgy Holy Communion bursts out of empty and deadly ritualism, which is the sad experience in many parishes. No, just as Jesus burst forth from the tomb with new life on Easter Sunday, so he can break forth with new life on every Sunday, as we receive his precious body and blood.
• Some Christians do not know that every Sunday is a celebration of Jesus rising form the dead, and Holy Communion is the chief sacrament through which the living Christ infuses us with his forgiveness, love, &new life. Unlike some denominations, the Episcopal Church does not seek to define how Jesus is present in the body and wine of Holy Communion. The Episcopal Church believes that Jesus is miraculously present in a manner which defies human understanding; BUT, that His real spiritual presence is with us as we break the bread and share the wine, as He commanded us to do.
• However, when a whole worshipping parish is totally unified in Him, we not only commune with him, but commune with one another. That amplifies and expands the experience of his presence.
This is my dream for Christ Church Quaker Farms. For some of us, certain aspects of this dream are already being fulfilled. But I look ahead to the time when it will be totally fulfilled for all who enter these doors. This will happen as we more fully learn to follow the leadership of the true head of this church by growing in a deeper love with Him, and with each another.
In today’s Gospel, we heard how Jesus transformed water into wine …and not just any old wine, but the best wine. Just as surely as Jesus transformed water into wine, may He likewise transform us that we would, indeed, become a radiant sign & symbol of His love for the entire world. AMEN.
--The Rev. John Donnelly
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