The Guiding Nature of the Church

The nature of the Catholic Church holds many elements together mysteriously.  On one hand, the Church is the spotless bride of Christ. On the other hand, those of us that comprise the Church are frequently the opposite of spotless and holy. Even though it has a foot in heaven, it exists on earth for the sake of humanity and its salvation. There is a wealth of theological themes inherent in the Church Even if one never pursues ecclesiology (the study of the Church) in an academic setting, there is still much we can learn from reflecting on the nature of the Church.

Explaining the Times: Blessings and Warnings

Like any good mother, the Church has much to teach us. We have inherited a vast, rich tradition of theology, spirituality, and reflection on the Scriptures from our forbearers. Frankly, we have also inherited a large collection of mistakes, abuses, and self-inflicted wounds. Whether running the race and fighting the good fight or limping along and getting beaten up, the Church can always guide us.

In the Gospels, Jesus uses a number of different images to illustrate the Church. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (see #753-757) notes three images that Lumen Gentium took up: the vineyard, the temple, and the sheepfold. These things give us beautiful imagery and blessings for our edification. At the same time, within these images are warnings. Both the blessings and the warnings lead us to Christ.

Blessings of the Vineyard

Jesus gives a number of different images of the vineyard. At the end of Matthew’s gospel, Our Lord uses a vineyard in a parable three times (20:1-16, 21:28-31, 21:33-44). Each of those stories focused on labor. The parable of the laborers (20:1-16, RSVCE) in the vineyard showcases God’s superabundant generosity.

The vineyard owner goes out and hires laborers at several hours throughout the day. At the end of the day, the owner gives each laborer the same pay—regardless of their arrival time. This sounds ludicrous, an accounting nightmare, and worst of all, unfair for those that have worked all day.

It challenges every person to humility. Who are we to decide on God’s behalf? The pay scale is Jesus’ nascent teaching on His Divine Mercy. Let us hear this from Our Lord’s mouth, and preach it to the world: it is never too late to say yes to Christ. He does not withhold the heavenly reward to any who call upon His mercy!

In the image of Jesus as the vine, we the branches are grafted onto Him. Our Lord points us to a crucial secret to the spiritual life. We can no easier do without Christ than a branch could do separated from the vine. Rather than seeing this dependence as a negative, we should instead look at the powerful grace that has become our ally. With Jesus behind us, we can confidently say with St. Paul, “I can do all things in him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

The Challenge of the Vineyard

The parable of the wicked tenants (Matthew 21:33-44, RSVCE) and Jesus’ teaching on the vine (John 15:1-8, RSVCE) both mention fruit. In the parable, the tenants refused to give their landlord the fruit and effectively steal the vineyard. In Jesus’ allegory on the vine, the branches that do not bear fruit are cut away by the vinedresser.

One of the warnings to the present-day Church, first of all, is to not act as the wicked tenants did. We cannot confuse the blessings of God as won by our effort; we cannot tell the Lord to get out of the vineyard without consequence.

Jesus presents this in John 15 as a simple cause and effect: “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me” (15:4). If we cut ourselves off from Him, we will not have life. We do that by forsaking Christ in favor of the world and casting aside the more difficult teachings. We reject Him by changing the definition of sin, or ignoring it completely. None of these things bring us life, and it is foolishness to expect otherwise.

Blessings of the Temple

The temple in Jerusalem prefigured the Church and was no ordinary house of worship. The Jews believed it to be the dwelling place of God on earth. Through covenants with Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David, God bound Himself to the people of Israel in a special way, that made them unique. So too has Jesus made us His own people, expanding the definition of the Chosen People from one nation to all nations. He did this through baptism, which is the means of becoming part of the mystical Body of Christ.

St. John records a passage early in his gospel, just after Jesus cleansed the temple of money changers and those who sold animals for sacrifice. The Jews in the temple demanded a sign as to why Jesus did that. Jesus answered, “’ Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ …but he spoke of the temple of his body” (John 2:19-21, RSVCE). Jesus did not give a full homily on His mystical body, but His apostles provided further explication.

St. Peter urged that we come to Jesus as living stones in a spiritual house, using temple imagery (1 Peter 2:4-5, RSVCE). St. Paul was more direct with the imagery, reminding the Corinthians that they were temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19). The apostles teach us that Jesus not only fulfilled the temple in Himself but includes us in that fulfillment:

“You are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:19-22)

Jesus invites each person into a relationship–and we should pursue this pearl of great price with our whole heart.

Temple Warnings

Almost in the same breath as exhorting us to become living stones, St. Peter takes unbelievers to task. Those who do not believe in Jesus will not encounter a living stone but “a stone that will make men stumble, a rock that will make them fall’; for they stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do” (1 Peter 2:8).

This verse tells of a personal fall, but the temple itself was also vulnerable. For this we turn to history: the temple of Solomon was burned to the ground by the Babylonians in 587 B.C., and the Herodian (second) temple was razed by the Romans in 70 A.D. Jesus himself foretold the destruction of the second temple: “As for these things which you see, the days will come when there shall not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down” (Luke 21:6, RSVCE).

The warning applies to every person in every age. Being members of Christ’s body does not give us a free pass into heaven. In the sermon on the mount, Jesus admonishes us, “not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matt 7:21, RSVCE). We must be true disciples of Jesus to enter by the narrow gate.

The Sheepfold

The final image, that of a sheepfold, first sees the Lord as the good shepherd (see John 10:1-18). We are His sheep who hear His voice. Jesus protects and saves all the sheep, who were unable to save themselves. 

The intimacy that Jesus speaks of His flock merits deep reflection. “I know my own and my own know me, as the Father knows me and I know the Father” (John 10:14-15, RSVCE). Pause and take in: Jesus knows us the way that He perfectly knows, loves, and fully gives Himself to the Father. Incredible!

Sheep Beware

Why would Jesus talk about laying his life down if there was no predator? St. Peter teaches of our most dangerous enemy, the devil. “Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8, RSVCE). Anyone who has made any effort in the spiritual life knows this to be true. The closer a soul gets to God, the more the devil shouts, tempts and distracts. 

Why would Jesus speak of thieves and robbers if false prophets and leaders did not pose a constant threat to the Church? Jesus warned of false prophets (Matt 7:15, 24:11, 24:24), as well as St. Peter (2 Peter 2:1), St. John (1 John 4:1), and St. Paul–who cautioned nearly every community with which he corresponded. It was a problem then, and it continues to be a problem now. I can think of few issues more contentious in the Catholic Church today as to which bishops, cardinals, and priests are speaking the truth.

Everyone in the flock of the Lord has a narrow, difficult path to tread. Only with divine assistance, our trust, and discernment can we sift through the competing voices.

Guiding Us to Christ

Discipleship has always been challenging, and it certainly is today. Yet when the Church stays faithful to Christ, its source of life flows through the hard times as well as the good times. Be nourished by the Church, and let us be challenged to follow Our Lord closer each day.