TRINITY AND CHURCH AS MISSION AND COMMUNION
WELCOME TO THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE DIOCESE OF MARBEL

TMA 4 Module 5 – TRINITY AND THE CHURCH AS MISSION AND COMMUNION 

Introduction:

The Year 2000 is a year of thanksgiving to God for the continued existence of the Church this past 2000 years. It is a time to reflect on the mission that Christ has entrusted to his Church and which continues today.  

The Church is by nature missionary (AG 2). In fact every Christian is a missionary. Baptism calls us to mission and Confirmation reinforces this call. It is important that we all understand mission and zealously undertake it (Bishop’s Communication, no. 290).

But what is mission? What is communion? Mission means “sent” or “being sent” (from Latin “missio”).  Mission also means “purpose” or reason why someone is being sent.

“Communion” means “united together” (from Latin “communio”). Communion implies union of heart and mind.

Jesus is mission. He is God’s mission (being sent) to the world (to save the world). Jesus’ role however is unique. He is messenger and also the message himself. Jesus is mission and the bearer of mission.

The Church is mission. She is Christ’s mission (being sent) to the world (to teach all nations). The Church continues Christ’s mission in the world today in the Holy Spirit.

In Scripture God is revealed as Trinitarian communion in God’s Mission.

MISSION 
OF THE FATHER

MISSION 
OF THE SON

MISSION 
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

To liberate his people from slavery.

·        He saw their affliction and heard their cry

·        He sent Moses to lead them out of Egypt.

·        He guided his people to the promised land.

To bring good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives, recovery of sight to the blind, to set the downtrodden free, and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. (Lk 4:16-21).

To instruct and remind the disciples of all that Jesus had told them (Jn 14:26).

.

To dwell among his people.

·        He made a covenant with them.

·        He accompanied them in their journey in the desert.

·        He provided them their needs.

To announce and establish the Kingdom of his Father.

·        By preaching repent-ance, teaching right-eous living, curing the sick, forgiving sins, and even raising the dead to life.

To recreate timid disciples into bold witnesses of Christ (Acts 2).

To be power for mission of the Church

To save the world.

·        He sent his only Son

·        So that all who believe in him may have eternal life.

To obey the will of the Father.

·        He came into the world

·        He died on the Cross

·        He  brings us back to the Father

To build the Church into a community of believers united in love and sharing (Acts 2:42-47; 4:32-35).

 

Church as Mission and Communion In “Ecclesia in Asia” (The Church in Asia, Nov. 6, 1999, by Pope John Paul II).  

Jesus is the God’s greatest gift to us. This gift we have already received and we are united with him. This gift is the greatest treasure we can share with our fellow Asians so that they too will receive Christ and be united with him. 

Mission results in communion, and communion promotes mission. Communion gives rise to mission and mission is accomplished in communion.

 Two movements of mission: “ad intra” (within the Church) and “ad extra” (outside the Church). 

MISSIO AD INTRA

MISSIO AD EXTRA

Promotes communion and participation. Example: Diocese, Parish, BEC/GKK

Diocese = community of communities

Parish = communion of BECs/GKKs

BEC/GKK = communion of families

Promotes unity, respect and openness

Dialogue with other Christian religions = Ecumenism

Dialogue with non-Christian great religions = Inter-religious dialogue

 

THREE MAJOR AREAS OF MISSION

1.       Proclamation of Jesus as Savior, the sharing of the gift we have received.

2.       Dialogue with the world, with other faiths, with other Christians.

3.       Human promotion:

·        Human Dignity

·        Gospel of Life

·        Value Formation (witnessing)

·        Integrity of Creation

·        Globalization

 

The Church in Asia: Church in Mission and Communion

The Church in Asia becomes true Church only in fulfillment of the mission it has received from the Father, his Son Jesus and their Spirit. The end of mission is not the Church itself but Christ and the salvation of the world.

The Church issues forth from the missio Dei. The Church originates from a missionary Triune God. Because the mission of the Church is a participation in the mission of God, the Church must therefore consider the following things:

a)       Mission is primarily and originally God’s work, not ours. We only share in it.

b)      Mission work should be rooted in prayer and contemplation of the God who saves.

c)       In Mission God’s concern must be the Church’s concern, God’s agenda, the Church’s agenda

d)      The Church of mission is not occupied just with self (increasing mass attendance,   beautification, fund raising, etc.). Rather her preoccupation should be to meet a whole world which is thirsty, hungry and yearning for life. 

 

Conclusion

The Trinity continues its mission in Asia. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are united in love as they together persevere in their common mission. The Church in Asia is being invited to unite itself more closely to the Trinity so that it may learn again how to serve and how to be united. The Church, as a true community, is being sent on mission to a people thirsting, hungering and yearning for life itself, for fullness of life. What that Church will look like, as icon of the Trinitarian mission and communion on Asian soil cannot be captured by mind or words. That Church is beyond capacity to articulate.

When our communities of Christians stand with the youth. When our communities provide necessary critique to the long lines of people who put money better spent elsewhere. When our communities feel the ache and pain of seeing only from a distance our suffering and persecuted brothers and sisters in Asia whom we long to embrace, cuddle and shield but whom we could only touch in prayer, caring remembrance and heartfelt compassion.

When in all this, the Church tells and lives the beautiful story of a Son who fulfills the mysterious will of the Father and, in a love that even death cannot kill, gives their Spirit to those who most need to be loved, in self-effacing service, in dying so that those who thirst, hunger and yearn may finally find life. The Church happens when it lives and serves by the communion and mission of the Trinity. (END)

     previous         home          top          next

For any inquiries or comment, you may contact the WEBMASTER
Last Updated: Tuesday, November 20, 2001 08:30:19 PM