Understanding the Church 1

by Luther Osting Odoc

I. Proper outlooks/attitudes/perspectives are important and necessary in giving us

good disposition and approach in understanding the church.

A. The (1) origin, (2) nature, (3) mission, and (4) ultimate destiny of the Church must
be consider in understanding her (Pope Paul VI, “Ecclesiam Suam”).1

B. Being a Church is to be in dialogue in four levels: with ourselves, with other

Christians, with people of other religions and with the entire world (Pope Paul VI).

C. The Church constantly needs an “aggiornamento” or updating, that is recognizing

the signs of times to better or effectively realize her true identity and vocation (Pope
John XXIII).

D. The Church is both holy and sinful [simul Justus et peccatur] and therefore she is
constantly in need of change, renewal, reformation, and growth [ecclesia simper
reformanda] (Cardinal Yves Congar).

E. The Study of the Church or ecclesiology is linked to the concrete realities which
include our own experience of the Church.

F. The Study of the Church or ecclesiology is approach in faith, seeking for more
profound understanding and appreciation (Fides Quaerens Intellectum).

G. A good theology which includes ecclesiology, always goes back to the

(authoritative) sources of faith: Bible, Sacred Tradition, Church history and Church
teachings (Yves Congar, “Ressourcement“)

II. Theologians and biblical scholars (Catholics) today understand that Jesus founded
the Church through a process.

The Church was founded by Jesus not just in one event of His life but in the
whole Christ event. It was a process of progress and phases that involves six key
important moments; they are: (a) the preaching of the kingdom, (b) the choice of the
twelve, (c) the promise to Peter, (d) the institution of the Eucharist, (e) Jesus’ death
and resurrection, and finally, (f) the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost. (Hans KUNG
-Adelbert DENAUX Summary by James KROEGER, MM)

The coming of God’s kingdom is central to the preaching of Jesus. His mission is
basically, the coming of that kingdom (Mk 1:14-15; Mt 3:2; 4:17; 11:12; 12:28; Mk 9:1;
13:30; Lk 11:20; 16:16; 17:20-21). In preaching the kingdom, Jesus is calling everyone
to be part and be in that Kingdom. Jesus intends that His mission for the kingdom be
extended and continued until its fulfillment.

1
This is an edited version of the required sentence outline and summary in Ecclesiology presented by the
author to Mother of Life Center in view of his comprehensive exam in M.A. Rel. Ed. last August, 2013.

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 Jesus called disciples to join Him in His mission for God’s kingdom. Among his
disciples, he chose twelve whom he also named apostles (Mk 3:14-19; Lk 6:13-16; Mt
10:1-7). Just as the twelve tribes of Israel formed the people of God, the twelve form
the foundation and nucleus of the new and final people of God, the Church (Eph 2:20;
Rev 21:14); they will continue the saving mission of Jesus. The 12, the nucleus of the
Church with their successors, came to be identified as the Apostolic College. The
Apostolic College is found today in the college of Bishops headed by the Pope, the
successor of Peter.

Peter’s name is mentioned 114 times in the Bible and he is a primary witness
to the resurrection of Jesus (I Cor. 15:5). In Mt 16:16-19 (“And so I say to you, you are
Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of the netherworld will
not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth
shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in
heaven.”), Jesus entrusted to Peter a special role/mission (the change of name
signifies this, also in Mt 10:2; Mk 3:16; Lk 6:14; Jn 1:42). He made him the head and
overall shepherd of the Church (also in Jn 21:15-17; Acts 1:8; 2:14, 37) to guard Jesus’
revelation (keeper of ‘keys of heaven;’ also in Lk 22:31-32) and giving him special
power and authority (that is to ‘bind’ and ‘loose’). Jesus also promised that His Church
would not lose the mission entrusted to her (gift of infallibility).

At the Last Supper of Jesus with his disciples before his passion and death, He
instituted the Eucharist and asked its perpetuation in memory of him. The Last Supper
event prefigured, anticipated or foreshadowed the passion, death and resurrection of
Jesus. It also recalls the covenant made by God to His chosen people Israel ratified by
blood of animal but now a new covenant through Jesus ratified by his own blood (I
Cor. 11:23-26, Mk 14:22-24, Mt 26:26-28, Lk 22:14-15, 17, 19-20; Jn 6:48-58; Heb. 8:8-
13a).

The death and resurrection of Jesus actualized what he has said in his last
supper. A new and definitive covenant is made where humanity is redeemed through
the blood of Jesus. Those who bore witness to this became united with each other and
with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, they form the Church. The resurrected Jesus
gathered the scattered disciples again (Mt 28:16; Lk 24:33-35) and entrusted them a
worldwide mission (Mt 28:18-20; Jn 20:19-23; Mk 16:14-16)

The coming of the Holy Spirit to the disciples at Pentecost (Acts 2) completes
the foundation of the Church. The Holy Spirit empowered the afraid disciples to go out
and proclaim that Jesus had risen and that He is Lord. The Holy Spirit is the creative,
life-giving, promised gift of Jesus Christ (Jn 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7, 13). The elements of
the continuity, fidelity, and faithfulness (Infallibility/teaching Jesus Christ’s revelation
necessary for salvation without error) in the Church is assured by the Holy Spirit. The
Church is temple of the Holy Spirit (I Cor. 3:16-17; Eph. 2:17-22). She is filled and
vivified, sustained and guided by the Spirit. She owes its origin, existence, and
continued life to the Spirit.

Through all of these, we can say that Jesus assures the continuity of His
mission, in and through the assured continuity of the Church (also Mt 28:18-20); he
had prepared His disciples to continue what He has started. The time of the Church is
a time of journey between the first coming of Jesus Christ and his second coming
(Parousia).

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III. Avery Cardinal Dulles captured key dimensions of the Church in his five (5) models
of the Church.

The Church as a Mystery could not be fully grasp, but with the aid of five
models as proposed by Avery Dulles, S.J., various aspects/dimensions of the Church
are better understood, expressed and related to one another.

A. Institution

The Church has organized, visible and concrete structure for effectively
carrying out her mission. She has standards, rules, teachings, and authority. Her
hierarchical structure of authority is built on the bishops and the pope. The bishops
are considered as the successors of the apostles and the pope as the successor of
Peter. This ordained ministry and hierarchy is mainly understood as not places of
honor, but functions to maintain the inner life of the whole group, unity of worship,
and fidelity to Christ’s teaching (Eph. 2:19-21).

B. Servant

Just as Christ came to serve, so too, the Church is called to be a servant. She
exists to be of service to the Word of God, to proclaim the good news of salvation
which necessarily includes seeking and working for justice and peace in the world out
of love (Mt 20:25-28; 25:35-40; Lk 22:24-27; Jn 13: 12-17; Phil 2:5-7; Rom 1:1) .

C. Sacrament

The Church is a sign and instrument of the union which the human family
possesses with God and with one another. She is a visible sign of the invisible but
real presence of God. She makes visible, concrete and communicates the love and
grace of God in Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 4: 7-10). She
does this through her acts of mercy, compassion, love and service.

D. Herald

Herald is the bringer of news, announcer of a message, calls our attention into
something. The Church listens and announces the Word of God through preaching,
catechizing, teaching, scripture study, etc. She has a kerygmatic nature where she
proclaims the good news of salvation to the people (Mt 28:18-20; Rom 10:14-17; 2
Tim 4:2).

E. Community

The Church is communion of believers (Acts 6:2) in the risen Jesus. She is
composed of a wide diversity of people and gifts united with one another in faith
which transcends all boundaries of race, language, culture or nationality. The
Church, as a People of God and the Body of Christ, is a living community of faith,
friendship, love and service. This unity is brought about by God’s action in
mystical/spiritual means like prayer and sacraments through the power of the Holy
Spirit (I Cor. 12:4-7, 12-18, 27; Rom 12:4-8).

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