Believing is belonging: The parish

When people think of church they usually mean a parish and not the diocese or the universal church. It is in parishes where Christianity is lived on a daily basis or, as some pastors like to say, “where the rubber meets the road”.

May 23, 2014

By Daniel S. Mulhall
When people think of church they usually mean a parish and not the diocese or the universal church. It is in parishes where Christianity is lived on a daily basis or, as some pastors like to say, “where the rubber meets the road”.

From the earliest days of Christianity, followers of Jesus have gathered together on a weekly basis to read and discuss the sacred Scriptures and celebrate the Eucharist. In the beginning the membership of the church was so small that believers could gather in someone’s home.

The first mention of such a small church is found in the Acts of the Apostles: “All who believed were together ... breaking bread in their homes.”

These “house churches” were the forerunners of today’s parishes. House churches were common until Christianity was made an official religion of the Roman Empire in 313, and they still exist in small communities around the world.

All of St Paul’s letters in the Bible were written to small communities of believers, most of whom he knew personally. These were usually house churches. Paul could write to them with such enthusiasm and have no problem correcting people’s behaviour and their understanding of Christianity because of the relationship he had with them. In parishes we get to know people well, we become friends.

House churches established the foundation upon which today’s parishes are built. In parishes, Christians continue to support each other and share their faith in Christian fellowship. The biblical record shows that in parishes, Christians are to:

--Devote themselves to the teaching of the church, to prayer and to the breaking of bread (Acts 2:42).
-- Engage each other in conversation so as to better understand the meaning of the Scripture readings, which is the purpose of the homily (1 Cor 14:26 and Col 3:16).
-- Greet people warmly, welcoming them into the Lord's presence and making them feel at home (1 Cor 16:19, Rom 16:5, Col 4:15 and Phlm 1:2).
-- Maintain a connection to the wider church — parishes do not stand alone, they are part of a diocese (Acts 15:36).
-- Care for those in need and serve others. “The community of believers was of one heart and mind. ... There was no needy person among them” (Acts 4:32-35; 6:1-2).
-- Participate in fraternal correction -- my behaviour is influenced by others (Acts 20:20).
-- Experience the Lord’s presence, both in gathering with other Christians (“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them,” Mt 18:20) and in the sharing of the Lord’s body and blood (Lk 22:19-20, Mk 14:22-24, Mt 26:26-29 and 1 Cor 11:20-34).

Parishes today are vital communities of faith. There, believers continue to support each other in faith through prayer, study, fellowship, caring for others and breaking bread.

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