Our society encourages individualism. We are constantly made to believe that everything we think, say, or do, is our personal accomplishment, deserving individual attention. But as people who belong to the communion of saints, we know that anything of spiritual value is not the result of individual accomplishment but the fruit of a communal life.
Whatever we know about God and God’s love; whatever we know about Jesus – his life, death, and resurrection – whatever we know about the Church and its ministry, is not the invention of our minds asking for an award. It is the knowledge that has come to us through the ages from the people of Israel and the prophets, from Jesus and the saints, and from all who have played roles in the formation of our hearts. True spiritual knowledge belongs to the communion of saints.
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November 14, 2009 at 1:58 pm
Karen Hopper
Another truth in the Lord’s plan, Helen. Eph. 4:16 (NLV) reads, “From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work”. We all have an individual portion to do but at the same time, no one part can complete the work without the other.
November 14, 2009 at 3:56 pm
Mervi
One writer commented of, “This common Salvation.” This salvation is not an item of just an ordinary thing. It is the same to all those who are a part of the church community.
Great thought Helen;
Mervi
November 15, 2009 at 1:05 am
helenl
I like how Nouwen makes me think.