Page 14 - Perceptions papers

and change in Love. Each of us is called into being by God’s Love and each is called to respond

to that Love in our life’s journey. We believe that death is overcome because Jesus, Lord, Son of

God and Son of Mary, freely responded to God’s call in his life, even unto death on a cross. In

his death, we take comfort for He knows this mystery of death in his own being and walks with

us through death to eternal life in Christ.

Graced Reform: The Church, the people of God, while inspired by the Spirit, often failed to

live up to its central mission of love and mercy, becoming sidetracked by worldly power and

wealth. However, from within the Church came graced reformers who called the people and the

institution back to its real identity and role. The Roman Catholic Church, the largest Christian

community, present in all parts of the world, underwent a radical transformation in orientation to

the world through the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s. Proclaiming the dignity of each and

every person, and the right to religious freedom and conscience, the Church recovered its role as

the champion of the poor and a seeker of justice, all the while on a spiritual pilgrimage toward

union with God in Christ. Today we see the leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, calling

all Catholics to be an inclusive Church of Mercy.

The Christian community as a whole believes that God has called all creation into existence

and each of us is called to respond in love to the movement of God in our lives. Our true

fulfillment is eternal life with God. In Jesus Christ, we know that God is calling us to love one

another, live a respectful stewardship within the creation God has gifted us, and work together

for justice and peace within our society and in our world. Christian spirituality is always a social

spirituality, living in community for the message of salvation is inclusive of all whom God has

called into being, to all who share God’s love in loving one another.

14