The Fifth Meeting for Preparing Church Servants in General

Pope Shenouda III discusses the concept and nature of the Church, explaining that it is not merely a building or a group of individuals, but a community of believers united together in God. He explains that the Church was in God’s purpose from the creation of the world, and that it represents God’s light on earth; therefore, the symbols of light have been associated with the Church since the Book of Genesis. He also explains that the Bible begins with the image of light and ends with the image of the heavenly Jerusalem, referring to the Church as God’s dwelling place with people.

Spiritual Message

The Church is the Body of Christ, and Christ is its Head; it is also the house of God and His dwelling place among His people. Pope Shenouda emphasizes that Christian life is not an isolated individual life, but a life of communion with God and with the members of the Church. Therefore, Christ taught us to pray in the plural form: “Our Father” and “forgive us.” The Church gathers believers around God’s altar and around the Eucharist, where they receive spiritual nourishment and live in holy communion.

Educational Lesson

Pope Shenouda presents several symbols of the Church, such as Paradise, the Ark, the altar, the ladder connecting heaven and earth, the Tabernacle of Meeting, and the Temple. The Ark symbolizes the Church as a means of salvation, while the ladder symbolizes the Church as a path connecting humanity to heaven. The Tabernacle points to the Church’s pilgrimage and sojourn in the world, while the Temple symbolizes its stability and also the heavenly Church. He also emphasizes that the Church is one in faith, teaching, and doctrine, even though churches may differ in their geographical locations.

Practical Application

A believer should feel that he belongs to the people of God, to the Body of Christ, and to the community of believers and saints. Life within the Church is a life of love, communion, and shared work, as was evident in the early Church, where the believers were one in heart and one in spirit. Pope Shenouda also explains that the Church is the place of reconciliation with God, the place of worship, and participation in the sacraments, and that separation from the Church means losing communion with the believers and with the Holy Spirit working through the sacraments. The Church is not merely a holy community, but a holy community in whose midst God dwells, and this has been God’s purpose from the beginning.

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