Henri Nouwen Society - Daily Meditation
Tuesday November 5, 2013 

 

The Mission of the Church

 

There are more people on this planet outside the Church than inside it.  Millions have been baptised, millions have not. Millions participate in the celebration of the Lord's Supper, but millions do not.

 

The Church as the body of Christ, as Christ living in the world, has a larger task than to support, nurture, and guide its own members.  It is also called to be a witness for the love of God made visible in Jesus.   Before his death Jesus prayed for his followers, "As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world"  (John 17:18).  Part of the essence of being the Church is being a living witness for Christ in the world.

 

- Henri J. M. Nouwen  

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Text excerpts taken from Bread for the Journey, by Henri J.M. Nouwen, �1997 HarperSanFrancisco. All Scripture from The Jerusalem Bible �1966, 1967, and 1968 Darton, Longman & Todd and Doubleday & Co. Inc. Photo by V. Dobson.