One way to think of the Church is that it is an army. When we think of armies, in the best sense of the word, one may think of an army that goes to rescue people who are in difficult and even dangerous situations. The Church exists for such a mission. Jesus, in his last words to his disciples told them in Mt. 28:18-20 to “Go into the world and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all I told you.” The world we live in is full of people who are hurting, broken, suffering, sick and in despair. The Church is called to “GO” to them and bring them into the family of God for healing and spiritual maturity.
In the Catholic faith, one way to do this is called the works of mercy. These “works of mercy” are just that: Spirit-anointed works of mercy to bring healing and restoration to peoples’ lives. When a parish community is reflecting on the word of God in Sacred Scripture, faith is born in hearts. It is faith that leads people to establish Bible studies in workplaces and neighborhoods. It is faith that feeds homeless people in shelters; teaches orphans in learning centers; tutors people in job skills; ministers to aids patients in clinics; serves elderly people in hospice care centers and rocks sick babies in hospitals. Faith, birthed in hearts through the word of God, causes a parish community to radically obey the commands of Jesus to take the Gospel to the world.