“The Church as Mystical Body”

Lesson 2: “The Church as Mystical Body”
Religion 3rd Year
La Consolacion College
Bais City

Activity:
Ms. Fox was really disappointed in her students. They were all beautiful, brave and capable. But each was so proud of his or her achievements that they did not care about the others. Everyday they would come to Jungledom, the best school in the district, and wreak havoc. Rabbit was proud of his quick speed, Nightingale was proud of her sweet voice, Tiger was proud of his sharp claws, Snake was proud of his poisonous fangs and so on. Ms. Fox was upset with this attitude of theirs. She tried to teach them that every person had a place and a purpose in life and only if they worked together would the world be a happy place. But in vain.Then one day while they were deep in the forest, fighting amongst them, they fell into a hunter’s trap. All except Rabbit… (Source: http://www.dimdima.com)

Discussion:
How would you end the story?
What is the message of the Story?

Christian Message:
As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.
Now the body is not a single part, but many. If a foot should say, "Because I am not a hand I do not belong to the body," it does not for this reason belong any less to the body. Or if an ear should say, "Because I am not an eye I do not belong to the body," it does not for this reason belong any less to the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God placed the parts, each one of them, in the body as he intended. If they were all one part, where would the body be? But as it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I do not need you," nor again the head to the feet, "I do not need you." Indeed, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are all the more necessary, and those parts of the body that we consider less honorable we surround with greater honor, and our less presentable parts are treated with greater propriety, whereas our more presentable parts do not need this. But God has so constructed the body as to give greater honor to a part that is without it, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the parts may have the same concern for one another. If (one) part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy.
Now you are Christ's body, and individually parts of it. Some people God has designated in the church to be, first, apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers; then, mighty deeds; then, gifts of healing, assistance, administration, and varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work mighty deeds? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?
(Source: http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/1corinthians/1corinthians12.htm)

Focus: The Church is the Body of Christ. As a Church we become Christ’s people, community united together in the love of God. (cf. CFC 1905)
Vocabulary Analysis:
Mystery
 …reality filled with the hidden presence of God (Carl Koch, A Holy Nation, Phoenix Publishing House. page 11)
 ...divine truths proposed to our belief “that are hidden in God and which can never be known unless they are revealed by God Himself” (CFC 1356)


BOOKS of the HOLY BIBLE

Old Testament
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Tobit
Judith
Esther
1 Maccabees
2 Maccabees
Job
Psalms
The Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
The Song of Songs
Wisdom
Ecclesiasticus
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Baruch
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi


New Testament
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts of Apostles
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
Source: http://www.catholic.org/bible/books_bible.php