THE IMAGES OF THE CHURCH

THE CHURCH IS A MYSTERY

• According to Catholicism,the church is a mystery because it was born of Christ's total self giving.
• The church is a mystery because we the people don't understand the full church but they know a small portion about the church through its teachings.

THE CHURCH IS INCARNATIONAL

• The church is incarnation all because it was created by Jesus when he called Peter the rock.
• By initiating Peter as the leading priest/pope of the church it was from him the church was created.
• He also used Jesus's teachings to strengthen the church.

Branches of the Vine

• The branches of the vine resemble how the church has spread out throughout the world. The church has spread throughout the world much like branches on the fig tree.
• This means that the church continues to expand throughout the different generations.

CONTINUATION

• The Church is fostering this image because it provides catechism classes for those who want to learn about the church.
• I can practice this image by learning about what the scripture is saying at mass, and teach the next generation about the church.

KINGDOM OF GOD

• The idea of the Kingdom of God is in heaven where God is the ruler, and it gives us as humans a goal and destiny to aim for.
• This is seen in Psalm 45:6 "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom."

CONTINUATION

• My role in this image is that I try hard to follow the teachings of Christ and to live a religious life by going to mass and practicing Jesus's models of his Holiness.
• The Kingdom of God is portrayed as a great realm where we live in union with Jesus Christ. One example today is that we believe if we are good we will enter the Kingdom of God upon death. Second is we believe that Jesus is the ruler and reigns over this Kingdom.

CHRIST IS MARRIED TO THE CHURCH

• The main idea of this image of the church is that Christ is the bridegroom. Christ is the head of his Body, the Church, in the same way that a husband is the “head” of his wife. This is proposed when Jesus said to his disciples " Can the friends of the bridegroom fast, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast." [Mark 2:19]
• We can understand this by attending mass and practicing the teachings of Christ.

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