When Jesus spoke the words “Peter on this rock I will build my churchâ€, he did not have in mind in that moment an institution of more than 1.3 billion people. Peter rather was a family man. Peter was married. The gospel does not mention children, but under Jewish tradition and customs at that time it is highly likely Peter had children. The first commandment “Be fruitful and multiply†(Genesis 1:28). Peter was also a fisherman. Peter was not a Jewish priest, a Levite or lawyer. In the TV series “The chosen†depicts Peter having financial problems with large debts and marriage problems. Jesus chooses Peter to be “The Rockâ€. Peter would later deny Jesus. But when we use the word “church†we often think of a large institutional body. Today, the word “church†has a different meaning in a different cultural and historical context.
The root meaning of the word “church†means “the people of Godâ€. This has a wider embrace and scope than the institutional body many people refer to. Jesus says go out to all the world and bring the good news (Mark 16). Thus, this refers not just to the 1.3 billion Catholics, but everyone. All of humanity. The people who do not belong to the church. Those who live beyond the edges of the church. Jesus intended everyone. Not just the included but also the excluded.
But, why is it that large numbers of people in Western countries have left the church? There seems to be more ex-Catholics or ex-Christians. In Western Countries, statistically only about 10% of those who identify themselves a “Catholic†or “Christian†regularly attend church. There are many reasons why. In Australia “The Royal commission in to the sexual abuse of children†in 2016 and the historical coverup of some bishops. The widespread rise of secularism and the valuing of material things rather than spiritual things. The lack of women in leadership. Clericalism and pre-Vatican 2 approach to leadership (top focused) by some priests and lay people, and the dominance of a strict religious conservatism in some areas, whilst, conversely a progressivism which tries to remove of all truth and tradition.
I would like to suggest that these are not the main reason why there is a crisis in the church, though they are important and do present a major problem. They cannot be ignored and need to be addressed. Furthermore, churches like Protestant, Pentecostal, orthodox, churches do not have all of these problems. Yet, most churches seem to be in crisis. Who are we? What is the meaning of “church� In our lives is it a noun or a verb?
We need to re-discover some elements of what Jesus intended. “On this rock I will build my churchâ€. Today, Peter seen as the family man awakens to a more feminine way of being church and Marian way. Church more seen as a circle rather than a hierarchy. Where each person has a critical role to play. Where each part of our lives, good and bad, has a role to play. Where each part needs to take a responsibility with words, but also active listening. Why we eliminate other people or view points different view from us. Be it strongly conversative or strongly progressive. Pope Francis uses the term “Synodal Church†or a “Church on a journeyâ€. A church that actively and continuously enters a conversation and dialogue with its members and especially those who are different from us. Do we dialogue with those who are different? Who do not belong to our group?
When we use the word “church†we need to primary think of “familyâ€. But today, when we think of “Churchâ€, we often think of the “Church out thereâ€, community church, or national church, or international church. We need to change our lexicon and own understanding of “church†to mean “hereâ€. But church should firstly not mean a “noun†but a verb or action. Thus when we use the word “church†we are acting. Acting inside the family that we create. Peter is a good foundation as he is married, probably has children and seems to not have it all together. Rather like the church today. We need to get beyond the image of the white pearly gates where everything is perfect. Jesus chooses not a perfect man who is unconventional to be his rock. Like Michelangelo’s artwork “David†still embedded and hewn in the rock. David is not finished. We are a work of art not finished. Things seem to be still in progress. We have a role to play. As people, we are not finished and secondly as family and the church we create is not finished. It is a work in progress. Afterall the first Christians were not called “Christiansâ€, they were called “the people of the wayâ€.
Are we on the way?
Is the “church†firstly seen as “our own family�
How are we family?
Do we actively listen?
Do we seek out those who are excluded or those on the edges of our family?
How does God play a part in our family?
In Matthew’s Gospel some people come up to Jesus and say “your mother and brothers are here to see youâ€. Jesus responds “Who is my mother and brother? They are the one’s who do the will of my fatherâ€. Thus, family is more than blood relations, but rather, those we care about beyond our blood relationships.
What does “church†mean in your life?
Can you re-imagine?
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father,
As we come to the close of our contemplation on Your church,We ask for the grace to reimagine and rediscover Your divine blueprint.With the apostle Peter as our guide, a man of family and faith,Help us to build our church not as an institution, but as a living, breathing family.
Let us remember that Your church is not confined by walls,But is boundless, reaching out to the excluded and the estranged.Teach us to act as Your church, to be Your hands and feet in the world,Embracing all humanity with the love that speaks of true kinship.
Grant us the wisdom to see past the imperfections,To find beauty in the unfinished work that is Your church and ourselves.Inspire us to listen actively, to engage deeply, and to journey together, In the synodal spirit that Pope Francis has so earnestly advocated.
May we always seek to be 'the people of the way',Journeying towards You, living out the Gospel in every action.And let our understanding of church evolve,From a noun to a verb, from a building to a family, from an organization to a movement.
As we reflect on the role of Your church in our lives,Help us to see it first as our own family, where Your love reigns supreme.Guide us to be inclusive, to care for those beyond our blood ties,Following Jesus’ example, who taught us that family is more than lineage.
We thank You for the community of believers,For the global family that prays, hopes, and strives for Your kingdom come.May Your presence in our familial bonds be the cornerstone of our faith,And may the church we reimagine today be a beacon of Your eternal love.
We need to re-discover some elements of what Jesus intended. “On this rock I will build my churchâ€. Today, Peter seen as the family man awakens to a more feminine way of being church and Marian way. Church more seen as a circle rather than a hierarchy. Where each person has a critical role to play. Where each part of our lives, good and bad, has a role to play. Where each part needs to take a responsibility with words, but also active listening. Why we eliminate other people or view points different view from us. Be it strongly conversative or strongly progressive. Pope Francis uses the term “Synodal Church†or a “Church on a journeyâ€. A church that actively and continuously enters a conversation and dialogue with its members and especially those who are different from us. Do we dialogue with those who are different? Who do not belong to our group?
When we use the word “church†we need to primary think of “familyâ€. But today, when we think of “Churchâ€, we often think of the “Church out thereâ€, community church, or national church, or international church. We need to change our lexicon and own understanding of “church†to mean “hereâ€. But church should firstly not mean a “noun†but a verb or action. Thus when we use the word “church†we are acting. Acting inside the family that we create. Peter is a good foundation as he is married, probably has children and seems to not have it all together. Rather like the church today. We need to get beyond the image of the white pearly gates where everything is perfect. Jesus chooses not a perfect man who is unconventional to be his rock. 
Like Michelangelo’s artwork “David†still embedded and hewn in the rock. David is not finished. We are a work of art not finished. Things seem to be still in progress. We have a role to play. As people, we are not finished and secondly as family and the church we create is not finished. It is a work in progress. Afterall the first Christians were not called “Christiansâ€, they were called “the people of the wayâ€. 
(Audio Available)
