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Christ in the World
Towering triumphantly over New York Harbour, the Statue of Liberty has become a beacon of hope for oppressed peoples from around the world. This stately lady, with freedom's torch held high, welcomes refugees from far across the world with these words on her pedestal,
"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore,
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:
I lift my lamp beside the golden door."
Christ in the World
To those oppressed by the permissiveness and selfishness of our society, Jesus still extends this same comfort of God's love. He says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." 1 To those trapped by a ruthless secular world, the Body of Christ still answers with the one name, "JESUS." Jesus still unshackles their chains himself. He beckons, "in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world!." 2
Body Forms
The answer to society's and the individual's need is the Body of Christ in its rainbow of forms. She, the Body of Christ, is God's instrument in bringing a hurting world back to himself. Like a rainbow, she shines in many colors. God lays down his weapon of destruction, his bow in the clouds, as the sign of his peace covenant with Noah and the World. His rainbow is a pledge that he will never again destroy the world with a major flood. The Body of Christ is God's pledge of peace to all people in the World.
Body Rainbow
The Mystical Body in the World, like the rainbow, contains many emanations and colors in a multitude of rich and different forms. Jesus is the primary body himself, God taking human form. The individual Body of Christ has her being in the Christian believer. She is hidden sacramental in bread and wine. She also operates in households where Christians gather under the headship of Christ.
World Body
The church as a larger world organization draws together many local households. God's world body exists as a network of national and international denominations that knows no differences in doctrine or practice. The Historical Body of Christ stretches backwards and forwards in time to the saints of every age who share eternally the same commitment to Jesus Christ. In an extraterrestrial dimension, the Heavenly Body worships around the throne of God.
World Wide Body
The Body with the angelic host form a great multitude of the faithful across the World. Every committed Christian is a part of this whole spectrum of the Mystical Body. Personal commitment opens the door to the many rich emanations of the one, mystical Body of Christ. Every committed Christian is automatically and simultaneously included, whether he or she knows or wants it. As I sit in a chair at home, I worship at the feet of Jesus in heaven. Because the head permeates every level of the Body of Christ, I am at one with brother and sister Christians around the world. The Body of Christ is God's instrument for bringing a hurting world back to himself.
Jesus did not say, "I go to heaven, but I leave you a book. Here are a concordance and commentaries, so entertain yourselves. Bye-bye!" NO! He said, "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." 3 Jesus is still present today in the Mystical Body of Christ in the World through the Holy Spirit.
As I sit in a chair at home, I worship at the feet of Jesus in heaven.
Questions for Discussion
1. Discuss the "Body Rainbow" in the World idea.
Notes
1Matthew 11.28. 2John 16.33. 3Matthew 28.20.
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