1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Focusing on the Mission of the Laity:

Lumen Gentium, Dogmatic Constitution of the Church – Pope Paul VI, November 21, 1964

“They are called there (lay state of life living in the secular world) that by exercising their proper function and led by the Spirit of the gospel, they may work for the sanctification of the world from within as a leaven.   In this way they make Christ known to others, especially by the testimony of a life resplendent in faith hope and charity.”  (par 31)

“Therefore, from divine choice the laity have Christ for their brother who, though He is the Lord of all, came not to served but to serve.” “          Mt: 20:28  (par 32)

“Therefore, the Chosen People of God is one:  “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” “  Eph 4:5  (par 32)

“Rather, living the truth in love, we should grow in every way into Him Who is the Head, Christ, for from Him, the whole body, being closely joined and knit together through every joint of the system, according to the functioning in due measure of each single part, derives its increase to the building up  itself in love.” “  Eph 4: 15-16  (par 30)

Reflecting on the Mission, we could make out two aspects.

First, the strategy or the careful plan or method for achieving an end or, in our context, the Goal. In the military sense, the science and art of command aimed at meeting the enemy under conditions advantageous to one’s own force. Strategy is people-oriented.

Second, the tactics or the skills using available means to reach an end. In the military, the science of maneuvering forces in combat. Tactics are tools- or process- oriented

Allusion to military sense is brought about by Ephesians 6:11 in our battle against evil.  “Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil”.

The Strategic aspect of the Alliance Mission is three-fold:

To Serve, Unify, and Build Up

Service is individual-oriented and directly corresponds with the character of the person serving. To serve is more than to work which means to toil, to labor, a task, or a job. To serve is to work for others. To be a servant. In a recent edition of The Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the second sense listed for “serve” is “to render obedience and worship to God.”

We offer the following character-istics of a S -E-R-V-A-N-T:

Selfless “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself …” (Mark 8:34)

Exemplifies Jesus Christ in His humility, compassion, obedience to His Father’s Will

Resourceful in finding means to help/serve ; e.g. four men lowering their paralytic friend through the roof to be healed by Jesus (Mark 2:4-5)

Vigilant “Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for [someone] to devour.” (1Peter 5:8)

Available Learning that “Elizabeth has also conceived in her old age, and this is the sixth month” …Mary set out and traveled the hill country in haste … Mary remained with her about three months..” (Luke 1: 36, 39, 56)

Needs-Oriented “What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a  fish? .. a scorpion when he asks for an egg.” (Luke 11: 11-12)

Timely at the right time; appropriate to the time “…do not put new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise the skins burst … (Matthew 9: 17)

Unity among believers is community-oriented.

“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. …If [one] part suffers, all parts suffer with it; if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy.” (1 Corinthians 12:12; 26)

Members of the community can U-N-I-F-Y by:

Using the Gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12: 4-11)

Nurturing the Fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5: 22-24)

Integrating our fleshly desires with the will of the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-17)

Focusing on Jesus Christ (Hebrews 12:2)

Yielding totally to God (Philippians 2:7).

Building up the prayer communities is Church-oriented and Christ-centered.

“According to the grace of God given to me like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But each one must be careful how he builds upon it, for no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there, namely, Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:10-11)

Our various prayer communities can B-U-I-L-D U-P the Catholic Church through:

Bible Study and Catechesis (Apostolic Constitution Fidei Depositum)

Unceasing praying (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Instilling Faith/Values/Morals (Deuteronomy 6: 1-7)

Loving one another (1Cor 13)

Dedicating ourselves to the evangelistic work at hand (Catechism par 849)

Upholding our Church authorities and their pastoral directives, etc

Participating in Parish, Diocesan, ministries, activities, initiatives.