A DIVINE RENEWAL.

FROM A MAINTENANCE PARISH TO A

MISSIONARY PARISH

Introduction: Problems of the parish

The author begins the journey of his presentation by recalling his parish experience.
Objective of the book

The author aims to propose in the following chapters of his work how much
the confusion that reigns in our Church today (its experience) has its root in an identity crisis. The author
seeks to lay the foundations of a theological basis for this identity by proposing a model for life
renovated parish.
1.- A house of prayer. Remembering our identity and purpose
He points out that the key to recovering the buildings of all the parishes he managed was to consider
the particular reason why they were initially ceded to the groups in the city. (Situation that
the parishes lived in a clear crisis). Today we talk in the Church about the crisis of vocations, crisis of family,
marriage crisis, financial crisis, sexual abuse crisis, crisis of each individual. Specifically, the author
consider that this crisis is nothing but a symptom of a deeper crisis 'a crisis of identity.'
The temple
This identity crisis is not different from the one that existed in the times of Jesus. The author recalls Wright, who
talks about the intentionality of Jesus in presenting himself as the Messiah of the Jews when he enters the city of
Jerusalem. Their argument is that everything was planned, it was intentional. One of the tasks that had to be done was the
The Messiah was to restore the temple. In the Gospel of Mark, after Jesus entered the city under
acclamations, we see how he immediately enters the temple. Then something strange happened. Saint
Marcos tells us that Jesus looked around, checked the time, and realized it was late.
leaving with the twelve to spend the night in Bethany.
It is not until the next morning that Jesus enters the temple and begins to expel those who were there.
selling and buying. He overturned the tables of the money changers 'and did not allow anyone to transport objects across the
temple (Mark 11:15-16). This action was not a spontaneous and passionate outburst from Jesus. It was not a
moment of holy anger when he found a market in his Father's house. It was a calm and measured Jesus who
he made a symbolic gesture with all the intention. He was not upset by what he had found in the
temple. I had been going there all my life, the buying and selling of animals was a necessary part of the worship of
village, because the temple was where the sacrificial offerings were made. It was not even about anger towards the
money changers who took a commission for converting currencies from all nations to the exclusive currency of
temple, the only money that could be used to buy the animals of the temple.
The action of Jesus not only interrupted those who were making money in the temple, but also those who
they were buying or trying to enter the inner courtyards of the Temple. Jesus closed the entire Temple for a while.
And he invokes the authority of the prophets: "Is it not written: My house shall be a house of prayer for all nations?"
You, on the other hand, have turned it into a den of robbers (Mark 11:17).
But the key to understanding Jesus' actions is in the first quote, that of Isaiah, in which God
Remember the Jewish people that the Temple was meant to be their house of prayer for all peoples, that the
God's exclusive election for Israel intended the most generous inclusion of all nations: To the
foreigners who have joined the Lord to serve Him, (...) I will bring them to my holy mountain, I will fill them with joy in my
house of prayer; its burnt offerings and sacrifices will be acceptable on my altar; for my house is a house of
"prayer, and thus they will call it all the nations" (Is 56: 6-7). (written in the 6th century BC before the exile of construction)
from the temple) - God's intention is clear not only for the Temple, but for the nation of Israel itself, to be
a channel of salvation for all the peoples. 'It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and
bring back the survivors of Israel. I make you a light for the nations, so that my salvation may reach to the
to the ends of the earth.” (Is 49:6)

Aware of this calling, He of whom it was declared in that very temple by the lips of Simeon that He was
fulfillment and embodiment of that prophecy (Lk 2:29-32) saw at that moment a temple that did not reflect
that radical inclusion of all nations through the exclusive election of Israel. On the contrary, he saw a
a people that had forgotten its calling, that had robbed the gentiles of their inclusion in the covenant with
God. They had decided that it was enough to keep it for themselves. They were satisfied with their status quo.
paid for their ritual cults and had forgotten their purpose: their identity proclaimed by the prophets of
Israel, often at the cost of his own life.
The very architecture of the temple conveyed this theology of exclusion. Through his death and Resurrection, Jesus
let the temple of his body be destroyed and rebuilt so that, in his person, the new may be manifested
temple of God, where the earth is united with heaven. In this temple, there are no more walls of separation (Eph 2:14).
There is neither Jew nor Greek, male nor female (Gal 3:28). All are priests and have access to the Holy of Holies.
the inner sanctuary. Jesus fulfills in his person the destiny of Israel. The mission of Inclusion is given to the New
Israel, those called by Jesus, his 'ekklesia', to go and make disciples of all nations. In
In conclusion, the identity crisis of our Church today is no different from that which existed in times of
Jesus. We have forgotten to such an extent our essential missionary calling that we have
happy with the maintenance and the service to ourselves. It happens like with the occurrence of
Titanic (April 14, 2002 - a centenary was fulfilled) as of the 18 lifeboats launched from the ship,
A total of 472 spots remained unused. And only 2 of the 18 boats went to the rescue of the survivors.
despite the complaints of some travelers. The author remembers how, 'by the time those who were in the boats
Lifeguards remembered their mission, only nine people could be found alive...
This must be a metaphor for the Church. It should remind us that we exist for the mission. Like Jesus,
we have been sent to 'seek and to save' those who are perishing and there is plenty of room in the boats
lifesaver. Even so, as a Church we remain seated at a prudent distance with too much
frequency, more concerned about our own comfort and needs. It may be that, if a few swim
until we help them. But... going to them? It's not just about the challenge of leaving our comfort zone.
of comfort and needs, is something that is completely outside of our frame of reference because we have
forgotten the fundamental our identity. Lifeboats exist to rescue people. Any
any crew member who dares to disturb life on the lifeboat will quickly hear a chorus of
passenger complaints who oppose being inconvenienced in any way. We lament the tragedy of
the loss of faith, secularization, the closing of churches and all the rest, but we do not think to resort to
the oars and start rowing.
We exist for the mission. What is the mission of the Church? Mt 28:19-20
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Saint; teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." "Go, make, baptize and teach" – four
imperatives. (make disciples - math - eteusate) that the gospel uses. The author points out that being a disciple is
to be embarked on a lifelong learning process, the purpose of which is to learn from Jesus
teacher and from the lips of Jesus the master. At first glance, the only solution is to return to what Jesus asked of us.
two thousand years ago; that we do not simply make believers or 'practicing Catholics' but that we make
disciples.
Evangelization
We know that just because someone believes in Jesus or goes to church, it doesn't necessarily mean they are thirsty. Something
it must happen to awaken this thirst; that something is evangelization. To be evangelized is not just to listen.
the wonderful truths and to know them, but to come to know him (not just to believe in him, but to love him and to be
In love with him). Only when we come to encounter him as someone alive and real - the one who is the
I am the way, the truth, and the life - we then wish to walk in His path, to yearn for His truth, and to seek to live His life.

What needs to be done?

Jesus Christ must be proposed again. This Church of disciples must 'go' and 'make disciples' of all the
nations. "As the Father has sent me, so I send you" (Jn 20:21). We have to work to create spaces
in which people come to know Christ as the living Lord, awakening that thirst to then
to begin training them, to make them disciples. Called to make disciples apostles, to take on the Great Commission.
Do we make others in the parish aware of this experience?
Alex Gordillo (Summary) T. Practice