What is the Church?
That might seem like an odd question to ask, but the Church can be many things. It can be a place to worship, to pray, to meet with people or even to a place to find solitude. The Church can be a place to get married, to be christened, or say goodbye to a loved one. For some of us, the church is where we learn about faith, or where we bring our doubts and questions. For others, the church is simply a remote institution which can seem a bit irrelevant or judgemental. The church can be viewed as the building, or as the people, as God’s house, a sacred space, or simply a gathering place for the faithful. For others, the church is the “heart of the community” which, as well as having a social and spiritual function, tells the story of the people in that place, as well the building itself. The church can also be a movement, or a campaigning group, a catalyst for change.
I think the church is all those things, and more, but there is another aspect of the church, which is prominent in my mind at the moment, the church as “sanctuary”. In this sense, the church is both a holy space and a social refuge, it offers spiritual shelter and practical protection.
Perhaps Sunday’s Gospel reading helps us to think about the Church as “sanctuary”:
He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” Matthew 13: 31-32
The tree in this story provides refuge for the birds, and of course, the tree doesn’t choose which birds are welcome to perch on its branches, all the birds are welcome. In this story the church serves as a glimpse of the kingdom of heaven, which is inclusive, non-judgemental, and provides a safe space for all, not just the members of a specific “Christian Club”. The other thing to mention is that the tree grows from a small seed. Perhaps we are the “seeds” from which the church can grow. We all have a small part to play, but our church cannot exist without us.
Do you need a quiet space? A place of “sanctuary”? Both our churches are open every day for you to explore, or for personal prayer. Also, at St. Mary’s, there is a small selection of spiritual books for you to look at.
