Many people have asked me this question, often quietly, sometimes with urgency: Why does the Church exist at all? Beneath it is a longing to know whether the Church truly matters in a world marked by suffering, injustice, and uncertainty. The mission of the Church is not an abstract idea—it is a living call that touches every human heart searching for hope.
At its heart, the Church exists to continue the mission of Jesus Christ in the world. Before ascending to the Father, Jesus entrusted His disciples with a simple yet demanding task: to proclaim the Good News, to baptize, and to teach all that He had given them. The Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, becomes His living presence—announcing God’s love not only through words, but through mercy, truth, and self-giving love.
The Church’s mission unfolds in three inseparable ways. First, she proclaims the Gospel, inviting every person into a relationship with God. Second, she celebrates the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, where Christ continues to nourish and heal His people. Third, she serves the world, particularly the poor, the forgotten, and the wounded. When the Church feeds the hungry, defends human dignity, and works for peace, she reveals the face of Christ to the world.
For us personally, this mission is not something distant or reserved for priests and missionaries. Through baptism, each of us becomes part of the Church’s mission. In our families, workplaces, and communities, we are called to be signs of God’s love—sometimes by speaking, often by listening, and always by loving. The Church fulfills her mission most clearly when ordinary believers live the Gospel in ordinary, faithful ways.
A Closing Reflection
May we remember that the Church is most alive when she loves as Christ loves—humbly, courageously, and without fear. Let us ask God to help us see our own lives as part of His saving work in the world.
— Fr. John Matthew, for Christian Way.