Good News cannot by spread by everyone thinking, saying or doing their own thing

TP O’MAHONY has given us his overview of the 21 great councils of the Catholic Church up to Vatican II (1962-’65) and now gives us his Vatican III and the agenda for it (January 2).

But in this case where one would expect it, and indeed in any of his writings he never tells what the church is for, though this is repeated often round the world, as on Christmas Day and again on Sundays: “The Word was made flesh and lived among us.”

God took on this human nature, his creature’s flesh and blood, so that we might participate in the divine nature. This is the Good News, the gospel in old English, the so-scéal in Irish.

We count our years from this central event in human, planet earth and cosmic history.

Although the scheme of human salvation – that is, ultimate human wellbeing – is one of divine revelation, of divine presence and divine grace, the passing on of this message, and all the structures that necessarily go with it, is entrusted by Jesus Christ to the people of God themselves.

Thus human unworthiness is intrinsic to the church, which is a definite body of people whose function is to proclaim, conserve and facilitate the divine transformation of persons and of social life which began with the incarnation, the coming of Jesus Christ.

A co-worker with God is necessarily unqualified and unworthy. Further, in church life, as in any other human context, the same probabilities apply to his or her being also inferior, rather than excellent, in human competence, temperament and character.

This is a description which is applicable even-handedly to all members of the church – bishops, priests, religious, all. But I’m extremely puzzled that you have a writer engaged in this matter at all because, in your dissemination of news, you have shocked many by declaring editorially that telling people about Jesus Christ is irrelevant to their lives.

Indeed this might explain why in TP O’Mahony’s church there would be no rule book at all; he would achieve unity among all the cultures of humanity by letting everyone think, say and do his or her own thing. A rather strange message for the New Year.

Fr Tom Kelleher

Courceys

Kinsale

Co Cork