Who are we?

By Msgr Michael de Verteuil

Chair of the Archdiocesan

Liturgical Commission

Who are we, this people gathered in this church?

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (5) tells us, “This people is the People of God, purchased by Christ’s Blood, gathered together by the Lord, nourished by his word….”

Read that over slowly and reflect on the wonder of each phrase. St Peter (1 Pet 2:9) reminds us, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a people set apart to sing the praises of God who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” That’s us, God’s people!

We are this people because God has loved us, washing us clean and joining us to the Body of Christ in the waters of Baptism, dying on the cross for us. It is God who has summoned us, [“ the people you have summoned here before you” – Eucharistic Prayer 111].

God has always called a people – even as He called individuals it was for the sake of a people. Abraham was called to be the father of a people. Moses, to lead a people to freedom and covenant: “I will be your God, you will be my people”.

Once His people were covenanted and led to the Promised Land, God gave them leaders and prophets. Out of this people, in the fullness of time, came Jesus who formed a new people.

St Peter says, “Once you were no people but now you are the people of God” (1 Pet 2:10). These ‘people’ were not limited to the people of Israel or bound by the Law but a people of many nations bound by the law of love.

Who are we? We are part of this people of God, but even more than that, we are the Body of Christ. In the waters of Baptism, we become part of this Body. St Paul (1 Cor 12) reminds us that since we are all part of this Body we are called to unity – “As it is, the parts are many but the body is one.”

And in the Letter to the Galatians (3:28), St Paul tells us that there are no distinctions between us. We are all equal citizens in the kingdom of God.

Look around at the gathered people, all purchased by Christ’s Blood, all precious to the Lord. We are all one in Christ.

We show who we are, our identity, as this people when we gather together on a Saturday or Sunday. This identity is not visible when we are going about our daily tasks, when we are at a mall or on the main road, but as we gather as a body in a church.

Who are we? The Church. St Paul again, “Now the Church is his Body, he is its head” (Col 1:18). And this Church, this Body is gathered here for a reason. This we will see in Part 2.