Professor Susan Wood, religious sister of Charity and
professor of theology at Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI, led an
insightful and challenging session on the Identity and Call of all the Baptized
on Saturday, September 29th, 2007. Beginning with the scripture
passage describing Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan, and engaging with the
ritual and symbols of baptism, Susan challenged participants to look at our
shared identity as “beloved of God” and invited an exploration of
baptism from many important angles: we take on a new identity – one with
the beloved son, Jesus Christ, with whom the Father is greatly pleased; we are
freed from sin and challenged to holiness; we are cleansed, made new, reborn
and invited to take on everything that comes with that new life; we are
initiated into the mystical body of Christ, called to bring Good news to all
the world. This initiation is a gift of God’s love that we celebrate and
strengthen every time we share in the Eucharist and gather with the assembly of
believers who is sent to continue the saving mission of Jesus. |
Prof. Susan Wood, from Marquette University in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin, presents rich insights about baptismal identity and call |
Participants engage in enthusiastic conversation |
Prof. Wood, helped the gathering to distinguish between
“the historical body of Christ” “the sacramental body of
Christ” and the “mystical body of Christ,” the church. She
encouraged careful consideration of the fact that these three cannot be
collapsed into each other, but neither ought we to drive a wedge between them.
She also emphasized the great importance of our call to ecumenical efforts to
bring unity to the body of Christ that is fractured by division.
It was an enriching and challenging session that inspired
participants and brought vital new insights. The next session will examine the
relationship between Christianity and Islam and the need to bring peace. Among
several guests to help with the day will be respected leaders in the Muslim
community, Abdul Rashid and Khadija Haffajee, and Thomas Mooren, professor of
Missiology and specialist in relations between Christianity and Islam at St.
Paul University.
All are welcome: Saturday, Nov. 10th |