{"id":4123,"date":"2025-09-02T07:21:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-02T07:21:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/?post_type=photo_meditations&p=4123"},"modified":"2025-10-14T14:28:14","modified_gmt":"2025-10-14T14:28:14","slug":"mission-has-a-church","status":"publish","type":"photo_meditations","link":"https:\/\/dev.maryknollsociety.org\/magazine\/photo_meditations\/mission-has-a-church\/","title":{"rendered":"Mission has a Church"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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By Joseph R. Veneroso, M.M.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our going forth in mission is not<\/em>
To form, much less build, a church.<\/em>
Rather, our coming together in faith<\/em>
Is to inspire, enable and encourage<\/em>
One another to go back out into the world,<\/em>
Stepping through the door of each chapel,<\/em>
Shrine, cathedral or basilica to<\/em>
Reflect the light of love enkindled therein<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To share the flame of truth so that people<\/em>
Weary of the cold indifference of a society<\/em>
Hostile to the plight of the poor, and wary<\/em>
Of our best intentions, might recognize<\/em>
In offers of forgiveness, mercy and peace<\/em>
A joy beyond the reach of human labor<\/em>
And feel inexplicably drawn to come warm<\/em>
Themselves in prayer and community<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Come, wash in the waters of God\u2019s grace<\/em>
And do not let your past or even present<\/em>
Prevent you from gently dying to old ways<\/em>
And habits no longer wanted, needed or<\/em>
Ignored but rather transformed in Christ<\/em>
May all your wounds become for others<\/em>
Overflowing fonts of spiritual healing and<\/em>
The source and summit of our communion.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Christ did not come to earth to be<\/em>
Conf ined in tabernacles of gold but<\/em>
To make his eternal dwelling place<\/em>
Among us, that he might ever walk with us<\/em>
Along life\u2019s Way, turning our exile<\/em>
Into a prayerful pilgrimage of hope<\/em>
Reconsecrating our reborn world<\/em>
From broken shrine into heaven\u2019s sanctuary.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":4124,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_eb_attr":"","_eb_data_table":""},"class_list":["post-4123","photo_meditations","type-photo_meditations","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nMission has a Church - Maryknoll Magazine<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n