One Heart, One Mind, One Mission
By Terry Ginther
Director, Office of Pastoral Planning
We, the people of the Catholic Church of Trenton, are called to proclaim and advance the Kingdom of God in the New Jersey Counties of Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean.
"The community of believers was of one heart and mind..."(Acts 4:32).
Have you ever been a part of some group of people focused intently on a single goal? Perhaps you were part of an athletic team focused on winning? Or a construction crew hurrying to get the roof completed before the rain came?
Have you ever dedicated a serious amount of time and money to achieve a single purpose? Maybe you practiced every day to become "the best" at something? Worked hard at rehabilitation after surgery? Or saved every penny to buy a house?
If you can identify with any of these examples, then you know what it means to be "single-minded." To focus all of your energy and resources on the one thing that is most important to you; and perhaps to share that experience with others.
The mission of Christ is to be that all-consuming focus for the Catholic Church and each one of its members. This mission is the reason the Church exists. The Church exists to proclaim the Kingdom of God as Jesus did, and to work tirelessly for its coming in fullness. This mission is at the heart of the Pastoral Plan being developed for the Diocese of Trenton.
From the beginning of his ministry, Jesus proclaimed, "Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Mt 4:17). He preached in parables comparing the Kingdom of God to a seed sown in different soils, wheat growing among the weeds, a tiny mustard seed that becomes a great bush, and yeast leavening batches of bread.
The Kingdom was likened to a treasure buried in a field, a merchant searching for a pearl, and a net thrown into the sea. You see, the Kingdom of God is "now, but not yet." The Church and her members are witnesses to the Kingdom among us; a Kingdom we have experienced in the person of Jesus. The Church and her members are also instruments through which God will bring about the fullness of the Kingdom; the vehicle through which all things will be transformed in Christ. For this purpose, we are sent.
This one mission is shared by all who are baptized in Christ. We are many different people serving in many different ways; but we are to have one unity of purpose--to preach Christ and advance the Kingdom. All that we do should "seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness" (Mt 6:33). If we can be faithful in this one thing, everything else will follow.
