The Church in The Life of The Faithful

     The question has been posed "How involved should the Church be in the Life of The Faithful." The answer to that is very simple. The Church, being the institution from which Christ distributes his holiness, should be as involved in the Life of the Faithful as possible. The Church is like a well in which the faithful must go to for water; it is the source of their grace and a means for creating a community.
     The Church was given the divine task to distribute the sacraments to its members. The sacraments bring grace to those who participate in them, and faithful members of the Church should strive to be Holy. That grace which comes from participating in the sacraments brings us closer to holiness. Just as the Church brings about our eternal lives through grace, a well brings about temporal life through nourishment by water.
     The Church also, almost by default, should be involved in the Life of the Faithful because of its position as a community center. One of the important aspects of the Church is the horizontal communion between members of the Body. This fellowship strengthens our Faith, and satisfies the human desire for community. Just as the well provides the actual means for nourishment, it also creates community because everyone has to go there for water.
      The idea of the Church being a social gathering place existed even before Christ had come to Earth. The synagogue in Judaism was the center of the social life. Being excommunicated meant being separated from many of your friends. In some ways the Church has also come to represent a similar place in the lives of its members. Separating yourself from the Church means separating yourself, at least spiritually, from friends and family and the larger whole of humanity.
     Therefore, The Church should, and already does, play a large role in the lives of the Faithful. Due to its nature, much like a well, it serves as a source of life and a source of community. This aspect of the Church fulfills many of the desires of the human nature, and in doing so serves to create an attraction to itself. In this way, it becomes involved in the life of the Faithful.