Pregledni rad

Dialogue within the Church – an Expression and a Way of Realising Church Communion

Taras Barščevski orcid.org/0000-0003-2132-1105 ; Katolički bogoslovni fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska

Sažetak

The word »dialogue« is not only one of the most used words in European languages,but has become, at the Second Vatican Council, a key term of the Church and also one of the most used words in the post‑conciliar Church. While pointing out that the term »dialogue« does not appear in the Holy Scripture, the author analyses four terms that have the same root and do appear in the Holy Scripture: διαλέγομαι (to discuss, to argue), διαλογίζομαι (to say to each other, to reflect within oneself, to think), διαλογισμός (opinion, discussion) and διαλογή (song). The author also shows who are the main subjects and objects of discussions or reflections. The verb διαλέγομαι is used most often by Luke in the Acts of Apostles when he describes Paul´s »discussions« with the Jews in synagogues, or his »discourses« to a Christian community that has gathered to break the bread. The verb διαλογίζομαι appears only in the synoptic gospels and means »to reflect within oneself« or to »think/reflect«. The author points out that discussions or reflections do not lead to finding a solution of a problem. The author also detects the need to resolve every question that arises with dialogue, that guides towards the unity of subjects in their effort to realise a common goal. In the second part of the article the author analyses Luke´s summary on the life of first Christians in Acts 2:42: »They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.« Although some Bible experts regard Luke´s report as an idealised description of the first community, it should not be discarded as an unattainable ideal. In fact, it is precisely this description that shows »realised dialogue« and concrete guidelines for dialogue within the Church today. In the centre of it is κοινωνία (communion) in the sense of the communion with the Holy Spiritand mutual cooperation (συνεργία) between members in the striving for the common goal, as well as the »breaking of bread« – personal participation in Christ´s sacrifice for the salvation and wellbeing of the humanity. However, this cooperation and activity were initiated from »above«, from the Word of God that comes through apostles and their successors and the word returns to God as the reply in common prayer. The Holy Scripture, therefore, introduces into the horizontal dimension of dialogue, cooperation, and co‑responsibility within the Church, another, third dimension and shows that dialogue within the Church needs three interlocutors, i.e., besides two subjects within the Church, there is also God from whom the Word comes and who continues to speak in his Church and to call it to unity within itself and to unity with Him.

Ključne riječi

dialogue; dialogue within the Church; διαλέγομαι; διαλογίζομαι; Acts 2:42; apostolic teaching; communion; breaking of bread; prayers.

Hrčak ID:

207866

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/207866

Datum izdavanja:

8.11.2018.

Podaci na drugim jezicima: hrvatski

Posjeta: 1.150 *