What Jesus Wants His Church to be Like

In our Sunday readings over the past month or so we've heard Jesus talk about the church a couple times, which is significant, because they are the only two times that Jesus uses the word "church" in all four Gospels. Zooming out of our readings, he gives us a vision of what he desires his church to be: A Church in which we take responsibility for the material and spiritual needs of its members. A Church in which we are willing to have difficult conversations with each other so long as we do so out of love with the commitment of accompanying each other as we grow in holiness. A Church of mercy, non-violence, and forgiveness. May we accept the grace to be the Church Jesus wants us to be!