Final answer:
Laypeople share in Christ's kingly ministry by virtue of their baptism, which grants them a role in the royal priesthood. This consecration empowers them to serve others and to perform sacred acts, emphasizing the universal priesthood and equality within the Christian community.
Step-by-step explanation:
How are laypeople called to share in Christ's kingly ministry? Laypeople are called to participate in the kingly ministry of Christ through their baptism, which consecrates them as part of a royal priesthood, as per the teachings of St. Peter and the Book of Revelation. This empowers all Christians, regardless of ecclesiastical rank, to live out their faith in service to others.
Through baptism, all Christians are seen as part of the spiritual estate, equipping them to spread the Gospel, serve in various capacities, and work towards a communal Christian life. This challenges the traditional hierarchy which distinguished between the 'spiritual estate' of popes, bishops, and priests, and the 'temporal estate' of secular roles. Instead, it emphasizes the universal priesthood of all believers, which grants equal power and the ability to perform sacred acts in the absence of clergy.
The concept of shared power in Christ's kingly ministry is further illustrated by historical figures, such as emperors and rulers, whose authority was seen as derived from divine ordination. This idea highlights the call for all Christians to actively partake in the mission of the Church, which is to proclaim the Kingdom of God and serve diligently as Christ's representatives on earth.