9. The Fall
Scripture and Tradition Shed Light on the Origin and Mystery of Evil
Compendium 73-78
Genesis 3:14-15
“Cursed are you above all livestock
and all wild animals!
You will crawl on your belly
and you will eat dust
all the days of your life.
And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel.”
1. Evil began with the rejection of God by Satan and the fallen Angels.(Physical science can neither prove nor disprove the existence of angels because by definition physical science is limited to the physical and excluded from that which transcends physical reality)
2. Satan seduced our first parents to doubt God's friendship and thereby tricked them into subjecting themselves and their descendants to himself and to reject God.
3. In creating beings that share in his own freedom, God takes the risk of love.
4. Love means the lover freely chooses the beloved and vice versa.
It also means that the lover can love someone or something else in place of the beloved.
5. Instigated by Satan, Adam and Eve chose to replicate the sin of the fallen angels. That is to be "like God" on their own terms and masters of their own destiny without God. They would reject God's warning and choose to decide to define for themselves what is "good" and what is "evil." This was the original sin which caused the loss of original grace of holiness and justice for them and their descendants.
6. Although human goodness and dignity were not lost completely, the natural harmony and friendship between the human family and God were radically disrupted.
7. Original sin is not a personal act but an inherent (inherited) part of the human condition that leads to the shared human tendency to reject God and choose what is evil.
8. All human beings, save the Blessed Virgin by a singular grace, are born with original sin.
9. God, the consummate lover, did not withdraw his love but lavished it all the more and promised that evil would be conquered and man would be lifted up from his fall. The Church sings of the sin of Adam and Eve as a "happy fault" because it reveals the infinite mercy and love of God for each of us.
10. The reality of sin can only be clearly understood through the light of divine revelation and the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is the true answer to human suffering.
11. What cannot be contested is that evil exists and keeps the world in turmoil. Even Mother Nature disrupts in the form of storms and earthquakes in reaction to the disorder wrought by evil. Man’s inhumanity to his fellow beings is amply recorded throughout history. Nevertheless, there has been steady progress and hope always abounds. The fact that more and more people dedicate their lives to peace and justice demonstrates that good can and does triumph over evil. That is what Jesus promises and delivers to all those who follow him faithfully.
12. "Adam" and "Eve" can also be considered as composites representing each and every one of us. Even after being cleansed of "original" sin we perennially tend to revert to selfishness. The Blessed Mother, by the grace of God and the infinite merits of Jesus Christ, is the solitary boast of our humanity and her son is our hope and promise of redemption.
Sunday, May 29, 2016
Sunday, May 22, 2016
8. Male and Female
8.. "Male and Female He Created Them"
The communion of love between husband and wife finds its ultimate source in God.
Compendium 71-72
Genesis 2:18-24
The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals.
But for Adam[a] no suitable helper was found. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs[b] and then closed up the place with flesh.Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib[c] he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
The man said,
“This is now bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called ‘woman,’
for she was taken out of man.”
That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
1. "God created mankind in his own image, male and female he created them" Genesis 1:27
2. "Maleness" and Femaleness" are part of God's creative design and go the depths of one's very being and should inspire wonder and awe in us and in our relationship with God and one another.
3. Sexual differences do not exist in God who is pure spirit.
4. "Being man" and "being woman" are two equal and complementary ways of being human.
5. God created man and woman together and willed each for the other.
6. "Be fertile and multiply", Genesis 1:28 is at the heart of the Church's teaching against contraception.
7. Man and woman created as a "unity of two" in their common humanity, are called to live in a community of love and to mirror to the world the community of love that is in God. They give themselves to each other freely and completely in a holy communion which is a unity in differences which is fruitful and creative and not a business contract that is calculated and measured and exchanged as a commodity or seeking payment.
8. God in himself is love.
9. Each of the divine Persons is truly divine but in a way that the other is not. Similarly, male and female are two distinct ways of being human for the common good of society and the salvation of souls.
10. The best witness to God is a loving and joyful family that renews itself constantly, overcomes discouragement and missteps and begins every day to start again the great adventure of life on earth projected towards heaven.
The communion of love between husband and wife finds its ultimate source in God.
Compendium 71-72
Genesis 2:18-24
The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals.
But for Adam[a] no suitable helper was found. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs[b] and then closed up the place with flesh.Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib[c] he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
The man said,
“This is now bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called ‘woman,’
for she was taken out of man.”
That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
1. "God created mankind in his own image, male and female he created them" Genesis 1:27
2. "Maleness" and Femaleness" are part of God's creative design and go the depths of one's very being and should inspire wonder and awe in us and in our relationship with God and one another.
3. Sexual differences do not exist in God who is pure spirit.
4. "Being man" and "being woman" are two equal and complementary ways of being human.
5. God created man and woman together and willed each for the other.
6. "Be fertile and multiply", Genesis 1:28 is at the heart of the Church's teaching against contraception.
7. Man and woman created as a "unity of two" in their common humanity, are called to live in a community of love and to mirror to the world the community of love that is in God. They give themselves to each other freely and completely in a holy communion which is a unity in differences which is fruitful and creative and not a business contract that is calculated and measured and exchanged as a commodity or seeking payment.
8. God in himself is love.
9. Each of the divine Persons is truly divine but in a way that the other is not. Similarly, male and female are two distinct ways of being human for the common good of society and the salvation of souls.
10. The best witness to God is a loving and joyful family that renews itself constantly, overcomes discouragement and missteps and begins every day to start again the great adventure of life on earth projected towards heaven.
Monday, May 9, 2016
7. Dignity of man
7. The Dignity of Man
Only humans are created with the capacity to know love and serve God
Compendium 66-70
Genesis 1:26-31
Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.
And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.
Only man was created in the "image of God". God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Genesis 1:27
2. God willed us into being for no other reason than his love for us. God delights in us just as we delight with our children.
3. Our capacity for Truth and our ability and desire to love and be loved reflect God's presence in us.
4. Each of us is an unrepeatable, unique, infinitely valuable, unconditionally loved child of God. 5. We have a common origin in God our Father and our dignity and rights to life and liberty come from God alone. He is the final destiny for each of us.
6. Since God values us for our own sake, so too, should we value others for their own sake. This means we cannot treat others as objects to be used or exploited for any reason and also that we must protect and defend others, especially the most vulnerable such as the elderly, the unborn, the sick, the poor, the unwanted, the persecuted, children, the abused, the outcasts, prisoners etc..
7. We were made to know, love and serve God in this life and to be perfectly happy with him in the next.
8. We are a unity of body and soul. A material body given by our parents and a spiritual soul directly created by God.
9. We are the only creatures who can know love and serve God.
10. We are called to a greatness that goes beyond earthly existence.
11. We are fulfilled only through our friendship with God.
12. A casual reference to our creator is not good enough. God calls each of us to a unique and profound personal friendship with him. There can be only one true religion of the one true God. God who is perfect order has revealed himself in Jesus Christ who suffered crucifixion and death for each of us and rose from the dead to deliver each of us from sin and death to eternal life with him in God as our Father. Truth is not relative to one’s own preferences as if God can be of our own creation and that God doesn't care what we believe. The truth is that God so loved us as to make us one with his only begotten son through the Eucharist so that we could enjoy the same intimacy with him that he shares with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
13. The way we share this truth with others is by listening patiently with humility and good example and not by bellicose argument or talking down to them as if we were better and privileged. We must recognize that we ourselves are often the obstacle to others by our self-centered lives and obtuseness. People will not believe the message of Jesus if we preach it but don't live it. Unity in diversity is possible with self sacrificing love that holds fast to the Truth without diminishing others. If our hearts are open, God himself will miraculously open hearts and minds that are closed to the truth and bring his family together again.
Only humans are created with the capacity to know love and serve God
Compendium 66-70
Genesis 1:26-31
Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.
And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.
Only man was created in the "image of God". God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Genesis 1:27
2. God willed us into being for no other reason than his love for us. God delights in us just as we delight with our children.
3. Our capacity for Truth and our ability and desire to love and be loved reflect God's presence in us.
4. Each of us is an unrepeatable, unique, infinitely valuable, unconditionally loved child of God. 5. We have a common origin in God our Father and our dignity and rights to life and liberty come from God alone. He is the final destiny for each of us.
6. Since God values us for our own sake, so too, should we value others for their own sake. This means we cannot treat others as objects to be used or exploited for any reason and also that we must protect and defend others, especially the most vulnerable such as the elderly, the unborn, the sick, the poor, the unwanted, the persecuted, children, the abused, the outcasts, prisoners etc..
7. We were made to know, love and serve God in this life and to be perfectly happy with him in the next.
8. We are a unity of body and soul. A material body given by our parents and a spiritual soul directly created by God.
9. We are the only creatures who can know love and serve God.
10. We are called to a greatness that goes beyond earthly existence.
11. We are fulfilled only through our friendship with God.
12. A casual reference to our creator is not good enough. God calls each of us to a unique and profound personal friendship with him. There can be only one true religion of the one true God. God who is perfect order has revealed himself in Jesus Christ who suffered crucifixion and death for each of us and rose from the dead to deliver each of us from sin and death to eternal life with him in God as our Father. Truth is not relative to one’s own preferences as if God can be of our own creation and that God doesn't care what we believe. The truth is that God so loved us as to make us one with his only begotten son through the Eucharist so that we could enjoy the same intimacy with him that he shares with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
13. The way we share this truth with others is by listening patiently with humility and good example and not by bellicose argument or talking down to them as if we were better and privileged. We must recognize that we ourselves are often the obstacle to others by our self-centered lives and obtuseness. People will not believe the message of Jesus if we preach it but don't live it. Unity in diversity is possible with self sacrificing love that holds fast to the Truth without diminishing others. If our hearts are open, God himself will miraculously open hearts and minds that are closed to the truth and bring his family together again.
Monday, May 2, 2016
6. Creationism vs evolution
6. Creationism vs Evolution
By believing that God created the universe we are not rejecting the value of science.
Compendium 50-65
Genesis 1:1-25
1. The Church has no problem with true science or Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.
2. In "The Origin Of The Species" Charles does not tell us what the actual origin is.
3. Only God is creator in the strict sense. He created the universe "out of nothing".
4. The biblical account of creation is not a scientific or "literal" but rather a theological explanation to show that creation is the foundation of all God's plans. It is how he communicates his merciful love for us. Through life's joys and sorrows, God leads us to our destiny to share his life and love forever.
5. The answer to evil is the whole of God's plan to reveal himself in creation and history and to redeem the world.
6. God did not create evil or will its existence, but he does permit it. In his omnipotent love he brings forth good from evil. We have the freedom to love or not love. Not loving others leads to all the vices starting with arrogance (Adam), envy (Cain), greed, gluttony, anger, lust (David), and sloth. The worst evil was when we rejected, tortured and killed Jesus, the very Son of God who came to redeem us from evil. From that greatest evil came the greatest good: in spite of our rejection, Jesus, crucified and forsaken, cancelled our sins and redeems us. The proof of love is mercy and forgiveness. What good would it do for God to be all merciful if we were not sinners? Christ has absorbed all injustice to himself and the victims of injustice are co-Redemptors with him.
7. The Church guards against all-inclusive explanations of creation that go beyond the limits of the scientific method and exclude the all important role of God.
8. The Church rightly insists that each human soul requires God's creative intervention. Each of us is a unique and unrepeatable creation of the all powerful and wonderful God. DNA proves it.
9. When scientist seek to undermine the Creator they reveal themselves to be committed to an agenda rather than the truth. The Truth will set us free, the lack of it enslaves us.
By believing that God created the universe we are not rejecting the value of science.
Compendium 50-65
Genesis 1:1-25
1. The Church has no problem with true science or Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.
2. In "The Origin Of The Species" Charles does not tell us what the actual origin is.
3. Only God is creator in the strict sense. He created the universe "out of nothing".
4. The biblical account of creation is not a scientific or "literal" but rather a theological explanation to show that creation is the foundation of all God's plans. It is how he communicates his merciful love for us. Through life's joys and sorrows, God leads us to our destiny to share his life and love forever.
5. The answer to evil is the whole of God's plan to reveal himself in creation and history and to redeem the world.
6. God did not create evil or will its existence, but he does permit it. In his omnipotent love he brings forth good from evil. We have the freedom to love or not love. Not loving others leads to all the vices starting with arrogance (Adam), envy (Cain), greed, gluttony, anger, lust (David), and sloth. The worst evil was when we rejected, tortured and killed Jesus, the very Son of God who came to redeem us from evil. From that greatest evil came the greatest good: in spite of our rejection, Jesus, crucified and forsaken, cancelled our sins and redeems us. The proof of love is mercy and forgiveness. What good would it do for God to be all merciful if we were not sinners? Christ has absorbed all injustice to himself and the victims of injustice are co-Redemptors with him.
7. The Church guards against all-inclusive explanations of creation that go beyond the limits of the scientific method and exclude the all important role of God.
8. The Church rightly insists that each human soul requires God's creative intervention. Each of us is a unique and unrepeatable creation of the all powerful and wonderful God. DNA proves it.
9. When scientist seek to undermine the Creator they reveal themselves to be committed to an agenda rather than the truth. The Truth will set us free, the lack of it enslaves us.
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