What is our human Nature??

What is our human Nature??

× Theology is the study of God! Christ reveals who God is to us and He does so through a human body. Becoming Incarnate! How is the Body the Study of god

×JPII constantly repeats this phrase of Vatican II “Christ, the final Adam, by the revelation of the mystery of the Father and his love fully reveals man to himself, and makes his supreme calling clear.

What we consider our human nature because it is what is usual is actually unnatural. Christ being with out sin and with our concupiscence (attraction to sin) shows us who we were created to be. Ex: we think of selfishness as natural because we are all selfish Jesus shows us that we were created to love, which means being unselfish to the point of personal sacrifice. What are human nature is not

Concupiscence • A general tendency, inclination or attraction to evil • Having a weakened will and clouded intellect • Inordinate desires and inclinations toward bodily pleasures • Strong pull within us toward the couch, remote, bag of chips, snooze button and anything that gives into the body’s desire for comfort or pleasure rather than doing the things that develop our bodies, minds, spirit, relationships, work, etc. Concupiscence

So, how does Jesus show you what it means to truly be human?

Original man • What was original man’s experience • Original holiness = • Man is in relationship with God through not effort on his own part

Original man • Original Justice: • having harmony with self, others, creation, God and giving them what is their due • The integrated self • Intellect knows what is good • Will desires what is good • Intellect and will rules over animal instincts, appetites, and passions • Does not pursue lesser goods instead of greater goods • Original Justice: • Harmony with Eve • Gives Eve the love and affection she deserves • Does not lust after her, want to appropriate her body for his pleasure • Sex is a gift of himself to her

Original man • Original Justice • Harmony with creation • Take care of creation • Use creation responsibly • Stewards using not appropriating goods of creation

Original man • Original Justice • Harmony with God • Accepts he is a creature • Has awe and love for God • Thankful to God for the gifts given

Symbolic language of Genesis and the echo in our heart we can have an idea what it was like. Original Solitude Personhood “its not good that man should be alone” Man is alone with out a woman But Adam in Hebrew means man in a generic sense so man is alone because he is the only creature who is a person. What was Adams and eves original experience

The reason God has Adam name the animals is so that he sees he is different “none made a suitable partner” No animal (but humans) have freedom to give self to another in love because no other in Gods image. God is a communion of persons inbeing in Gods image we desire communion. Continued

“This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh” At last a body that is a person Figurative language saying we share same humanity. “ Become one flesh” Not just bodies joining Body expresses the person. Original Unity

Spiritual/ Material beings 1. Unsatisfied with the here and now and asks questions. What am I here for? Why do I exist? And what happens after death? “our hearts are restless until they rest in you” St Augustine 2.We can reason Solve problems, reflect on the meaning of life, and then reflect on what we have learned Spiritual Nature

3.Free will Reason what is good or evil and choose to act 4.Responsible for my choice Choices have consequences. Mature: reject childish self-centered and welfare of others 5. Ability to love Choice to Give ourselves Continued

Male and Female he created them it is not good for man to be alone Made for relationship, intimacy, and communion JPII: In the simplest of terms we were created for love. What does he mean by this? Social Nature

Humans, in our bodies are to manifest to the world God- we are created in Gods image. Our bodies are signs. Signs point to something other than and greater than themselves. Ex: a stop sign points to an upcoming intersection. Likewise our bodies are meant to be signs pointing to the reality of God. Part II

“The body, in fact, and it alone, is capable of making visible what is invisible: spiritual and divine. It was created to transfer into the visible reality of the world. The mystery hidden since time in memorial in God, and thus be a sign of it.” (Papal Audience, 2/20/08) Pope quotation

God is love so humans are meant to reveal God’s love. Since humans have bodies, this revelation happens through our bodies, through our sexuality.

The mystery of life and love of the trinity and that in Christ we are to enter into this communion of Father, Son ,and Holy Spirit. • Biblical images of Gods relationship of man • Father to Son • King to subjects • Shepherd to sheep • Vine to Branches • Head to body • Bride-Groom-to Bride WHAT our bodies communicate

The most used image in the bible and the one the apostles latched on to was the last: Christ the Bridegroom, the Church the Bride Continuation

THE CROSS: the Sacrificial Gift to Another. Man is the only creature on earth that God created for its “own sake” however, man is not meant to live for his own sake. He can only find himself. “Through a sincere gift of himself” ( Vatican II) How to Communicate Trinitarian Love

What is our human Nature??