Jesus and the Commands to Love Love for God and neighbor Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength. You must love your neighbor as yourself. (Mk 12:29-31; Mt 22:37-40)
The Love we received from God I give you a new commandment: love one another; just as I have loved you, you must love one another. By this love you have for one another, everyone will know that you are my disciples (Jn 13:34-35)
Our Call to Love The norm for loving shifts from self-love to Gods love for us as revealed in and by Christ. Christian moral challenge
To be formed in the spirit of Christs love.
To integrate our confession of faith with actual living. Jesus Our Model The uniqueness of Jesus Christ: Fully Divine and really human.
Christs divinity assures the validity of his understanding and teaching regarding the meaning of humanity, and his humanity guarantees the possibility of our living in accordance with his teachings. Gods Plan of Salvation The very essence of salvation is the plan of God to rescue humankind from eternal punishment and be with him forever. (I. Maningas, p.51) Gods plan is actualized through Christs death and resurrection and continues to unfold through the grace of His Spirit working in us to help us conquer sin in the world and in us. Two aspects: Our need for salvation emerges from the presence of evil in our daily struggle. Salvation demands that we be open to the invitation of God in overcoming evil in the world. Characteristics of Christian Morality Aurelio Fernandez-James Socias 1) Affects first the person and then the action. 2) Transforms both the inside and the outside. 3) Considers the profound attitudes of the person. 4) Stresses more what ought to be done than what is to be avoided. 5) Requires not only just actions but also holiness. Characteristics of Christian Morality 6) Is not a rigid morality marked by a multiplicity of precepts. 7) Includes both rewards and punishment. 8) Is a morality for freedom. 9) Is fulfilled on earth, but it pertains to the next life. 10)Finds its beginning and end in love. The Beatitudes Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account, rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven. Beatitudes The heart of Christian morality Addresses more the being than the action. Challenges the Christian to aspire to a life of heroic virtue that transcends an external observance of the letter of the law. Actively seeks the good of others and does not merely strive to avoid harming them. CHRISTIAN MORALITY IS CORRELATED TO HUMAN DESTINY ETERNAL LIFE
Master, what must I do to possess eternal life? TO REAFFIRM THE VALUE OF HUMAN LIFE To defend the worlds poor Those threatened and despised Those whose human rights are violated TO APPEAL TO EACH AND EVERY PERSON TO RESPECT, PROTECT, LOVE AND SERVE
L I F E TO COMMIT TO SUPPORT THE FAMILY
Even amidst so many difficulties and serious threats The family will always remain in accordance with Gods will the sanctuary of life TO APPEAL TO EACH AND EVERY PERSON THAT TOGETHER WE MAY OFFER THE WORLD NEW SIGNS OF HOPE TO WORK SO AS TO ENSURE THAT JUSTICE AND SOLIDARITY WILL INCREASE TO AFFIRM A NEW CULTURE OF LIFE For the building of an authentic civilization of truth and love Because the kingdom of God is present in this civilization References:
Vincent J. Genovesi, In Pursuit of Love: Catholic Morality and Human Sexuality, 2nd ed. Jesuit Communications Foundation, Inc., 2003.
Aurelio Fernandez and James Socias, Our Moral Life in Christ: A Basic Course on Moral Theology, Scepter Publishers, Inc., Princeton, New Jersey, 1997.
Ismael Ireneo Maningas, Ed.D., Filipino Christian Morality. St. Pauls Philippines, Makati City. 1998.