Human Perfection and Christian Spiritualaity

PRELIMS

POINTERS TO REVIEW by Filbert Maxino

TOPIC 1: HUMAN PERFECTION AND CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALAITY

(CCC 2013) “Be perfect, as your Father is perfect”

Dr, Karl Peshcke- “…striving for perfection was the only concerns of few more generous people, esp.on the religious ones.

*Any good action and obligation that transcend beyond the demand of the commandments were considered the works of SUPEREROGATION!

The story of the rich man and his conversation with Jesus on how to attain eternal life (Mt. 19, 16-22) The way of perfection remains a challenge to us. The formulation of this passage requires that our love of God and Neighbor must be complete. The two greatest commandments sum-up the whole law: fulfillment!

A call to perfection is not only a choice given to us but a commandment laid by God himself to assure abundance of life. (cf. Jn. 10:10)

Understanding perfection? Misconceptions→ chosen perspectives or maybe norms  (e. g. musical piece played without error says to be perfect; a poem recited on its proper intonation, voice and diction)

*unfortunately, the concept of perfection sometimes was used to justify human mistakes and errors. E.g. Tao lang po.. However, our imperfection is inexcusable if it condones mediocrity and complacency.

Christian notions of perfection contend in Union with God by the practice of virtue, it necessitates loving God and Neighbors.

*by striving after true Christian perfection, it becomes clearer that we are true image of God.

Human perfection also refers to the blameless of the people before God. (cf Deuteronomy. 18, 9-14) In the Old Testament, the concept was defined as a whole-hearted service to God through obedient fulfillment of His commandment: faithful and undivided.

2 basic classification of Perfection

1. Objective perspective is the concept of perfection which is patterned after the externals of an object and event.
2. Subjective perspective view of perfection is basically in the inside, your feelings and insights.

Love of God: is the foundation of Christian Spirituality.

*In self-fulfillment, the focus is the individual person, being intimately connected with his real self, God and the environment.

St. Francis of Assisi “fully functioning persons have a deep sense of spirituality. They know that their personhood and the world they live cannot be explained in or understood through human experience alone. They know that they must make a mystical leap.

-They must go beyond themselves, beyond their limited reality.

-They feel a greater operative intellect than their own, even they are at a loss to give it a name.

-They are aware of greater designs, incessantly operative, in which there is no contradiction.

*SPIRITUALITY, FAITH and MYSTERY are inherent in every aspect of life.

*The Scientific answer had not taken the mystery from the experiences. Because something can be explained, this does not affect its wonder.

*Spirituality involves an awareness of all that there is openness to what is not. It is the strength and fearlessness to allow them transcends reality and us.