a theology of an a heart

8/8/2019 A Theology of an a Heart

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revelations we get to know ourselves and each other on a deeper more personal and adequate

level. Even though this process cannot be perfect ever, it leads to the formation of interpersonal

relationships because persons really and experientially and intellectually know each other'sthoughts and beliefs and value systems. This is obviously risky because to expose one's values is

to become vulnerable. This discipline is the price of community. Dialogue about beliefs,

favourite ideas, dreams etc. causes mutual education and mutual concrete comprehension of eachother. In this way a real person gets to understand another real person and therefore both can deal

with each other more intelligently and successfully. Opportunities for such dialogue and

revelation must be built into the Community life. Theological discussions, dialogues aboutspirituality should be regular experiences in the life of the community. We are never done

understanding ourselves, each other, or God.

VIII VICTORIOUS - MORE POSITIVE THAN NEGATIVE

The seeking and searching, the delectation, which we are is victorious in Christ and through

Christ. The Gospel is simply that we work, that we get can get what we want out of life, that we

can reach God in growing love. God who is Grace and gracious, efficaciously calls us to Himself and to happiness and joy in Christ. Therefore there is more to be happy about than sad, more

positive than negative. Though both are present in every life, the Gospel means that there is anexistential preference. God wins. Therefore our outlook must be more optimistic than

pessimistic. In the Augustinian tradition Grace is supreme, God is supreme, not free will or man.

So we celebrate the victory of grace in Christ's resurrection and in our growing toward our

happiness.

And so Augustinian Spirituality values intrinsic motivation above extrinsic motivation, love

above fear. "Not as slaves under the law but free under grace" (Rule). The rights of conscienceover extrinsic law are paramount. God rules the conscience, man makes the law.

IX EXPLICIT APOSTOLATE OVER THE INDIRECT

As we realize then the great gifts we share and receive we rejoice in our happiness in God and

want to share our joys with others. Only happy people can make other people happy. One canonly give what he's got. So we Augustinians try to find ways of sharing our blessings, our

discoveries. The apostolate is this sharing. But the primary activity should be passing on the

word, through conversation, counselling, teaching, preaching, discussing etc.. Other supportive

activities though somewhat useful must be secondary. Hopefully we can support ourselvesthrough gifts and stipends received for working in the direct apostolate. The other activities

should be curtailed.

Because of our particular penchant communal apostolates should be preferred to single or simply

individual apostolates. Team work is better, more like a community. It produces a better effect

and draws those working together closer.

For the Augustinian, spiritual goals are supreme. Otherwise our life will be disordered and

unhappy. People to people apostolate is preferable to all others. Worshipping together is a

dynamic apostolate for spreading the Good News, both worshipping together as a community



and also as an apostolate, that is helping others to worship better by giving example and

assistance and participation that is qualitative.

X THE ULTIMATE CONCLUSION

As we live out our seeking toward the infinite fullness we make friends along the way. Weconsolidate gradually and become a community of shared faith, destiny and hope. We are

working toward the ultimate experience for the whole human family. We look forward too the

climax when God is loved most appreciatively, most affectively, most intensively. This is our ideal, our goal. In moving toward this objective we love each other and transform our social

relations, we make them happier and more cooperative and loving, and we consider then

consider the need to improve the social conditions of those we love. So we promote the

liberation of our brothers and sisters from poverty, disease, injustice and unhappiness. ThusAugustinian theology is a kind of liberation theology looking forward to establishment of the

final City of God, where God is all in all. Then our victorious delectation shall be complete,

fulfilled, actualized perfectly. Then shall ultimate Resurrection come and we shall be

transfigured eternally.

Then shall our burning desire (delectation) for knowing and loving God together, be victorious.Ω

~Fr. John Melnick,S.S.A.

"Our hearts are restless until they .rest in Thee"

"Nothing conquers except truth and the victory of truth is love"

Victoria veritatis est caritas

a theology of an a heart

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