RECAP OF CLASS

R210ASpiritual FormationLawrence Pascual

Introduction According to the outline given by the

USCCB of “Called and Gifted”, Spiritual Formation acts more as theological foundations for Spiritual Formation.

Summary of last class going into more detail about the nuances of each person’s spirituality

Spirituality in General Desire to live a more deeper and fuller life Quest for something more than the ordinary

Saint Augustine: “Our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”

Desire – We desire thingsClothes, a house, car, money

What happens when we meet those desires?We want moreNever ending cycle

Saint Augustine: “Our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”

We desire something that will fulfill us, something deeperThis something or someone is God

We are made by God for GodAugustine: "You have made us for yourself,

and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in you"

To be human is to be like God

Christian Spirituality involves the inner and

outer life Christian Spirituality is not entirely

Mysticism Mysticism is an approach to faith

emphasizing relational, spiritual, experiential aspects of faith rather than intellectual

The Spirit in Scripture The Spirit in Scripture is “breath” (Gk:

Pneuma; Hb: Ruah). Ruah means either wind or spirit.

Spirit gives life Spirit empowers

Spirit gives life (Gn 1:2; Ps. 33:6)

“a mighty wind”, literally, “a wind of God” or “a spirit of God” (Gn 1:2)

“…the Lord God formed man out of the clay of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and so man became a living being.” (Gn 2:7)

“By the Lord’s word the heavens were made; by the breath of his mouth all their host.” Host army; particularly the army of stars in the sky (Ps. 33:6)

Spirit empowers “Taking some of the spirit that was on

Moses, God bestowed it on the seventy elders; and as the spirit came to rest on them, they prophesied.” (Num 11:25)

When [Saul and his companions] were going from [Samuel’s location] to Gibeah, a band of prophets met him, and the spirit of God rushed upon him, so that he joined them in their prophetic state.” (1 Sam 10:10)

Spirit empowers “I will put my spirit within you and make

you live by my statutes, careful to observe my decres.” (Ez 36:26)

The Spirit is the main character

“Filled with the holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert” (Lk 4:1)

“Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news of him spread throughout the whole region. He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all” (Lk 4:14-15)

Jesus promises the Spirit“And [behold] I am sending the promise of my

Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high” (Lk 24:49)

The Spirit is the main character

“When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.” (Acts 2:1-4)

The Spirit is the main character

“Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)

Imitate Christ Jesus calls his disciples ((Mk 1:17; 2:14) Jesus is inclusive (Mk 2:16; Lk 8:2) Jesus demands radical

change/metanoia (Lk 5:11; Mk 2:14) Jesus has a ministry Jesus loves (Jn 15:12-13)

Christian Spirituality – Fleshing it out

It involves faith and beliefs (theology) Interweaving these beliefs into our

lives so that they “animate” us; that they provide the “breath”, “spirit”, or “fire” in our lives

It involves faith and beliefs (theology)

How do you understand Christ?Suffering Servant (Mark)Universal Savior (Luke)New Moses (Matthew)Word of God (John)

How do you understand God?

Suffering Servant (Mark)

Emphasis on sharing in the suffering and passion of Christ

E.g., Stations of the Cross Is salvation from Christ’s suffering? Or in

Christ’s incarnation (God became human so that humanity can become God-like?

Universal Savior (Luke) Christ is for Jews and Gentiles (non-

Jews) Emphasis on inclusive nature of Christ

New Moses (Matthew) Fulfillment of the Law of Moses and the

Prophets, in the line of David Emphasis on Jewish roots

Jewishness of Jesus

Word of God (John) “In the beginning was the Word, and the

Word was with God, and the Word was God” (Jn 1:1)

Emphasis on the divinity of Jesus; Jesus as GodE.g., intercession of Saints, those close to

Christ rather than directly praying to God

Trinity Transcendent (Father) and the

Immanent (Son and Holy Spirit) Co-equal persons; emphasis on the

“persons” or “relations” of the Trinity as a model for Christian lifeUnity of equals bounded by the love of God

○ Father (lover) ○ Son (beloved)○ Holy Spirit (love)

Trinity Emphasis on God’s saving actions:

Incarnation of Christ empowered by the Spirit in his ministry; the sending of the Spirit in Pentecost; the reception of the Holy Spirit in baptism and confirmationModeling God’s saving actions as our model

of Christian life “Called (to holiness or imitation of Christ) and Gifted (by the power of the Spirit)

Sacramental Worldview (symbolic mediation)

Sacramentality: how creation elevated by grace is able to mediate the divine presence even as that presence is personal

“all reality is potentially or in fact the bearer of God’s presence and the instrument of God’s saving activity… This principle is rooted in the nature of a sacrament as such, that is, a visible sign of the invisible presence and activity of God” (HarperCollins Encyclopedia of Catholicism)

Sacramental Worldview (symbolic mediation)

People, places, inanimate objects, words, art, events, history, and etc. are instruments of God’s presence

Worship not the image, but the reality behind the image (Orthodox Christianity on icons)

Christian Spirituality – Fleshing it out

It involves faith and beliefs (theology) Interweaving these beliefs into our

lives so that they “animate” us; that they provide the “breath”, “spirit”, or “fire” in our lives

Christian Spirituality – Fleshing it out

Theological Variables Personal Variables Gender and Culture

Theological variables: Our theologies affect our spirituality

Which do you emphasize? The suffering of Christ or Incarnation of

Christ? Graced humans or sinful humans? Is

creation good or bad? Divinity of Jesus or humanity of Jesus? Praying to God directly or intercession of the

Saints?

Personal variables: Personal preference affects our spirituality Verbal expression (spoken prayers or

devotions) or Visual expression (reflecting upon Christian art, such as cross, icon, or picture)

Aesthetic sensibilitiesTraditional medieval art or contemporary art?Gregorian chant or English songs?Solemn Christian songs or Christian rock?

State of lifeMarried or unmarried life?Lay person or religious order or priest?

Gender and culture

Who is more approachable? Jesus or Mary?

God as Father or Mother figures?

Christ and culture (world)

Christ and culture as enemies Christ and culture in tension/paradox Christ above culture Christ of culture

Christ and culture as enemies

The world is evil E.g., Amish; monsatics

Christ and culture in tension/paradox

Sometimes in tension, sometimes not The world is evil, sometimes, but also

good, sometimes We are to be in the world, but not of the

world

Christ above culture

Culture/world is good World is not perfect but can be

transformed for good

Christ of culture

Culture can teach us something about Christ

Enthusiastic about science

Christian Spirituality – Fleshing it out

It involves faith and beliefs (theology) Interweaving these beliefs into our

lives so that they “animate” us; that they provide the “breath”, “spirit”, or “fire” in our lives