1 In
the beginning, God created the universe and all creatures
to share in his being and life. God wills that all His creatures
live in harmony and reciprocity. He endows every human being,
male and female, created in his image, with special dignity.
He entrusts them with the task of taking care and fostering
this harmonious relationship among created beings until it
reaches perfection as willed by Him (Cf,
Gen 1:28, EA. 41). Human beings, however, did not
obey God's plan, and turning away from the divine truth damaged
this relationship and lost the way to eternal life. Human
beings are no more able to find true happiness, though their
hearts as well as all as those of all creatures are yearning
for the fullness of life in God (Cf.
Rom. 8:28).
2 The
merciful Father did not abandon human beings and the world
in this chaotic condition. He sent His Son and the Holy Spirit
to help the whole of humanity in all ages. His Son enlightens
the mind of human beings to discover the truth, and the Holy
Spirit inspires human hearts to pursue true happiness in
love, restoring their community with God and creation. God
has called the Israelites to be a chosen people and revealed
His will to call sinners to conversion so that they may have
life (Cf. Ez 18:23). God has
also made a covenant of love with humanity through His chosen
people.
3
Finally
the Father has clearly shown that "God
so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believes in him will not perish, but have everlasting
life" (Jn 3:16).
The Son of God took flesh as a man by the power of the Holy
Spirit and was born of the faithful Virgin Mary, a woman
of faith. He taught us that the Father loves us unconditionally.
The Son invited us to be reconciled with the Father and cooperate
with him in building up the Kingdom of justice, peace and
joy, (Cf. Rom 14:17), fraternity (Cf.
1 Pet 2:17) and equality as God's children. In this
Kingdom, "there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither
slave nor free, there is neither male nor female" (Gal
3:28). It is in the Kingdom where human beings and
all creatures take care of one another with due dignity and
new life given by the Creator. The kingdom already initiated
by Jesus Christ and moving towards perfection will take place
only when He returns in glory.
4 Christ
has revealed himself to be the true savior of human beings.
Salvation means communion with the Trinity in happiness.
Jesus is the Son of God taking the nature of man while remaining
in communion with the Father by the power of the Holy Spirit.
He has brought this communion to every person and creature.
He healed the sick and forgave sins. He was friendly with
those who were socially rejected and abandoned (Cf.
Lk 4:18) giving them equal status and dignity. He
loved all people, including his enemies who assailed him.
He humbly accepted suffering and death on the cross and rose
from death to confirm that he was the servant God sent to
the world to renew the relationship and harmony of creation
with God.
5 Jesus
has set up his Church by gathering his disciples to be in
communion with Him. He has given the Holy Spirit so that
human beings will benefit from His work of redemption especially
through the sacraments. The Church, therefore, has to carry
on the mission of Christ by leading a life of love and service "so
that all people may have life abundantly" (Jn
10:10). The Church proclaims the good news of life,
protects the value of human life from womb to tomb and teaches
people to respect human dignity, both of the body and of
the soul.
6 The
Holy Spirit helps the Church to unfailingly maintain communion
with Jesus. The Spirit dwells in the Church as in His temple,
guides the Church to the fullness of truth about Christ and
empowers the Church to take part in the building of the Kingdom
by giving witness to Jesus in her daily living. The Spirit
gathers into unity all peoples, with their different customs,
resources and talents, while maintaining unity of the Church
in diversity. In this context, the
Church is the sign of communion of all humanity. The
Holy Spirit also reminds the Church that it is not an end
in itself, but exists to serve Christ and the salvation of
the world
(Cf. EA. 17).
Therefore,
through Christ, with Christ and in Christ, under the guidance
and power of the Holy Spirit (Cf.
Jn 14: 16,26) , through the Word of God and the sacraments,
only those who, after the humble example of Mary the Mother
of God (Cf. Lk 1:26), die to themselves (Cf.
Jn 12:24-25) will be reconciled with the Trinity in
a communion of love and obtain eternal life.
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