Our Capacity for God

1
Our Capacity for God
2
Opening Prayer

• Our Father
• Who art in heaven
• Hallowed be thy name
• Thy kingdom come
• Thy will be done
• On earth as it is in heaven
• Give us this day our daily bread
• And forgive us our trespasses
• As we forgive those who trespass against us
• And lead us not into temptation
• But deliver us from evil. Amen.

3
Who do you say that I am?

• Many people hear the name of Jesus Christ a lot
  in their lives.
• Sometimes we only hear His name in swearing.
• Jesus asked his disciples Who do you say that I
  am?
• Is Jesus a Teacher? Do you listen to his
  teaching? Is he a prophet? Is he a friend? Is
  he a burden? Or is he just some abstract concept
  to you.
• We will put on some music, and I would like you
  to answer this question on the paper that is in
  front of you.
• Put your name on the paper, we will collect them
  when you are finished.
• Be brutally honest, God prefers it that way, He
  is after all the Truth itself.

4
A Prayer

• When I was in college, I remember being
  frustrated with sin.
• I prayed to God, God I want you to make all of
  my decisions, take away my choices, because I
  choose the wrong things all the time.
• God did not answer this prayer. Even though it
  was a free choice to surrender my free will.
• Why do you think that God did not answer this
  prayer for me?
• Why wont God make all of our decisions?
• Discuss this with your table.

5
God Gave Us Freedom

• God Created humanity out of love.
• God doesnt want us to simply accept his love
  like a pet.
• God wants us to share in a relationship with him.
• In order for a relationship to work it must free,
  one side cant force another.
• God gave us the choice to love him or reject him.

6
Freedom A Better Humanity

• Granting humans freedom meant that God was
  risking rejection from the start.
• The reward, however, was love returned.
• What great romance doesnt risk rejection?
• God created us in a paradise with all needs
  provided for.
• There was only one restriction, dont eat of the
  fruit in the center of the garden or you will
  die.
• Why would God put that tree there?

7
Obedience a Better Humanity

• Free obedience is a sacrifice and by its nature
  it is a sacrifice to another.
• The result of free obedience is love, giving of
  oneself for the sake of another.
• To give of your free will to others is called
  Charity (Caritas)
• To be obedient in service to another is a deeper
  self-giving love (Agape).
• This is why doing your duties given by the
  authorities in your life is a road to sainthood.
• If the obedience is given grudgingly out of fear
  of consequence, it is not love.

8
Agape

• This self giving love made Adam and Eve better.
• They were little less than Gods on the earth,
  living in paradise, having control over all the
  beasts, and no stress.
• Their choice of obedience was an action of love
  to God, it was a sacrifice!
• Their obedience gave them the opportunity to love
  and God could be their friend in the Garden.
• God would walk the earth with them.

9
Intelligence

• God gave us a rational soul.
• This means that we can think, reflect, do math,
  and practice philosophy considering lifes
  questions.
• God gave us the gift of a rational soul, apart
  from us only the Angels in all creation have a
  rational soul.
• This gift was given to us so that we could know
  God intimately and not just experience the
  sensations of love like a pet.

10
How Do We Feel Gods Love

• There are many people who know about God this in
  the world.
• However, the number of people who know God are
  far fewer.
• Have you felt the encompassing love of Christ?
• Have you encountered the Joy and Peace promised
  to Christs disciples?
• Either, Jesus Christ and all the saints are liars
  or maybe were missing something.

11
Using Our Freedom

• God already made the first step to relationship
  with youhe created you.
• He also made the second step to relationship with
  you
• You were born into a sinful world with the stain
  of original sin already on your soul.
• God sent his only Son Jesus Christ to die for
  your sins so that you will not perish eternally
  but so that you could live eternally with Him.
• Now it is our turn to freely engage God in this
  relationship.
• First, we need to believe in the Holy Trinity and
  the Church
• We profess this believe in the Apostles Creed at
  our Baptism and Confirmation and the Nicene Creed
  every week at Mass
• Second, we need to remain free of sin by regular
  participation in the sacrament of reconciliation.
• Third, we have to talk to God, Pray!
• Fourth, Love your neighbor as God loves you!
• Finally, Receive the Eucharist every weekend at
  Mass.

12
A State of Grace

• By doing all of those things, you will remain in
  a State of Grace.
• This means that you will be united with God and
  Gods Life (Grace) will be abundant in you.
• When Gods Life is flowing through you, you will
  feel loved, peace, joy, kindness, self-control,
  goodness, humility, and patience.
• More importantly life will be infused with
  happiness and meaning.

13
Good Works

• Once we are in a State of Grace we can increase
  our capacity for Gods love to fill us.
• By investing our time, talent, and treasure in
  love for God and our neighbors, we will empty
  ourselves of unimportant desires and possessions.
• This leaves more emptiness in your life, and it
  is in that emptiness that God fills up with his
  Life and Love.
• This is why some priests and religious become
  lonely people, they do all the emptying but they
  never invite God to fill that space.
• This is why Jesus instructed all of his disciples
  to give up everything when they followed him.
• It is also why rich people have trouble finding
  God, there is not enough room!

14
Justification

• It is not our works that saves our souls
• But without works there is no room for us to
  receive the salvation Jesus earned us, were too
  full of ourselves.
• It is important to get over yourself, and get out
  of yourself, care for others.
• Jesus is clear when he says, Love the Lord your
  God with all your Heart, Mind, and strength, and
  love your neighbor as yourself.

15
Gods Grace Poured Out

• A Visual Example

16
Small Group Discussion

• See Class Notes

17
Closing PrayerApostles Creed

• Renewal of our Baptismal promises
• The renunciation of Satan
• Do you renounce Satan?
• I do.
• And all his works?
• I do.
• And all his pomps?
• I do.

18
Closing PrayerApostles Creed

• Do you believe in God the Father Almighty,
  Creator of Heaven and Earth?
• I Do.
• Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our
  Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, was
  crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the
  dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the
  Father?
• I Do.
• Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy
  Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the
  forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body
  and life everlasting?
• I Do.
• AMEN!