Reflections: The Summons

Well, it's nearly the end of my planned time blogging on The Summons. The original purpose of this blog was for a Theology project, and although I did not always keep up with post updates, I did enjoy writing posts as I gradually caught up to my quota. The Summons has given me an opportunity to reflect what I have learned in class and apply it toward the theme of holiness. This will be my last post on here, but I plan to keep this blog open for any potential readers, that they may find my work useful and apply it to their journey toward holiness, and most especially, toward becoming a man fully alive. 

However, before I close, I would like to answer why I titled my blog "The Summons." In the Holy Liturgy, The Summons is the title to one of my favorite liturgical songs, and it fits perfectly with the theme of this blog: to reflect and inspire all of us who are on the pilgrimage to holiness. I listen to it, and I instantaneously feel enlightened and empowered to follow Christ. I listen, and I know what it takes to follow Him. I listen, and I know that I truly love Christ. 

Thank you all for reading; it has been a good run. I have truly enjoyed writing for all of you, and hope that maybe one day, I will revive The Summons, and continue reflecting and inspiring you all on your path to holiness. Thank you and God bless. 

Holiness: Man Fully Alive

"The glory of God is man fully alive" - St. Iranaeus

What on earth does this quote mean? What is man fully alive? How is it the glory of God?

From the very beginning of creation, God intended for us to be in communion, communion with the birds, the fish, the animals, with each other, and especially with Himself. God created the world free of sin. All existed in perfect harmony in the garden of Eden. However, Adam and Eve, the first humans, ruptured this state of perfection, by taking fruit from the Tree of Life and consuming it, despite explicit instructions in refraining from doing so. On top of that, Adam and Eve lied to God when He questioned them, and put the blame for the deed on each other and ultimately the serpent.

From then on, all descendants of Adam and Eve would be plagued by Original Sin. Concupiscence, which is the tendency to sin, will govern us for generations. From Noah, to Abraham, to David, God works with us. After the flood and events with Noah, God sees the potential for good in us, and begins guiding us. For no other reason than love, God raises us out of the deep, endless pit of sin that we have fallen into; He raises us up higher than we were before Original Sin. Through the savior Jesus Christ, we were freed from sin, and are able to know and love God not as a transcendent being, but as our King, our savior, our friend, and especially our Father and brother.

God sending His son, Christ, to die for our sake, and rising and freeing us from our greatest enemy: sin, could not have been anything but a gesture out of love. God stuck by us, despite all the damage we have caused, and has raised us up higher than we have ever been. Yet after all this, God continues to give us free choice. God loves us so much that after all this work He has put in, He respects us and loves us so much that He is once again giving us the choice to grab hold of His hand, and climb out of the pit of sin and death, or fall back into pitch black emptiness.

"The glory of God" refers to the love that God has for us, and His desire for us to be with Him. "Man fully alive" is us, all of us, from Adam and Eve until the end of time, accepting His love, accepting His grace, dwelling with Him in heaven.