Orthodox Anthropology II

OBJECTIVE

The objective of today's lessons is to appreciate free will within the context of grace and recognize its relationship to our purpose in life

INTRODUCTION & HOOK - 10 Minutes

Let's begin today's lesson with a small thought exercise:

• Imagine that you are in the greatest heat of conflict and that the entire world is against you
• Imagine all the people that you believed were your friends and supported your cause suddenly turned against you, and that you were forced out of your home and were sent to a foreign land
• Imagine that you were being hunted down by military and were constantly under attack and under threat of arrest

Now imagine that you are given an opportunity to write a letter:

• What would you write in your letter?
• How would you describe your circumstance?

It would be absolutely human and normal to write about the difficult of the condition, the stress and anxiety caused by the hardship, and the uncertainty of the circumstance, as well as the longing to be at home once more

• Looking at an extreme response, some might take this as an opportunity to curse their enemies, express their hopelessness, or even deny God or His love since they feel alienated and forgotten

St. Athanasius did not need to use his imagination

• The twentieth patriarch of Alexandria found that the world had turned against him as it embraced Arianism and sought to defeat he who was categorized as their ultimate nemesis

Imperial forces hunted Athanasius and sought to eliminate him as a threat to Arianism, resulting in five exiles that included being sent on a boat all alone with no food or water to either die of thirst, hunger, or drowning

Like our hypothetical, Athanasius had an opportunity to write to his flock in Alexandria

• He shared that Christ is the True Feast, which was present in his heart and filled him with grace and joy
• He wished for his congregation, his spiritual family, to share in this joy with him and recognize the grace of God acting in his life

What is this grace that filled Athanasius with joy, resolve, calmness, and comfort during such a tumultuous time in his life?

Today's lesson will speak about divine grace beginning with a discussion on free will, Christ renewing our free will, and finally divine grace

HOLY SCRIPTURE - 10 Minutes

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. 12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned--- 13 (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. 15 But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. 16 And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. 17 For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous. 20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Rm. 5:1-21)

Memory Verse: But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many (Rm. 5:15)

CONTENT (KEY POINTS) - 20 Minutes

Free Will

As mentioned last week, out of God's great love, He created man according to His image and likeness.

When considering the Image of God, the Church focuses on dominion, virtue, reason and creativity, and free will,

Free will is to have the freedom of choice, especially in making decisions

God did not intend for mankind to use free will in order to choose evil since doing evil is an abuse of the image of God; rather the intention of free will was to choose to love God.

• We see this reality clearly insofar that God has free will, and yet He is by nature love and by nature cannot sin
• As the Lord Jesus explained, He does the will of His Father out of love, and can do nothing without His Father because He loves Him so much

God created mankind to have free will, and provided Adam and Eve with an opportunity to demonstrate their love for Him by obeying the command not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil

However, through deception of the serpent, Adam and Eve became slothful towards God's commandments, put His law behind them, and by their own counsel plucked for themselves the sentence of death.

Christ Renewed our Free Will

God turned the punishment into salvation, and, as a Good Shepherd, sought after mankind, sending the prophets, giving the law, and ministering salvation.

He, THE BEING throughout all time, came to redeem mankind, taking flesh from a Virgin, emptied Himself, and became man.

For our sake Christ was obedient even unto death, giving His back to the scourge, His cheeks to those who smite, and His face to the shame of spitting, until finally He came as a sheep to the Cross.

Having died and resurrected, Christ defeated death through death, which had reigned over the earth, and freed mankind from the bondage of slavery.

Through God's plan of salvation, mankind was redeemed, given the free gift of salvation through the shedding of His holy Blood upon the Cross.

Divine Grace

Our Lord Jesus Christ bestowed upon us the gift of Divine Grace to sustain human beings in order to support our weak wills that often deviates and experiences constant needs.

The work of divine grace is everything that God bestows on a human being

• The invisible work of grace is that which sustains us without our knowledge and keeps evil away from us before we are even aware it has approached us

Grace works internally and externally

• There are different types or definitions of grace. Generally, Grace is an eternal, free gift granted by God for our salvation and perfection. Many times, the Holy Mysteries of the Church (i.e., Sacraments) are also called graces.
• There is grace that seeks our spiritual growth by leading us to repentance or raising us up to a higher spiritual level, approaching divine love.
• This is seen in the life of Saul of Tarsus who went from a persecutor to the Apostle Paul, the tax collector Levi who became Matthew the Evangelist, and even Peter and Andrew who were fishermen called to be Apostles

There is also grace that brings about miracles and powerful action in our lives

• This is when a person has already begun working or wishes to do something and divine grace comes to this person's aid and gives power to him
• In this case, a person recognizes his own weakness and fervently asks God for divine help

Grace may either initiate our actions and inspire us to work, or it may come to our aid once we begin working

• The kind of grace that initiates our action is seen when a certain thought, idea, or feeling is introduced to us
• This kind of grace does not originate in the person, but rather it is a gift from God.
• Sometimes we also call a special time of spiritual growth as a "Visitation of Grace."

Grace does not Act Alone

If a person takes action, then it will work with him and sustain, strengthen, and guide him all the way

If he does not take action, grace will urge him, but will not compel him; it may arouse in his heart longing for God for good work, but his will remains entirely free to respond or not

• Great and powerful is the action of grace, but it does not eliminate human freedom
• Although we are instruments in God's hands, we have free will

We should submit our will freely, lovingly, and with conviction into God's blessed hands, in order to fulfill His goodwill

• We are not inanimate objects, but rather living beings, where grace can interact with our feelings, our thoughts and our senses

It can direct our choice, but we have willingly to accept to be directed and cooperate with it, and it will cooperate with us

Hearts Inflamed with Love

By the grace of God and the action of the Holy Spirit, our hearts become inflamed with God's love, and the heart that loves God is a pure heart; it loves goodness and keeps away from sin.

This is the authentic transformation: change of the heart from within, leading to our liberation from bondage to sin and selfish passion.

Transforming grace begins with the Lord transforming our human hearts by the action of His grace and purifying it from the love of sin, which is the beginning of the transformation of the entire world

• Therefore, we need the mighty action of God's grace to transform us from within, because we cannot justify ourselves.

The person who lives by grace loves goodness, and it becomes second nature.

• All this person's actions are directed towards goodness, and there is no inner conflict or struggle, for the transformed heart has reached liberty from bondage to sinful habits and passions, the flesh and material things, because sin no longer influences or overcomes the redeemed of the Lord.

Grace is a mysterious power given to persons, inspiring them to love God and repent.

• It implants in them holy feelings and the power to walk in the Lord's path, the power to persevere in facing the evil one's battles and temptations.

DISCUSSION (Challenge) - 10 Minutes

Looking back at the introduction when we discussed very briefly the suffering of Athanasius and his expression of joy, how would you describe divine grace and its effect on his life?

How would we describe God's grace throughout our day? Would we say that this is something that occurs in a specific moment, or would it be something that is poured down upon us perpetually?

What do you think is the relationship between divine grace and prayer?

Can you think of any saint stories in which divine grace was manifest in that saint's life, whether in Scripture or the Tradition of the Church?

How may we receive grace when we find that we are overwhelmed by a situation?

What do you think it meant when God told Paul "My grace is sufficient for you" (2 Co. 12:9)

LIFE APPLICATION - 10 Minutes

Grace in our Daily Lives

In our daily life, the divine grace protects us from temptations and difficulties, prevents us from falling in sin, and guards us from the conspiracies of Satan and evil people, for "unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord guards the city, the guard keeps watch in vain." (Ps. 127:1).

• Through the ages, divine grace guarded God's righteous and beloved ones from temptations, as it is written, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord rescues them from them all." (Ps. 34:19).

Divine grace protects us and grants us peace and tranquility, so that we may say, "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff -- they comfort me." (Ps. 23:4).

• Although there is much technological advancement, this does not grant us peace.
• Many of the technologically advanced societies, we see an increase in the suicide rate, especially among young people. There is also an increase in the number of people suffering from depression.
• We pray to God that, by grace, God shall change the hearts of humans to heal depression and to grant peace and tranquility. We have confidence in the protective shield of divine grace.

In our spiritual life, divine grace keeps a person from falling in sin, for truly sin is powerful, "for many are those she has laid low, and numerous are her victims." (Prov. 7:26).

God's grace comes upon a person through the prayers of the Church and the saints for that person's sake.

The Christian believer receives grace by means of the Church's Mysteries (Sacraments), which are the visible acts through which a person receives invisible grace by prayer and through the priesthood.

• In the Mystery of Repentance and Confession, a person receives the grace of the forgiveness of sins, while in the Mystery of the Eucharist, according to Christ's promise, the person abides in Christ, "Those who eat My flesh and drink My blood abide in Me, and I in them." (John 6:56).
• None of us deserve the grace of the Holy Communion, or eternal life. We do nothing really to "earn" these graces. But they are given to all who properly respond to His call to salvation.

ACTIVITY - 5 Minutes

Children will create a fig tree themselves based off the short parable in Luke 13: 7-8. This is a representation or reminder for the kids that when they look at this tree to remember that even though this tree deserved to be cut down and gotten rid of, God because of His grace offered it another chance.

The Fig Tree Activity

SERVANT RESOURCES

• The Divine Transforming Grace

PARENTS CORNER/HOMEWORK

• Review memory verse
• Go over Romans 5
• Teach your child to pray during difficult situations, and ask them to lift up their concerns to God that He may fill them with grace and grant them peace