MAN'S LIMITATIONS IN ATTAINMENT OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOD HERE AND NOW

            God, by His very nature exceeds human intellect, for God Himself is beyond the power of the intellect. St. Thomas affirms this in the question one of the Prima Pars of his Summa Theologiae, saying that no created intellect can see the essence of God. The reason being that the created intellect knows only existing things. For what falls first under the apprehension of the intellect is being. Now God is not something existing; but He is rather super-existence. Therefore, God is not intelligible; but above all intellect, this provides reason why human intellect cannot know God's essence.[1] St. Thomas explaining why human intellect cannot lead us to full knowledge of God teaches that if men are left to find God that:

ü  Many will not find him;

ü  Some will find a caricature god

ü  Some will find him only after a very long time.

    Some will even find him but will not know him.

 St. Augustine also has something to say about man's limitations in attainment of knowledge of God. In the Book II, Chapter 2 of his classic work: City of God, Augustine states that it is rare thing for a man, after he has contemplated the whole creation, to understand the nature of God; for to know God is beyond our human comprehension.[2]  Similarly, in The Confession, Book 13; St. Augustine teaching about eternal truth says that, the Divine Truth is not given through the senses but it comes from divine light. Thus in order for man to know eternal truth, man needs divine illumination. Everything apprehends the truth according to the mode of the being. Human beings are rule by reason, they are limited beings, and therefore cannot apprehend the immensity.[3] The result being that there is a limit to power of reason, where reason stops, revelation takes over, since we need God to know God. Reason's grasp of divine truth is based on revelation of God about himself. Even when revelation is present the knowledge of God cannot be said to be certain to be used in understanding God Himself who is the giver of divine revelation.

---

[1] Cf. Aquinas. Summa Theologea, I-II, q. 12, a. 1.

[2] Cf. Philip Schaff, St. Augustine's City of God and Christian Doctrine, (New York: Grand Rapids, MI: Christian Classics Ethereal  1890), p. 297

[3] Cf. Augustine, The Confessions. Bk 13, chapter 16.

WORK: AN ORDINANCE FROM GOD

 BEING A TALK GIVEN TO GROUP OF STUDENTS

     

Man created in image of God shares by his work in the activity of the creator. The first two chapters of Genesis bear witness to this, for in them we find creative activities of God presented in form of "work", done by God in six days. (Cf. Gen. 1&2). The work we do is the means by which we contribute to the creative work of God. Hence, that we must work is an ordinance from God. For we read in Genesis 1: 28, "Be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth". In another place we read, "By the sweat of your face will you earn food until you return the ground which you are from" (Genesis 3:19). Thus, from the aforementioned scriptural passages, we come to the knowledge that work is an essential part of man; ordained by God. So, working becomes a duty which we must fulfill; a sacrifice we must offer, and a debt we must pay. Work is God's gift to us because we are created to be fruitful, to this end, when we approach our work with right disposition and attitude; we are thus fulfilling the law of Christ. Our work must therefore proceed from God because we are journeying back to God (God is the end of man).

      Every legitimate work has dignity attached to it (by this claim I mean that there are works that are non-legitimate, these works are illegal such as prostitution, drug dealing, and professional thieves; these works are bad in themselves, because they go against God's plan for man). (Some other works are legal but imposes problem in terms of ethics & morality eg: working in abortion clinic and in pornography industry).    But every work is honourable as far as it does not deprive man of his salvation.

 Since the birth of civilization, human beings have been doing all kinds of work; for man works to feed, he works to sustain life. St. Paul recognizes this with rather harsh words when he says: "If anyone among you is not willing to work, let him not eat" (2Thessalonians 3: 10). Paul employed these harsh words to discourage laziness.  Similarly, our Christian religion teaches us to do our work diligently. This teaching stems from the belief that through the work we do, we can find God. We read in 1 Corinthians 10:31, "Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" For this reason, I urge you my brothers and sisters not to look for God in far-away places but only in work our state in life presentes to us. For God is close to us in our homes, in our working place, on the streets, at the playground, in your studies, for these are altars where we can find God.

      It must also be noted That we must work is a necessity, because God approved that we must not only work but that we must work hard, this we see in the mandate He gave to Adam in Genesis 2: 15, God in the Garden of Eden gave Adam the injunction to till land and cultivate it. (Cultivation as we know is not an easy work; it needs hard work. Book of proverbs also remains us about the necessity of hard work,  Proverb 14: 23; says "Hard work always yields profits but mere talk leads to penury (Poverty)".

Consequently, Successes in all human endeavours bear witness to the testimony of hard work. Everything we enjoy is a result of someone's hard work, hence excellence is not a luck but a fruit of hard work. Good talent often without hard work crumbles. Some may ask: why should we work since many work-up their lives and are paid little or nothing? But I said to you that we must attend to our works with eagerness and right attitude, not only because it is ordained by God but because we owe responsibility:

to self,

to our family,

to our society,

and to our environment. And more also because we will be judged by the works of our hands and our state in life. That is why a wife who lives her domestic duty to pinch her tent in the church in prayer and fasting may still not make heaven.--------------- WHY?--- because she abandoned her primary duty as a mother and wife, for she will be missing the mark when she fails to cook food for her children because of her personal devotion.

 Therefore it becomes necessary that we should treasure those works that our state in life demands from us. As students our primary assignment is our studies, and thus our studies need dignity, it needs discipline, self-sacrifice and perseverance; for only in these that we can be truly called students. With regard to this, when a student lives his/her studies and takes pleasure in partying around and giving much time to frivolities, his/her books suffers, he/she fails in her duty and go against the ordinance of God. For it is a sin for a student not to study (he/ she will be wasting recourses). And so, we have to work now, when we have the time, energy and strength because in near future, if not so soon we will not have the time and the strength to do so. Let our consolation therefore be, that through our work we can gain eternal life. It seems that we often forget this, but St. John reminds us saying: Do not work for things that perishes, but for things that endures to eternal life, which God will give you (See, John 6:27).  Dear people of God, to carry out our work more effectively in this present life, we must guard against those things that will not help us in our work, such as Love of pleasure, Love of power and Love of profit. Though not bad in themselves but they have a way of distracting us towards achieving our goal in life.

In sum, hard work is the only way to excel in life; we cannot seat in the comfort of our rooms assuming that other people will do our work for us. We have to take charge and work hard, because that is the means that God has ordained for us to survive, because in work--- we gain our salvation. Through work we serve people, through work we meet our own needs, for St. Paul teaches us that we must work to meet our needs in life. Through work we acquire resources to help others, for we read in Acts 20: 35, that it is by working hard that we help the weak; hence our Lord teaches us, that ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Finally, through work we love God. This we do by obeying his commandment who has called us to be FRUITFUL, MULTIPLY AND FILL THE EARTH. Our work in this present life prepares us for life to come (Beatific Vision). And so dear friends in Christ,

let us learn to work,

let us love to work

let us live working, because work is ordinance from God and when we work we contribute to the creative work of God. May Virgin Mary, who willingly submitted to God's creative work, through the Yes she said, continue to intercede for us as we struggle to do God's will. Amen

     

VOCATION TO THE PRIESTHOOD: A SCHOOL OF OBEDIENCE

            In the school of obedience there is but one and only textbook, the Bible. This book was not written to make us mere intellectuals but to guide our Christian conduct. In it God reveals himself to us, his life and teachings become textbook to guide us in this school of obedience. The very entrance into priestly vocation demands absolute obedience; Christ whose footprints we follow had already taught us how to obey. For we read in Hebrews 5: 8-9, he learned obedience by the things which he suffered; and thus became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey. Christ has come to teach us how to obey; obedience therefore is at the heart of priestly vocation, in so far as this vocation is a share in the very life and ministry of Christ. To this end, the scriptures tell us through the words of St. Paul, that Christ is the greatest high priest, who obeyed in all things but sin (Hebrews 4:15); in another place we read, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death (Philippians 2:8 ).

            Similarly, from Christ's teaching and way of life we learn that the obedience he practiced, is what he asks from all those who wish to follow him. Hence, priestly vocation is a call to obedience; a call that demands more communion with Christ, who came to the world for the purpose of carrying out God's will; in this lies the principle task of the priestly vocation. For the greatest glory we can give to God is to obey his will in all things. From entrance to the Seminary or Religious life to the day a priest is ordained, obedience becomes something necessary and needful; and after ordination it remains the rule of life and sacrifice a priest offers to Christ and his Church. Nevertheless, the word to "Obey" gains more strength in Religious Life, where more commitment to obedience is required. Here obedience becomes the passion of life, where one gives up one's life in obedience for him who has taught us to obey. It is in obeying that a priest and a religious do the will of God. For we read in Hebrews 10: 9, Behold I have come to do your will, o God. To do Christ's will is to obey his teachings; this is the key to learning in the school of obedience. This is what our teacher and master has called us to learn, this he also asks of those who embrace priestly vocation.

            Therefore, to do well in this school, close attention should be paid to our teacher and Master Jesus Christ. All the things we need to excel in this school is found in this teacher, his entire life is a book to be read. It will be irksome that we call Christ our master and fail to follow his teachings. For this reason, if those who enter this school fail to obey; then it is either that they have learn little or known nothing about Christ. On the other hand, when those who enter into this school constantly look up to their master Jesus Christ, then the words of John H. Sammis "When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, What a glory He sheds on our way; While we do His good will, He abides with us still And with all who will trust and obey;" Is being made real in their witness to Christ. Let us therefore trust in a God who has called us to obey and always strive to do his holy will. Let us seek God in obedience, for he who strives to withdraw himself from obedience, withdraws himself from God's grace. May Virgin Mary, who willingly submitted to God's plan with complete trust and obedience, continue to guide us as we learn from Christ's school of obedience. Amen

Death and its Mystery

The mystery surrounding "death" has always kept me mute. When I lost my dad, this mystery became more vague and hard to accept. As if this wasn't enough, I watch those who are so dear to me being consumed by the same mystery, yet I couldn't do anything but wonder. A wonder that always moves me to tears, a wonder that I guess no one could explain. I still watch people pass on today, people who have what it takes to live forever, people who are learned, those blessed with all manner of good things; those if it were to be possible could have bought death itself. Yet all these cannot envelop this mystery, these were also consumed by the mystery called death. Over the years I watch people grow old, become weak and die, but today death comes to us differently, old and young take their turns and die. This experience will one day be my lot. An experience that sucks my will power and leaves me with a feeling of nostalgia. The fact that I must die one day makes me sick and fragile, but that I (we) must die is a necessity. However, it remains striking to ask what kind of death is destined for me? This question could only be answered after I might have accepted the fact that I will soon die, but for now death remains a mystery that is yet to unfold.

Leonard Okpechi

A reflection on death.