Jesus Preached for the Creation of a New Humanity (Contd):
Sinners and New Humanity: The creation of new humanity in sinners, tax-collectors, prostitutes and the marginalized of this world is seen in the Gospels, especially in the Gospel according to Luke. One of the foundations of the creation of this new humanity is our awareness of being forgiven by God. "And so, I tell you, her great love proves that her many sins have been forgiven; where little has been forgiven, little love is shown" (Luke, 7: 47) The consequence of forgiveness by God is complete freedom for the sinner to do good. "Jesus said, 'Nor do I condemn you. You may go; do not sin again' " (John, 8: 11)..
The Objectivity of New Humanity: We consider true and objective whatever is decreed and set up by God Himself. The new humanity is created not according to our plans and designs, but in conformity with the Will of our heavenly Father. He is its main Architect who chooses the stone rejected by builders as the corner stone (See Matthew, 21: 42; Psalm, 118: 22-23). Paul tells us : "You must be made new in mind and spirit and put on the new nature of God's creating, which shows itself in the just and devout life called for by the truth" (Ephesians, 4: 23-24). Our new attitude and outlook are but products of the new creation in accordance with the criteria set by our heavenly Father. Jesus expressed it in a very concrete manner thus: "At that moment Jesus exulted in the Holy Spirit and said, 'I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for hiding these things from the learned and wise, and revealing them to the simple. Yes, Father, such was thy choice' " (Luke, 10: 21). In the domain of new humanity, contemplation is more important and basic than action. "But the Lord answered, 'Martha, Martha, you are fretting and fussing about so many things; but one thing is necessary. The part that Mary has chosen is best; and it shall not be taken away from her' " (Luke, 10: 41-42). The people who are truly happy are those who hear the Word of God and keep it (See Luke, 11: 27-28).
Kingdom of God and New Humanity: Our attitude to riches and possessions is an unmistakable indication of how near or far are we from the Kingdom of God resulting from the creation of a new humanity in us. Complete trust in God disclaiming our dependence even on the basic necessities like food and shelter is a precondition of this new attitude (See Luke, 12: 22-31). Amassing wealth remaining a pauper in the sight of God is real foolishness. One should be ready to sell one's possessions and give in charity in order to provide for never-failing treasure in heaven where it is completely safe. "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Luke, 12: 34). Our attachment to wealth and possessions, just like the lust of flesh and the lust for power, blinds us to our true destiny. Sri Buddha advocated abandoning all our desires, which bind us to our limitations and make us slaves to them, as the only means for true liberation. However, we are led to believe by the attractions of momentary pleasures that satisfying our desires would make us happy. Since the desires are never-ending, satisfying them would be self-defeating. At some point or other we have to practice self-restraint by denying our desires in order to be liberated. Jesus suggests a definitive and once and for all method of ending our attachment to wealth by selling it and distributing the proceeds to the poor. This is a call given to those who are able to take it like the call for making oneself a eunuch for the sake of the Kingdom of God. However, detachment is an attitude everyone who has the spirit of new humanity should practice. Without detachment there cannot be any spiritual life worth its name (See on 'Detachment' our earlier Post on 'Living in the Presence of God').
Consequences of New Humanity: The new humanity created in us inspires us to watch and pray for the coming of the Lord as well as to enter through the narrow gate. "Happy are those servants whom the master finds on the alert when he comes. I tell you this: he will fasten his belt, seat them at table, and come and wait on them" (Luke, 12: 37). "Someone asked him, 'Sir, are only a few to be saved?' His answer was: 'Struggle to get in through the narrow door; for I tell you that many will try to enter and not be able' " (Luke, 13: 23-24) Giving preference to others in our social interactions as well as doing good without expecting anything in return are attitudes born of the new humanity (See Luke, 14: 7-14). The new man should always remember two very important principles of spiritual life. First, no one can serve two masters like God and money. Second, the human and divine values are diametrically opposed to each other (See Like, 16: 13-15). Here by human values we mean the values upheld by the world as capable of humanizing us while in fact they degrade us and not the genuine human values that are reflections of divine values.
The Perfect Model: The supreme specimen of the new humanity envisaged by God for all of creation is already realized in the glorified body of Jesus Christ. It is very important to understand the implications of this new reality of the risen body of Jesus, which is neither purely phenomenal and historical nor purely transcendental and heavenly. It is a combination of both the reality of this world and that of the world to come. We shall see more about this in our last Section (Six) on "A Christology for the 21st Century"). [ We shall now proceed with the next Section(Five) on "The Theology of Gospel Proclamation"].
Sinners and New Humanity: The creation of new humanity in sinners, tax-collectors, prostitutes and the marginalized of this world is seen in the Gospels, especially in the Gospel according to Luke. One of the foundations of the creation of this new humanity is our awareness of being forgiven by God. "And so, I tell you, her great love proves that her many sins have been forgiven; where little has been forgiven, little love is shown" (Luke, 7: 47) The consequence of forgiveness by God is complete freedom for the sinner to do good. "Jesus said, 'Nor do I condemn you. You may go; do not sin again' " (John, 8: 11)..
The Objectivity of New Humanity: We consider true and objective whatever is decreed and set up by God Himself. The new humanity is created not according to our plans and designs, but in conformity with the Will of our heavenly Father. He is its main Architect who chooses the stone rejected by builders as the corner stone (See Matthew, 21: 42; Psalm, 118: 22-23). Paul tells us : "You must be made new in mind and spirit and put on the new nature of God's creating, which shows itself in the just and devout life called for by the truth" (Ephesians, 4: 23-24). Our new attitude and outlook are but products of the new creation in accordance with the criteria set by our heavenly Father. Jesus expressed it in a very concrete manner thus: "At that moment Jesus exulted in the Holy Spirit and said, 'I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for hiding these things from the learned and wise, and revealing them to the simple. Yes, Father, such was thy choice' " (Luke, 10: 21). In the domain of new humanity, contemplation is more important and basic than action. "But the Lord answered, 'Martha, Martha, you are fretting and fussing about so many things; but one thing is necessary. The part that Mary has chosen is best; and it shall not be taken away from her' " (Luke, 10: 41-42). The people who are truly happy are those who hear the Word of God and keep it (See Luke, 11: 27-28).
Kingdom of God and New Humanity: Our attitude to riches and possessions is an unmistakable indication of how near or far are we from the Kingdom of God resulting from the creation of a new humanity in us. Complete trust in God disclaiming our dependence even on the basic necessities like food and shelter is a precondition of this new attitude (See Luke, 12: 22-31). Amassing wealth remaining a pauper in the sight of God is real foolishness. One should be ready to sell one's possessions and give in charity in order to provide for never-failing treasure in heaven where it is completely safe. "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Luke, 12: 34). Our attachment to wealth and possessions, just like the lust of flesh and the lust for power, blinds us to our true destiny. Sri Buddha advocated abandoning all our desires, which bind us to our limitations and make us slaves to them, as the only means for true liberation. However, we are led to believe by the attractions of momentary pleasures that satisfying our desires would make us happy. Since the desires are never-ending, satisfying them would be self-defeating. At some point or other we have to practice self-restraint by denying our desires in order to be liberated. Jesus suggests a definitive and once and for all method of ending our attachment to wealth by selling it and distributing the proceeds to the poor. This is a call given to those who are able to take it like the call for making oneself a eunuch for the sake of the Kingdom of God. However, detachment is an attitude everyone who has the spirit of new humanity should practice. Without detachment there cannot be any spiritual life worth its name (See on 'Detachment' our earlier Post on 'Living in the Presence of God').
Consequences of New Humanity: The new humanity created in us inspires us to watch and pray for the coming of the Lord as well as to enter through the narrow gate. "Happy are those servants whom the master finds on the alert when he comes. I tell you this: he will fasten his belt, seat them at table, and come and wait on them" (Luke, 12: 37). "Someone asked him, 'Sir, are only a few to be saved?' His answer was: 'Struggle to get in through the narrow door; for I tell you that many will try to enter and not be able' " (Luke, 13: 23-24) Giving preference to others in our social interactions as well as doing good without expecting anything in return are attitudes born of the new humanity (See Luke, 14: 7-14). The new man should always remember two very important principles of spiritual life. First, no one can serve two masters like God and money. Second, the human and divine values are diametrically opposed to each other (See Like, 16: 13-15). Here by human values we mean the values upheld by the world as capable of humanizing us while in fact they degrade us and not the genuine human values that are reflections of divine values.
The Perfect Model: The supreme specimen of the new humanity envisaged by God for all of creation is already realized in the glorified body of Jesus Christ. It is very important to understand the implications of this new reality of the risen body of Jesus, which is neither purely phenomenal and historical nor purely transcendental and heavenly. It is a combination of both the reality of this world and that of the world to come. We shall see more about this in our last Section (Six) on "A Christology for the 21st Century"). [ We shall now proceed with the next Section(Five) on "The Theology of Gospel Proclamation"].
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