Man’s True Nature

“When the immortal Son created man, He gave man the aim of himself becoming god.” -St. Gregory Nazianzus (Orations, XLIII, 48)

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This is a powerful and provocative statement. We know from Genesis 1 that man was made in God’s image and likeness. The early Church Fathers describe the pre-Fall Adam as united with God and therefore by his very nature possessing all the virtues.

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“Man was created in the image of God, which amounts to saying God has made human nature a participant in every good… Thus all sorts of good are in us: all virtue, all wisdom, and the best things one can imagine.” -St. Gregory of Nyssa (On the Making of Man, IV)

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St. Gregory Nazianzus and St. Gregory of Nyssa, along with St. Basil the Great, were known as the Cappadocian Fathers. They lived in what is now Turkey in the 4th century and were highly influential in developing the doctrine of the Trinity and other orthodox Christian teachings. St. Gregory Nazianzus was declared a Doctor of the Church. The Cappadocian Fathers present a very positive view of humankind. We are created in His image, and despite the Fall, we are destined to become like Christ. Our true human nature therefore reflects God’s divinity in that we have a rational soul, free will, and the capacity for compassion. Sin, however, distorts our true nature, clouds our judgment, enslaves us, and limits our ability to love. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, we can begin the process of justification, sanctification, and ultimate glorification (deification) which restores our true nature and our ultimate destiny, which is union with God.

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As some of you may know, I take issue with several propositions in Richard Schwartz’ book No Bad Parts not least of which is that Schwartz describes the “Self” as the same substance as the greater “SELF” which can be equated with God. The Cappadocian Fathers didn’t see mankind as having the same essence as God. As human beings created in His image, perhaps we can say we have a share in His divinity or that we have the potential to reflect or imitate God’s attributes. But this participation in God’s divinity was distorted by the Fall. The human person now has an inclination toward sin, and it is only in cooperating with God’s grace that we can be transformed and ultimately saved. The whole person, the core self, and the parts, needs redemption. Although the core or inmost self may be a source for kindness and compassion in even the unredeemed man, it is still in need of God’s redeeming grace to reach its fullest potential.

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Time for Personal Recollection:

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I invite you to a moment of recollection. This is a prayerful calling to mind of all your parts, becoming aware of the inmost self, our deep spiritual center, and opening of your heart to God’s presence.

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The Catechism of the Catholic Church says the following, “By the radiance of this grace all dimensions of man’s life were confirmed. As long as he remained in the divine intimacy, man would not have to suffer or die. The inner harmony of the human person, the harmony between man and woman, and finally the harmony between the first couple and all creation, comprised the state called ‘original justice’.”

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Let us reflect on what it means to experience the “inner harmony of the human person” and how this can only be fully achieved through grace. Set aside the need to be perfect for the moment and notice that God is interested in a relationship with you. Invite God into your heart and invite His grace to flow through your inmost self to all your parts. Notice how this increases your inner harmony.

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St. Paul says, “And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit” (2 Cor 3:18).

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As you pause from the business of life, set aside all earthly cares. As you experience a greater sense of inner harmony, turn your attention to this inner “mirror” and notice this glory of the Lord and how He is transforming your heart.

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Instead of allowing an agenda of self-perfection, self-doubt, or even self-hatred to be the chief motivator of your day, allow the truth that you are created in the Image of God to be the chief motivator of your day. Wherever you are in your spiritual journey, allow the knowledge that you are on the path toward union with God to be the reason you embrace your prayer time, your work, and your relationships.

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Resources:

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If you’re interested to learn more, here are a few resources you might want to check out:

Called to Be the Children of God: The Catholic Theology of Human Deification by David Vincent Meconi and Carl Olson, published by Ignatius Press.

Divinization: Becoming Icons of Christ through the Liturgy by Andrew Hofer, published by Hillenbrand.

The Cornerstone #15 Divinization (Six-minute video by the Franciscan Friars)

Fr. Andrew Hofer of the Thomistic Institute:  St. Thomas Aquinas on Divinization (55-minute video)

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Christ is Among us!

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Dr. Gerry

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