Notes from Gathered for the Journey Six (6) essays David McCarthy

The human person reflects in being created as Imago Dei the creativity andfreedom of God—we are free because God wills our freedom, creativity etc.Indeed, our human free will reflects upon the Mystery of God as free (189)Human freedom is a revelation of God‘ creative freedom –―The creative act isthere immediately in my freedom. My freedom is, so to say, a window of God‘screating …In human freedom we have the nearest thing to a direct look at thecreative act of God (apart, says the Christian, from Christ himself who is the actof God).‖ (Herbert McCabe, quoted in Miller, 189, emphasis added)Human freedom directly willed by God—paradoxically, ―more directly caused byGod than any other earthly thing, and yet remains the most free of all earthlyactivities, for when we act we share in God‘s creative freedom.‖ (190)Real FreedomGod guarantees human freedom—human freedom is never independent of itstranscendent Creator—the loving will of God.Aquinas argues that it is ―wrong to think that a person must be a first cause to bethe real cause of his or her own movement.‖ (190)We are free not in spite of God‘s great power—but because of God‘s great powerGod guarantees human freedom ―by being actively and immediately involved inall causes as the creator of all things, the first cause that makes secondary cases befree, and the transcendent being who insures that humans have the power tochoose freely.‖ (190)―God ordains our freedom, determines what we choose, and guarantees our libertybecause we are made free creatures with the inherent power to choose.‖ (190)III. God’ Gift o Grace (190)Does God act in creation?1. We face the Deist position—God creates and steps back to let the universe run onits own course2. Or does God get involved? –what is the extent of this involvement? Whatmethod?Christians know via Almighty God‘s incarnation and death and resurrection that God isinvolved in human history—creating salvation history—the Paschal Mystery says God issalvifically involved.Answering prayers with miracles at timesGrace Defined:Miller calls this ―stepping in,‖ when God gets involved, making us or situation better,―grace‖. (191)―Grace is the love and life of God, freely shared with us for our well-being.Grace is the reason why we are alive, for our life itself is a grace. Grace is alsodivine help, which transforms our lives and motivates us to act in godlike ways,loving, encouraging, and forgiving others.‖ (191)Fundamental Moral Theology Page 32 of 54Class Notes – Father Michael Seger