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

Some insights:Salvation is social—―it is certainly personal, but not the possession of individualsper se.‖Grace is never coercive, but an invitation to liberty. (Authentic freedom in truth)Salvation is freedom from self-centeredness—freedom ―from the idea that life(not to mention salvation) is about me (or about me and God)‖. (48)Sin is a ―deliberate rejection of God‘s will for us, and in salvation we are savedfrom our turning away from God.‖ (48)Note: ―our reconciliation is becoming part of God‘s love for the world. Love, then,cannot be imposed.‖ (emphasis added, p.48) (see here relationship of authentic humanlove and freedom.)Not merely Human Love in Large Letters—Uniquely DivineNot merely like human love—we can be selfish, after all; in grace we transcend.―God‘s love is an invitation of friendship through God‘s self-giving—giving uswhat we cannot achieve on our own, a share in God‘s own life.‖McCarthy names the foundation of God‘s love and life in the Church: The key isforgiveness in the Church (Sacrament of Reconciliation; Eucharist). (49)III. The Good News of Easter(pp. 49 – 54) McCarthy takes the previous insights and fills them out in the context ofthe Easter Vigil.Liturgy is performative—we become what we do.The language of liturgy—a system of communication—grew up around acommon lifeMoral life and Easter—we learn a new language to express our deepestconvictions and color the lens through which we see and interpret the world.We liturgically enter into themes of sin, journey, call, recondition and so forth—central to forming a Christian moral character. (think of all the symbols andsymbolic actions in the Easter Vigil)We evoke the New Jerusalem ―where humanity will be transformed and a newkingdom will be established, a dominion of life and grace.‖ (50, quoting JamesDonohue, C.R.)We enter into the covenant and its witness to salvation and to a steadfast God.The Witness of the CrossThe Cross—―the crucifixion is the end of all sacrifice. Jesus Christ‘s life anddeath are the practical and concrete matrix (or location) of God‘s relationship tothe world.‖ (51)Redemptive level of the Cross: moment of praise, thanksgiving and communion.Fundamental Moral Theology Page 4 of 54Class Notes – Father Michael Seger