If you have a friend, you want to see him, talk and spend time with him. Have you thought about it, that God wants to live with you as friend to friend ? The Bible tells about it.
God is with man in the garden of Eden
,,And having planted a garden in Eden in the east, God put a man there, which he made. At the command of the Lord God, trees grew out of the soil, pleasant to look at and tasty, bearing fruit, and a tree of life in the middle of this garden, and a tree of the knowledge of good and evil. A river flowed out of Eden, to irrigate that garden, and from there it would separate itself, giving rise to four rivers…
So the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden, that he may cultivate it and keep it…” (Gen. 2, 8-10. 15).
What God says through this biblical account ?
What God wants to tell us in this pictorial story ? Now you know, that some of the Scriptural accounts cannot be taken literally. The story of paradise vividly depicts the garden, in which there is a lot of water, lots of vegetation and beautiful fruit trees. This picture shows an oasis. According to the biblical story, God places a man in that garden and is here with him in great intimacy. The next chapter of Genesis says, for example,. graphically, that God ,,he walked in the garden ", to which he "transferred" the man. This picture of a happy life shows man's spiritual coexistence with God. God wants to say in this picture, that he invites everyone ,to live together and bestows his friendship and love on him.
What we call the communion of life with God ?
St.. it presents the communion of life with God in a figurative way.
Theologians, without the use of pictures, speak of a communion of life with God. They call the community of life with God the greatest gift of God to man. They call it a supernatural gift, sanctifying grace or the life of grace. This gift makes, that man becomes a child of God, saints. Theologians call God's life in man a supernatural gift, to distinguish them from natural human life, which is also a gift from God, but natural. For every human being from birth has a body and soul, which are called natural gifts.
In addition, theologians also list gifts beyond the natural, which God wanted to give to man. These are : freedom from suffering, disease and death, and clear mind and will, who easily controls inclinations.
Our community of life with God
Meeting with God, thanks to which we become His children and participate in His life, is now taking place during the baptism of St.. One thousand years ago, Poland was baptized. From then on, our nation entered into a community of life with God, began to live a life of grace, became a Christian country. You are Polish. You belong to the Christian nation. God also accepted you into a community of life with himself at your baptism. On the first Sunday of Lent (year A) you will hear a biblical reading about paradise in the church. It is God's call to you as well. In this description, recognize an invitation to a closer and more conscious life with God, started at baptism.
How will I answer God ?
God also invites you to experience your baptism more deeply and more consciously. You will solemnly renew your baptism with the whole Church on the Easter Vigil. Then we all renew the promise of baptism. For you, a frequent occasion for renewing baptism may be to say goodbye to holy water, especially before Holy Mass. It can also express your response to God's invitation to live together with Him.
"God, You my God, I'm looking for you ;
My soul thirsts for you,
my body misses you,
like the earth has dried up, thirsty, without water.
In the temple I look at you like that,
that I may see your power and glory.
Since Your grace is better than life, my lips will praise you.
I bless you so in my life ; I raise my hands in your name.
Because you have become my help and, in the shadow of your wings, I cry out joyfully; My soul clings to You. Your right hand supports me ‘ (Ps 62, 2-5. 8-9).
Idea :
1. Co chciał wyrazić autor natchniony w opowiadaniu o raju ?
2. Co oznacza w tym opisie przeniesienie człowieka do raju ?
3. How God gifted man ?
4. What is God's greatest gift to man ?
5. Do czego wzywa nas Bóg w opowiadaniu o raju ?
6. Kiedy wchodzimy we wspólnotę życia z Bogiem ?
remember:
16. Co oznacza w Piśmie św. putting man in paradise ?
Putting a person in Paradise means communing with God, that is, participation in the life of God himself.
17. Jak nazywamy udział człowieka w życiu Bożym ?
We call human participation in God's life a supernatural gift, a life of grace or sanctifying grace.
18. Do czego zaprasza nas Bóg, as we read the story of paradise ?
When we read a story about paradise, God invites us to deepen God's life, which we received in baptism.