St. Augustines Views Regarding Sacraments - Assignment Example

of Lesson 1. The knowledge gained through human reason may be faulty, owing to the subjective interpretations of the individual in question. However, it is when we assess information on the basis of human relationships and reason that we arrive at correct deductions. In the case of a devotee too, this is true. He/she must not only use reason while communicating with God but must also accept the relationship that God has sought to build between them. This is one of faith and understanding (Lecture Notes). 2. The way in which God reveals his mysteries to human beings is referred to as divine revelation. There are two ways in which man gets to understand these mysteries. One is through the Scriptures and the other is Tradition. Experiences of people close to God are recorded as a part of Tradition and this then becomes a part of the Scriptures. Divine revelation is granted to man through these sources. It is necessary since it brings man closer to God and salvation (Lecture Notes). 3. The word mysterion has been employed by the Bible in three manners. In its first meaning, it refers to the presence of divinity in anything, anywhere or anyone. Another way in which it has been used has been to indicate a religious truth that cannot be understood without the aid of God. He has to reveal this truth for man to know it. The third way of using the word would be for e reference to a religious ritual (Lecture Notes). 4. In the Genesis, God reveals Himself to be a part of the Trinity since he always refers to godhead in the plural. Human beings are created in the image of God and not the other celestial beings. The disobedience of Adam and Eve disrupts this relationship between man and God. He does however, hold out hope for redemption for mankind in the promises that he makes to Noah and Abraham following the offerings that they make to him (Gen. 12. 1-9, Gen. 15). 5. God reveals his name to be “I Am that Am” when Moses asks for it so as to tell the Israelites. This not only signifies that human beings shall be cared for by a faithful God, it also speaks of the mystery of God. God requires of Moses to collect His Commandments from Mount Sinai. While doing so, He passes before Moses and makes clear his power over all creation, including man. He makes His eternal nature clear for his devotees (Exod. 3. 13). 6. God’s identity as omniscient and omnipotent is reiterated through the story of the rebellion of Korah. This story reveals how God holds power over all of creation, including man. It speaks of how the clergy is selected. Who is selected is the decision of God rather than that of man, for whom such a decision would be presumptuous (Num. 16). The priest carries out the dictates of God rather than those of his own will, subjecting it entirely to God’s will. The call given to Samuel only reiterates this point, making it clear that God communicates directly with his appointed (1 Sam. 3. 1-18). 7. The story of Daniel’s communication with God happens through visions that Daniel experiences. These visions are of course, the handiwork of God. It makes clear the fact that God is faithful and shall not disappoint the faithful follower. God rescues Daniel and passes on his message through Daniel to the masses. Daniel believes implicitly in God. This also points to the need for the follower’s own responsibility (Dan. 2). 8. The parable of The Sower and the Seeds refers to the individual action and effort of the devotee in attaining salvation. This is made through the example of the seed that falls on good fertile land. The devotee needs to make him/herself open to the possibility of God’s message at any point of time (Luke. 8. 4-15, Mark 4. 3-9, Matt. 13. 3-9). In the parable of The Budding Fig Tree, Jesus speaks of the importance of faith, the most important characteristic of any personal relationship. The devotee’s faith in God needs to be strong for him/her to understand his message (Luke. 21. 29-33, Matt. 24. 32, Mar. 13. 28). In his interaction with Pilate, Jesus affirms that the arrival of the Kingdom of heaven was imminent for the true devotee (John. 18. 28-38). 9. A mysterion would be a sacred bond between man and God. St.Paul describes this relationship in the Book of Romans. In this book, he also makes it clear in his letters that the mysterion can enter into any level of elucidation only through the scriptures (Rom. 11. 25-27, Rom. 16. 25-27). In the letters to the Ephesians, he argues that the Mysterion can only be understood through the mediation of Christ (Eph. 1. 3-10, Eph. 3. 1-10). In this Book, the Mysterion is further characterized as one that can be revealed only through the efforts of the devotee through obedience and love. The Mysterion, he also argues, is revealed through the work of the clergy that in turn is dependent on Christ (Lecture Notes). Lesson 2 1. The Latin meaning of the word “sacramentum” refers to a promise of fealty that is made by a soldier of the Roman army. This was a promise to fight for the cause of the Roman army even if it required him to die. For one’s relationship with God, it refers to the required ability on the part of a devotee to go to any lengths for his or her devotion, even to become a martyr for God (Lecture Notes). 2. The Donatist controversy was regarding who should be a part of the church and who should not, based on the tests of faith that they endured in the early days of Christianity. During persecutions, some members of the Church handed away sacred books and were deemed unfit for membership. It was an ecclesiological issue as it had a significant bearing on the composition and nature of the Church. While some argued that sacraments administered by them would be rendered invalid, St. Augustine pointed out that it was not man but Jesus who administered the sacrament through the clergy, thus highlighting the real source of power (Lecture Notes). 3. Origen’s homily on the Book of Joshua tells the devotee about the omniscient power that God wields. It extends over every aspect of nature and shall do so in the future as well, since God’s power is not temporally limited. Baptism is seen as analogous to the crossing of the Jordan to the Promised Land of God. Baptism thus, is the door through which every human can pass through to attain a better understanding of God’s mysteries (Origen, n.p.). 4. Carnal instincts and incredulity towards the works of God are the biggest obstacles to the achievement of a sacramental relationship with God. Water is considered to be the most suitable element for Baptism since it is the oldest one. In the beginning, it presented itself, obedient to God and useful for the molding of clay to create man. The Trinitarian formula ensures that the Holy Spirit would be able to make its way to the devotee through the workings of Angels. Baptism is necessary for salvation since it brings man in contact with holy water that cleanses him and establishes his relationship with God (Tertullian, n.p.). 5. An explanation of the sacraments has to be made to one who has been initiated to the mysteries. Hence, St. Ambrose waits for baptism to happen before the sacraments are elucidated. For St. Ambrose, water is ancient, present when God began creation and also possesses the ability to wash sin away. Unless the Holy Spirit is present at such a moment, however, water alone does not possess divine powers of cleansing. The head is anointed for spiritual grace to descend upon man, while the feet are washed in order to cleanse man of the effects of the Original Sin (St. Ambrose, n.p.). 6. St. Ambrose believes that the celebration of the Eucharist is more ancient than the rites followed by Judaism. St. Ambrose argues that the flesh and blood of Christ had the power to quench hunger and thirst for eternity. In this way, it was superior to the earthly food and is the bread and wine that shall redeem humanity. The feast of the Eucharist can be attended only by the initiated, or the baptized. They are thus, initiated into a knowledge of the sacred covenants. They go, their countenance enriched by eagerness and loving faith (St. Ambrose, n.p.). 7. St. Augustine’s views regarding sacraments make it possible to view them through the prism of a relationship between God and the devotee. The devotee is not answerable here for any fault on the part of the priest and may enter into a relationship of faith with God. His views also fix Jesus Christ at the centre of Christian life (Lecture Notes). Works Cited Origen, excerpt from a homily on the Book of Joshua. Web. 11 Aug 2014. http://www.crossroadsinitiative.com/library_article/121/Baptism_Means_Crossing_the_Jordan___Origen.html St. Ambrose. “On Baptism”. New Advent. Web. 10 Aug 2014. http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0321.htm Tertullian. “On the Mysteries”. New Advent. Web. 10 Aug 2014. http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3405.htm Lecture Notes from the Classes. The New American Bible, Revised Edition. Web. 11 Aug 2014. http://www.usccb.org/bible/books-of-the-bible/index.cfm Read More