At its heart, Christian living is not a collection of obligations and standards, but rather a daily experience with God. Such an encounter presupposes a dramatic bridging of time and eternity, in which a creature endowed with finite and temporal characteristics is united with that which transcends time and space, which calls from a realm of endless difference. However, this road of reconciliation between opposites is a human encounter, one that is rich in the depth and spontaneity of interpersonal dialogue. Additionally, this interpersonal relationship between God and man is the way to happiness, the ultimate goal of humanity. The purpose of this paper is to argue that the objective of Christian existence is intimacy with God and the discovery of his will, both of which are made possible by and through Jesus Christ.
Investigating how the primary concern in the search of real Christian living is happiness. The Christian response to this topic is that communion with Jesus Christ is the only path to true happiness, as Christian beatitude entails participation in God’s eternity and future life. We will then look at the theology of theosis, the process by which the believer is transformed into the divine image, which includes the more historical concept of having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. From there, we’ll look at con-natural knowledge as the product of divine/human connection, which will help us comprehend prayer properly. Because real Christian existence is defined by a relationship with God, prayer is central to authentic Christian pr-axis. This, in turn, serves as the foundation for an ethics that merges moral instruction and spirituality, which has been referred to as “contemplative ethics.” Thus, an integrated approach must include a thorough examination of prayer, which we will do by examining how prayer is rooted in the Intra-Trinitarian dialogue. Thus, human prayer is comparable to the interpersonal dynamic shared by the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God discloses the reality of prayer and encourages the believer to participate in this eternal exchange via Jesus Christ. Christ expresses prayer in this way through the elements he taught his followers and through his very nature. Thus, the Christian is called to emulate Christ by participating in Christ’s relationship with the Father. Additionally, divine revelation serves as the structure and parameters for Christian prayer. Scripture and tradition are founded on Jesus Christ, and it is through him that we approach God. Similarly, the believer is initiated into the reality of prayer through the sacraments, with the Eucharistic celebration serving as the source and summit. We find our actual identity in Christ and are released from the illusions of our false self via this meeting.
This process of discovering our actual identity in Christ entails increasing in awareness of Christ’s presence, and in this regard, and how Christ’s presence is the defining characteristic of Christian prayer. Christian maturity entails a knowledge of this presence, which draws the entirety of human activity into the transfiguring light of Christ’s work. Thus, the various forms of prayer indicated in ascetically and mystical theological books represent the multiplicity of methods in which human integrity is placed under divine rule. This results in discernment, in which Christ’s presence serves as a guidance for practical decision-making. It is precisely in what is referred to as “contemplative decision-making” that we discover the point of convergence across the many theological paths, because knowing God’s will is the point at which action emerges from our encounter with Christ.
It is relationship that transcends and allows us the avenue to seek our presence with our divine creator. Unless, our sights and hearts and focused within this transcendence, our focus will obscured by the world around us. As revealed throughout God’s divine presence, we have largely failed and those called, were predestined against their will to follow. It is the presence of God, who set the example for us and we are without excuse in our objective choice to see the reality of the Truth revealed and follow by our free will.
MORAL LIFE 