The word: ‘anthropology’ is not something anyone will hear on an ordinary day but last Monday, CCD catechists from all parishes spent the whole morning reflecting on the human person as properly understood by the Church. Fr. Jason Granado, presented the different understanding of the human person, from the perspective of modern philosophers, from the biblical understanding and from the personalism of St. John Paul II as revealed in his Theology of the Body.
“The topic was heavy but it was presented in a way that corresponds to our needs as CCD teachers.” That was a remarkable comment in the evaluation of the CCD teachers after they attended the formation last October 9, 2017 in San Antonio social hall. Fifty five catechists attended the formation talk even if it was a holiday to learn and have a sufficient background knowledge in this area relevant to their role as CCD teachers. Someone just sincerely retorted, “I’m glad I came! He really explained it very well!” Indeed, it was not just a lecture but a recollection that delves into the deeper reflection of what it means to be a human being.
What will you be: a theologian or “kneel-ologian”?, asked Fr. Jason to the CCD teachers. “I pray that you will be both. The Church always recommends to study theology on our knees, that is in the spirit of prayer.” Having a big crucifix right in front of the stage, Fr. Jason introduces the ‘main speaker’ on that day, (pointing to Jesus Christ crucified) who showed the whole human race what it means to become a truly human being, while reflecting on the immortal words of the Second Vatican Council’s document Gaudium et Spes: “ In reality, it is only in the mystery of the Word made flesh that the mystery of man truly becomes clear, (Gaudium et Spes # 22)
He identified some movement of ideas about the human person in the different course of time and in the different line of thoughts, and explain the anthropology of St. John Paul II and St. John XXIII. Then the emergence of the ‘great false prophets’ that affected and distorted the real essence of man’s dignity. From Theocentric (God centered) to Anthropocentric (man centered) comes the idea of Descartes “I think, therefore I am” a radical subjective point of view. Then followed by Materialism of Modern Science with the powerful thoughts of the theory of evolution of Charles Darwin, the philosophy of materialism of Karl Marx, the “You are what you do” of Carl Gustav Jung, the Materialism and Determinism of Sigmund Freud, and the Categorical Imperative of Immanuel Kant. All these thoughts are still lurking and subconsciously operating even in our world today.
But the Word made flesh entered into the human scene purposely, due to the urgency of man’s situation to be saved, that the son of man has to suffer and die. The internal dichotomy that is very real in us, perfectly described in the letter of St. Paul to the Romans 7:14-21, was the consequence of Sin continuously penetrating our entire being. This we have to be aware! In a very simple exegesis, Fr. Jason explained the dynamics of Sin in the story of the fall. Towards the end, he introduces the topic of the Theology of the Body, the biblical reflection on the meaning of human embodiment, particularly as it concerns human sexuality, marital love and erotic desire. We all learned that the opposite of love is not hate but to use the other person for our own gratification including sexual gratification.
It was such a beautiful day with a lot of thoughts and realizations to ponder and we are all challenged to understand ourselves, others and God.
This is only the first of the series of seminars planned by the Office of Religious Education throughout the school year, designed to provide basic knowledge to the CCD catechists on the various field of theology, morals and scriptures.
