Dec-2-class-VED-gvhvhg vgh gh ccyg6.pptx

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Republic of the Philippines
Northwest Samar State University
Rueda St., Calbayog City 6710
Website: http//www.nwssu.edu.ph
Email: main@nwssu.edu.ph
Telefax: (055) 2093657
Doc. Code: ACA-QF-05
Revision No.: 02
Effective Date: May 21, 2020
LECTURE ON FAITH
Learning Objectives:
1. To examine the essence and nature of
vocation, metanoia and commitment.
2. To express one’s commitment to God

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What is vocation?
A vocation (from Latin vocatio 'a call, summons'[1]
) is an
occupation to which a person is especially drawn or for
which they are suited, trained, or qualified. People can be
given information about a new occupation through
student orientation.[2]
Though now often used in non-
religious contexts, the meanings of the term originated in
Christianity. (Wikipedia)

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Use of the word "vocation" before the sixteenth century
referred firstly to the "call" by God[3]
to an individual, or
calling of all humankind to salvation, particularly in the
Vulgate, and more specifically to the "vocation" to the
priesthood, or to the religious life, which is still the usual
sense in Roman Catholicism. Roman Catholicism
recognizes marriage, religious, and ordained life as the
three vocations. Martin Luther,[5]
followed by John Calvin,
placed a particular emphasis on vocations, or divine
callings, as potentially including most secular occupations,
though this idea was by no means new.[6]

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What is Metanoia?
an Ancient Greek word (μετάνοια) meaning
"changing one's mind", may refer to:
Metanoia (psychology), the process of experiencing a
psychotic "breakdown" and subsequent, positive
psychological re-building or "healing" ...
Metanoia (theology), "conversion" and "reformation" or
repentance.

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In Christian theology, metanoia is commonly
understood as "a transformative change of heart;
especially: a spiritual conversion."[1]
The term suggests
repudiation, change of mind, repentance, and
atonement; but "conversion" and "reformation" may
best approximate its connotation. (Wikipedia)

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What is Commitment
It means that certain decisions are made in
advance, irrespective of the circumstances: “I
will honor Christ, whatever the pain and
whatever the cost. I will obey God’s word, even
when that is the hardest thing to do. I will do
what God has called me to do, when it is
draining as well as when it is fulfilling.” There is
no other way to follow Christ.

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(Recall our session on Storms in Life)
1. The Christian Vision
1.1 Peter's Vision - My Vision. At the time of this episode
Peter was already familiar, perhaps too familiar, with
Christ's miracles. Nothing surprised or amazed him
anymore. He had seen it all. But this time he saw
something he had never witnessed before-Jesus walking
on the water! And what he saw attracted him so strongly
that he wanted it for himself too. It was not just a scene
to see or observe; it was a vision, a dream, an aspiration
to strive for and attain. And Jesus was only too willing to
offer it to him.

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Think:
- What is my vision of life? Of myself? Of God?
Later on, we shall give ourselves more time in order to
think about this vision and write it down.
1.2 Peter's Step - My Next Step. To reach his vision,
however, Peter had to step into the water. It was a
dangerous and risky, if not foolhardy, step, but he had
to take it if he was to go any nearer to his vision.
Stepping into the water was the very next thing he had
to do after seeing the vision. And Jesus invited him to
take that crucial step.

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Think:
What do I feel are the next steps in life that Christ is inviting me
to take so that I may reach my vision?
To make that step into the water, Peter had to step out of the
boat where there was safety, company and security; he had to
give up the boat and the security it provided. There was no
other way for him to step into the water.
Think:
What do I feel will I have to give up in order to take the first step
toward my vision?
How does the thought of giving something up make me feel?

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It took courage and a lot of faith in Christ for Peter to
dare step out of the boat into the water.
Your own journey toward your vision and your very
first step in that direction likewise require a strong
faith in God. Without such faith your journey is
marked for failure even before it has begun. But
what is faith, what does it really mean to believe? Let
us look at Peter again.

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2. The Need for Faith
2.1 The Meaning of faith. Peter's step into the water
was actually two steps: a step out of the boat and a
step into the water. The manmade boat offered safety,
familiarity, company; it gave Peter security, but man
made security. The water presented danger and risk,
but Christ and his Word offered security. God-based
security.

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When Peter, therefore, stepped into the water he
actually gave up the manmade security and made the
Word of Christ his only security. And that is what faith
means. Faith is putting one's security in God rather
than in creatures. It is the readiness to make God's
Word and Will the basis of one's life, future, happiness.
A man of faith is one who is willing and ready to give
up anything, even life itself, if that is what God's Will
requires. And a life of faith is life built on the Word of
God and centered on God's Will.

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Paraphrasing Peter himself in another part of the
New Testament, we can say that one has faith if he
"would rather obey God than men."
Think:
How strong is my faith in God?
What do I feel will I have to give up in order to live my
faith more fully?

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What are the things I value most?
Which of them would be the hardest to give up if God
would ask me to do so?
Is Christ already the center of my life?
Which among the things which I value most are
preventing me from making Christ the center of my life?

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2.2 The Risk of Faith. To the other disciples in the boat,
Peter's stepping into the water must have looked not
only dangerous but approaching the height of stupidity.
Similarly, a faithless world has no place for a man who
prefers to lose everything—power, money, status,
wealth, friends, connections, life itself-rather than go
against God's will. One who decides to make God the
supreme value and criterion of one's actions risks
derision and persecution. So why live a life of faith at all?
Why put one's trust in God at all rather than in the
security that the world provides?

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2.3 The Assurance of Faith.
What guarantee is there that putting one's security in
God's Word and Will rather than in any manmade
form of security is the wise thing to do? The whole
history of salvation as recorded in the Old and New
Testaments is one long and consistent record of how
those who put their trust in God rather than in
creatures did not trust in vain.

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It is full of stories of men and women of faith that are
meant to assure us that doing God's will rather than
our own is the sure key to genuine and lasting
happiness. These are men and women, heroes of
faith, who dared to say "no" to themselves and to the
world and "yes" to God and His will. Take the case of
Abraham whose main ambition, like that of the men
of his time, was to be a father of many children who
would carry his name and continue his bloodline.

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He had an only son, Isaac, who naturally was the
apple of his eye, the center of his life and the source
of his hopes. Isaac was the key to the fulfillment of
Abraham's dreams. One day God asked Abraham to
give up his only son, and offer him as a burnt
sacrifice. Abraham obeyed and in thus obeying gave
up his own plans.
Result? He not only did not lose his son, but he also
became the father of nations.

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There is Jesus himself, the definitive example. As a
man, he naturally feared death: "Father, let this
chalice pass from me..." But it was His Father's will
that he should offer his life. And so, " not my will
but yours be done."
Result? He died on the cross as His Father wanted,
but on the third day he was raised to life and is now
the Source of life and the Conqueror of death.

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These and many other cases were recorded so that we
may believe that those who "trust in God do not trust in
vain," and that those who "seek first the kingdom of God
and His justice" will have everything else added unto
them. Jesus brings home this point thus: "He who seeks
to save his life will lose it, but he who loses it for my sake
will find it." And "unless the grain of wheat falls to the
ground and dies, it will remain a wheat grain, but if it
falls, it yields a rich harvest."

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2.4 When Faith Weakens.
And so, with faith, Peter was able to do the
unthinkable: walk on the water toward his vision. "But
as soon as he felt the force of wind, he took fright and
began to sink." With faith, you too, will be able to walk
safely "on the water" toward your vision. Now and then
you may find yourself sinking, but when that happens
you are already forewarned by Peter's example. "Man
of little faith, why did you doubt?"

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Faith enabled Peter to walk on the water; lack of
faith made him start to sink. Why did Peter doubt?
What made his faith to weaken? The Evangelist
gives us an insightful hint: "but as soon as he felt
the force of the wind..." So long as Peter had his
eyes fixed on Christ-his vision-he had solid ground
under his feet; but as soon as he disengaged them
from Christ and his vision, it was a watery grave
beneath him.

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As you make your way toward your vision, you will be
on solid ground provided you are centered on Christ
and provided you do not lose sight of your vision. But
if you allow problems, trials, opposition-the "force of
the wind"- -to distract you from Christ and your
vision, then you will start to sink. Possibly there were
other "winds" that made Peter turn his focus away
from Christ and from his vision and made his faith to
weaken.

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Perhaps he looked back at the boat he had left
behind to see if it was still within safe distance—just
in case. Maybe he looked back at his companions in
the boat to let them know he was superior to them
because he could walk on the water and they could
not. Probably he turned in upon himself and started
to entertain the idea that he was walking on the
water on his own power, and not on Christ's.

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Assignment:
Personal Reflections
1. How would you respond to God’s Call, married life,
single blessedness/ religious life or ordained life?
Why?
2. What are the significant “metanoia” that happen in
your life?
3. How do you envision yourself ten years from now?
How will you achieved it (commitment)?

Dec-2-class-VED-gvhvhg vgh gh ccyg6.pptx

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