Theological Foundations new file

59 Life in Christ fields : “It was very fitting that a wild flower should stand on a level place where it could be seen by everyone (...) Had he stayed up on high, not everyone would have heard Him, discovered Him and admired Him with joy and to his own benefit. He knew how to adapt, He knew how to approach people of various standing in life, various characters, skills and intelligence. He did not hesitate to come down to the low and mis- erable places, so as to save everyone. He did not consider it an offence to His great majesty to lower Himself in order to give the miserable crowds, even the sinners, a chance to seek the Heavenly Kingdom (...). Having abandoned His heavenly loftiness, He will stand on the level place of your nothingness to raise you to the higher level of His love.” 11 The fact that Jesus wants to be the groom of the soul, just like the one in the parable of the ten maidens (cf. Mt 25, 1-13), also shows how pro- found His bond with man is. He, too, espouses the human soul, enters it and endows it with peace and love. This espousal, this union between Him and man calls for faith, love and obedience. The one who walked where he pleased before, now has the duty to walk the ways of His com- mandments. The one who resisted His inspirations and admonishments before, should now serve Him in faithful submission. Who was languid, is to light up with the flame of His love and contribute to the common good. All of this requires abandoning the old man, the violent, imperfect one, and clothing oneself in Jesus Christ. 12 All of this is possible because we are being supported in this effort by the “Tamer of evil spirits, the Savior of the world, the Lord of Heaven, the Supreme Monarch, the Life, the Way, the Truth, the future judge of all mortals.” 13 The power of Christ present in His words and teachings manifests itself in a particular way in the Eucharist. Who would doubt that He brings life to people — He raises some from the death of their sins and preserves others from such a death. He did say after all: “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood ... will live for ever” (Jn 6, 54). 14 Our author elaborates on this thought further in the idea of the Good Shepherd. Jesus said of Himself: “I am the good shepherd” (Jn 10, 14). Every