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Christ, the Author and Finisher of our faith?

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BornMC

BornMC

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The Catechism states that man is created to freely seek his creator and attain his full and blessed perfection by cleaving to him...

But what does the Scripture in Hebrews 12 mean that says that Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our Faith?

How could these two be in alignment?

Thank you.
 
chevyontheriver

chevyontheriver

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BornMC said:
The Catechism states that man is created to freely seek his creator and attain his full and blessed perfection by cleaving to him...
Click to expand...
Do you have the citation for this?
BornMC said:
But what does the Scripture in Hebrews 12 mean that says that Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our Faith?

How could these two be in alignment?
Click to expand...
First, let's establish what you say the Catechism states.
 
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fide

fide

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BornMC said:
The Catechism states that man is created to freely seek his creator and attain his full and blessed perfection by cleaving to him...

But what does the Scripture in Hebrews 12 mean that says that Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our Faith?

How could these two be in alignment?

Thank you.
Click to expand...
Maybe this from the Catechism resolves the matters:
(emphasis added by me)
A plan born in the Father’s heart
CCC 759 “The eternal Father, in accordance with the utterly gratuitous and mysterious design of his wisdom and goodness, created the whole universe and chose to raise up men to share in his own divine life,”<LG 2> to which he calls all men in his Son. “The Father . . . determined to call together in a holy Church those who should believe in Christ.”<LG 2> This “family of God” is gradually formed and takes shape during the stages of human history, in keeping with the Father’s plan. In fact, “already present in figure at the beginning of the world, this Church was prepared in marvellous fashion in the history of the people of Israel and the old Alliance. Established in this last age of the world and made manifest in the outpouring of the Spirit, it will be brought to glorious completion at the end of time.”<LG 2>
Click to expand...
 
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fide

fide

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BornMC said:
The Catechism states that man is created to freely seek his creator and attain his full and blessed perfection by cleaving to him...

But what does the Scripture in Hebrews 12 mean that says that Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our Faith?

How could these two be in alignment?

Thank you.
Click to expand...
Translations can be crucial. Here is the NABRE, which is very close to the tranlation used in our Liturgy:
Heb 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us* and persevere in running the race that lies before us
Heb 12:2
while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him he endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God.

The Strong's Greek has this for "leader" - (your "Author") - G747 - ἀρχηγός - archēgos. From G746 and G71; a chief leader: - author, captain, prince.

and for "perfecter" - (your "Finisher") - G5051 - τελειωτής - teleiōtēs. From G5048; a completer, that is, consummater: - finisher.

Maybe you could expand on what misalignment you see or wonder about?
 
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BornMC

BornMC

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Thank you so much for your replies. I really appreciate your help everyone!

I just don't understand how it works that God chooses you to come to him, authors your faith, and perfects it or finishes it, but at the same time we are free to come to him on our own and seek him of our own free will?

Is this just something we cannot understand in this world?

Recently I wanted to finally serve my purpose and I prayed to God that he would make it happen because I was struggling to get on with it....

He did make it happen and I'm so grateful. Basically I stopped even thinking about it and then when the perfect opportunity came, I jumped on it. So what part of this is he responsible for and what part is me?

Thank you so much!

Amen.
 
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fide

fide

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BornMC said:
Thank you so much for your replies. I really appreciate your help everyone!

I just don't understand how it works that God chooses you to come to him, authors your faith, and perfects it or finishes it, but at the same time we are free to come to him on our own and seek him of our own free will?

Is this just something we cannot understand in this world?

Recently I wanted to finally serve my purpose and I prayed to God that he would make it happen because I was struggling to get on with it....

He did make it happen and I'm so grateful. Basically I stopped even thinking about it and then when the perfect opportunity came, I jumped on it. So what part of this is he responsible for and what part is me?

Thank you so much!

Amen.
Click to expand...
Have you tried to discern why it is that you are so anxious to understand exactly what you owe Him for, and what you can claim you are owed for your own good works? If we were talking about a marriage based on love (which in fact we are) what do you think such a currency-based accounting would do to a human marriage of husband and wife? Love would find no place in such a scheme. God insists on love with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. And in truth it is only in the reality of such a complete self-gift to God of one's all, that we have any real, authentic, pure love to offer to anyone, including ourselves. When/if we offer the fulness of ourselves to God in love and in obedience to Him who IS TRUTH, we discover an infinite reservoir of love to give to others, including rightfully to ourselves. This is a communion of love, a human participation in the love with which God loves in His inner life of the Holy Trinity.
l
 
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BornMC

BornMC

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fide said:
Have you tried to discern why it is that you are so anxious to understand exactly what you owe Him for, and what you can claim you are owed for your own good works? If we were talking about a marriage based on love (which in fact we are) what do you think such a currency-based accounting would do to a human marriage of husband and wife? Love would find no place in such a scheme. God insists on love with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. And in truth it is only in the reality of such a complete self-gift to God of one's all, that we have any real, authentic, pure love to offer to anyone, including ourselves. When/if we offer the fulness of ourselves to God in love and in obedience to Him who IS TRUTH, we discover an infinite reservoir of love to give to others, including rightfully to ourselves. This is a communion of love, a human participation in the love with which God loves in His inner life of the Holy Trinity.
l
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That's an incredible reply. I didn't realize that I may be trying to keep accounts. But now that looks more plausible.
I struggle to love, I can appreciate the gifts that God gives to me, and I am in constant prayer, but to anyone else I am just a little bit isolated. Or totally isolated... but anyhow...

I love you all.

Amen.
 
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fide

fide

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BornMC said:
That's an incredible reply. I didn't realize that I may be trying to keep accounts. But now that looks more plausible.
I struggle to love, I can appreciate the gifts that God gives to me, and I am in constant prayer, but to anyone else I am just a little bit isolated. Or totally isolated... but anyhow...

I love you all.

Amen.
Click to expand...
We all struggle to love in our fallen human nature. Many saints have been made through silent prayer before a Crucifix - a cross with Jesus dying nailed to it. Such a focus for prayer - for humble listening for what only God can say to us - can become for us a "spring of living water", holy grace outpoured in His love.
 
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BornMC said:
The Catechism states that man is created to freely seek his creator and attain his full and blessed perfection by cleaving to him...

But what does the Scripture in Hebrews 12 mean that says that Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our Faith?

How could these two be in alignment?

Thank you.
Click to expand...
Our faith in Jesus is God's gift to us but not all of us come to the faith in the same fashion.
In the parables used in the Gospels, Jesus distinguishes between people.
A man (purposefully) went out looking for pearls, and when he found one...
A man (accidentally) found treasure in a field. He buried it again, sold everything he owned and bought the field. (I'm not great with referencing scripture but it's in Matt, Mk, Lk... or Jn!)
Some seek for the truth; some stumble upon it accidentally and there are some who will seek it their entire life.

The RCC says that Man, by his faculties, can know that God exists but it never taught that Man can come to knowledge of Jesus being the Christ by his own reasoning. That is always God's grace/choice/decision.


'No one can come to me unless the Father allows him'.
'You did not choose me, I chose you'.
 
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