Jesus, the Way and the Truth

 Discerning Stage
 CFC 835
 S – Search for possible solutions or means
 T – Think of reasons
▪ Truth is accessible to reason
▪ Avoid ‘making’ a reason
 O – (consult) Others who are knowledgeable and
expert, and have a good spirituality
 P – Pray for the Spirit of knowledge, wisdom, and
love so that whatever is being searched and thought
of, is motivated by God’s spirit
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 Demand Stage
 CFC 836
 We bring our the pertinent moral norm for the use
of our conscience. Conscience works with the
accepted moral norm. To judge this or that is good
or evil, there must be a basis a moral norm. “Our
conscience always work on accepted moral
norms. They never act as a law unto themselves.
Likewise, moral norms and commandments touch
us only through our consciences.”
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 Judgement/ Decision Stage
 CFC 837
 Simply refers to the judgement of conscience we
make on the morality of any proposed action, and
our consequent decision to follow this dictate of
our conscience or not
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 Our Concrete act is important to us as person
 Because what we do is what we become. Our
character is formed by our conscience.
▪ Our particular acts leads to habitual acts which defines
our fundamental orientation – which gives testimony to
our morality.
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 The dignity of the human person
 CCC 1780
 Implies and requires uprightness of moral
conscience…the truth about the moral good,
stated in the law of reason, is recognized
practically and concretely by the prudent
judgement of conscience.
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Jesus, the Way and the Truth
 In spiritual discernment, we need to listen, admit our powerlessness,
trust in the Lord, make choices, become responsible, and expect
instability.
 Listen
▪ Proverbs 4:1
 Need for God
▪ Proverbs 3:5-6
 Trust in God
▪ Psalm 91:1-16
 Make Choices
▪ To live by our choices in harmony with His will
▪ Commitment and decisions are necessary
 Responsibility
▪ To be response-able with our choices
 Accept
▪ Life
▪ Like a story, it has an exposition and climax, climax is followed by denouement . Life is not always
happiness, Christ himself carried His cross.
 Reflect on Your True Self
 John 15:16
▪ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear
fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give
you.
 We get in touch of ourselves
 We try to discover His will through ourselves
 We try to seek to understand who we are:
▪ When alone
▪ With others
▪ At work
▪ Under stress and pressure
▪ When we lead or follow
▪ When we are rich or poor
 We learn to accept
 Keep a journal and a dialogue with a confidant (a priest or someone with
moral ascendency)
 Be One with the Source
▪ Psalm 32:8
▪ I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will
counsel you with my loving eye on you.
▪ There are different forms and ways to pray…discover
them and find what is helpful for you.
▪ As Lovers have different ways to communicate how
much they love each other, we can also find the most
effective way of communicating with Him.
▪ Our expressions of love, our prayers find their apex in
the sacrifice of the Holy Eucharist.
 Consider Options, Make Decisions
▪ Proverbs 2:6
▪ For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and
understanding.
▪ After being in touch with ourselves and God we can now
gather facts and options to consider in our decision.
 Remain in Truth
▪ John 14:27
▪ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as
the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be
afraid.
▪ Once a decision is made, we can spend more time in
prayer to confirm whether it is the right decision or not:
is there inner peace? Is there fear and doubt?
End of presentation