Category Archives: God

Trees

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Trees

Walking along a path through the forest, the father and his young daughter were admiring the majestic sequoia trees, when the 8 year old girl glanced up at her father asking, “Where did all these trees come from”? Her father explained that each tree started as a tiny seed, then blossomed into a small growth, and over a long time eventually grew into the giants they are today. After digesting her father’s explanation, the thoughtful girl asked, “Ok, but where did the seeds come from”? The father commented that the seeds came from existing trees. She inquired further, “Well, where did the existing trees with the seeds come from?” More answers were followed by more questions, which the father patiently answered. The daughter finally asked, “Where did all this begin? Where was the first seed of the first tree”? Her father answered without hesitation, “Well, the origin of all the trees and of everything in the universe is God. He is the beginning, the creator. God has existed for all eternity and is the cause of all things.” The young girl trusted her father and accepted his explanation though she did not fully understand it, yet she instinctively knew that there must be a cause from which all things began.

The young girl’s curiosity about the existence of trees and of all things, including her own existence is common to all people in every age. Why are we here? Where did we come from? Where are we going? When and where did existence begin? Is there an endless chain of causes and effects? The questions seem to be never ending and the answers are often unsatisfying.

The most basic issue behind all questions regarding existence is the question of the origin of all things, including humans. What caused existence in the first place? A few will claim that existence just happened….by chance. They profess that in an extremely complicated, but orderly universe, chance is the answer to the most fundamental question facing humanity about existence. However, for most people in all ages, the theory of chance as the answer to issue of existence is unsatisfying and, upon investigation, has been rejected as untenable.

Thus we return to the issue of the source of existence. In the book of Genesis, when Moses asks God for His name, God’s reply is “I Am Who AM.” God is defining Himself as pure existence, the essence of existence, from which all existence flows. Nothing can exist without God’s approval. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. St. Thomas Aquinas noted, “There is something that is the cause of existing in all things in that this thing is existence only. Otherwise, we would have to go to infinity in causes, for everything that is not existence alone has a cause of its existence ….and have existence from the first being, which is existence alone, and this is the first cause, which is God.” (St. Thomas Aquinas: 
On Being and Essence (Kindle Location 251).

The little girl’s father was correct when he advised that the ultimate source of the trees’ existence is God, the essence of existence.  The One to whom we all are accountable.

Suggested Reading:

“Fundamentals of the Faith” by Peter Kreeft, Ignatius Press, Chapter 3

“Thomas Aquinas”, by G.K. Chesterton, Originally published by Sheed and Ward, Dover Publications

“Summa Theologica”, Thomas Aquinas  Treatise on God, Question 2, Articles 1,2,3

The Means and The End

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The Means and The End

Stephen Coffey, the author of several business and motivational books, noted in one book that one should always, “Start with the end in mind.” Seneca, a first century Roman philosopher, stated the same principle, “If an individual knows not what harbor they seek, any wind is the right wind.” Both authors were emphasizing the same truth. If one does not clearly identify one’s goals, one is likely to be pushed by any idea or force to an endless succession of activities that lead to nothing, except activity itself.

For a Christian, the end is Jesus Christ…union with God. Yet many Christians lose sight of the end, becoming enamored with secondary objects, using Christ as a means to justify their activities. C.S. Lewis, in his delightfully engaging and compelling book about temptation, “The Screwtape Letters”, noted that Satan is expert at tempting man into concentrating on non-essential issues, at the expense of man’s relationship with God. Lewis’ Screwtape (Satan’s helper) instructed his fellow devil thusly. “Certainly we do not want man to allow their Christianity to flow into their political life, for the establishment of anything like a really just society would be a major disaster. On the other hand we do want, and want very much, to make men treat Christianity as a means, preferably, of course, as a means to their own advancement, but, failing that, as a means to anything- even to social justice. The thing to do is to get man at first to value social justice as a thing the Enemy (God) demands, and then work him to the stage at which he values Christianity because it may produce social justice.” Lewis’ devil is using a good (social justice) to distract man from his real end – God.  Prayer, the Sacraments, and a personal relationship with Christ have given way to social activism.

Within Catholicism and Christianity in general, there are many who see their roles as simply and primarily as the promoters of social welfare. God and the Church are the means and justification for any of their actions that, in their view, promote their specific social ends. Many members of the clergy in all religions, Christian and Non Christian, have subverted religion as the means to obtain goals that are the creation of man, rather than the work of God. Screwtape is indeed at work here.

The real end for all Christians – Christ – is pushed back into becoming the means.  The truth is that any semblance of social justice will be obtained only by having an absolute love for Christ. Prayer and the sacraments will help man attain that love of Christ and provide man with the courage to remain faithful despite the difficulties and challenges man faces. True justice can be obtained only if the Christian has first developed a sincere and deep relationship with God. Jesus Christ is the end, not the means!

‘If you make my word your home you will indeed be my disciples, you will learn the truth and the truth will make you free.’  Jesus  John 8:31

Suggested Reading:

“The Screwtape Letters” by C.S. Lewis, published by Harper SanFrancisco