The Dignity of Being Human Among all visible creations, only human beings are made in God’s image and likeness. By a plan formed in the Father’s heart, we are called to enter into a relationship of love with our creator. Read Genesis 1:25-31 “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness.” In figurative and symbolic language, Scripture describes God’s creating the first man and woman and placing them in Paradise.

God created us spirit and matter, body and soul Humans are a union of body and soul. Through human procreation the, body is created in cooperation with God. The soul is created immediately by God at the time of conception. They make up the whole person. The whole of the person is seen as created in the image of God. The spiritual does not take place in a vacuum but together with the physical, social and historical dimensions of humankind. The union of spirit and matter forms one single human nature. The body and soul of a material living being so mutually complete one another, that there arises from their union one complete nature. The soul, or spiritual principle, originates only in God, it is endowed with intellect (reason), to think and to act deliberately, and possesses free will. God’s love demands that we, as rational creatures be completely free before him so that the love returned to him may be authentic and not in any way compelled. Discussion Point What is the reason we are given free will?

Created in the image and likeness of God Humankind possessed original holiness and justice as given to us by God. Our primary and essential state was of holiness, wholeness, living in harmony with creation and God without suffering or death. God gave us dignity a little less than beings in the heavenly world. (Psalm 8:3-8) We are the only creatures God created for our own sake. We have the powers of self awareness, self knowledge and self possession. We have the power of self reflection. We can recognize ourselves as unique and separate individuals and have the ability to move beyond ourselves to others. We are capable of entering into relationship with others through self disclosure and self giving. The image of God found in the nature of the human person can be realized in a special way in the union between human beings. This union is directed to the perfection of divine love. We image the Blessed Trinity as a communion of persons who is Love.

Self giving love is the essence of life in the Trinity and the way we most authentically become what God created us to be; our model in this call to self-gift is Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Humans are not created as isolated individuals but in relation to one another, with God, with ourselves, and with the world. Discussion Point When you reflect on yourself being created in God’s image, what comes to mind? “In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another. No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us. This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us, that he has given us of his Spirit.” (1 John 4:10-13)

God created us male and female and made everything for us Humankind is different from and superior to all other living creatures on earth. We image God equally, whether male or female. We share in God’s work of creation, and procreation is the height of our participation in God’s creative work. We have qualities and abilities that differentiate us from other creatures and the material earth itself. God gave us stewardship over the entire earth that we may share in God’s creative energy and providential care. We are to be stewards and caretakers of God’s creation. We are offered the surpassing dignity of sharing in God’s work of saving souls. Discussion Point In what ways do we share in God’s work of saving souls?

NEXT SESSION: ORIGINAL SIN & THE MYSTERY OF INQUITY The image and likeness of God was not destroyed by Original Sin