Final Paper: Learning to “Flee from... Bishops”: Formation for the Charism of Priesthood within Religious Life by Stephen Bevans SVD
A. Is the article encouraging, inspiring or not? Why? - In my own opinion, the article is very encouraging and inspiring because it demonstrates how oneself can live a religious life. The article presents that a human being is not obliged to enter priesthood in order to become religious. However, it presents that for one to be religious, he must apply God’s teachings in his daily routine and make use of God’s great creations for the greater glory of society. According to the author, there are many ways on how to live a religious life. He says that living religiously may come in different forms, may it be in doing charity work, attending relief operations, or being a reader during the mass. Truly, priesthood is not the only way for one to live a religious life.
B. What is something new to you after reading the article? - Throughout my reading, one thing I have learned that is something new to me is that commitment is one important aspect of living a religious life. One should be committed in a sense that when you live out God’s teachings, you must fully devote yourself to being a portrayal of his life. Being committed not only resembles Jesus’ devotion to his Father’s plan, but it also resembles your commitment to the people around you.
C. What message/s is/are trying to convey to the readers? - The message that the author, Stephen Bevans is that to live a religious life, one must not go into priesthood to achieve this. Throughout the article, the author has proven that living religiously that does not only revolve around priesthood. On the contrary, religious life is being one with God and living out his teaching and applying them to everyday challenges and situations.
D. Identify value/s you have learned from the article? - The main value I have learned from my article is the value of commitment. What I have picked up from the article is that commitment to whatever challenge or problem you face is vital in achieving your desires. Being committed means that you are fully focused and determined to surpass God’s challenges for you in your life. Commitment means that you have a deeper understanding of your personal problems and you are able to put them aside and focus on the more important things in life.
E. How is the article related in the entire discussion in TREDONE, TREDTWO, TREDTRI, and TREDFOR? - My article is related in the entire discussion of all the TRED classes in a sense that it revolves around living a religious life. Throughout the four TRED modules, it has being reiterated over and over again that living a religious life means having a deeper relationship with God, Through this article, I have deepened my understanding of what religious life revolved around and I can truly say that I am more committed and devoted into a living a religious life in my own personal way.
