CHAPTER 4

God Prepares a City for Them” (Heb 11: 16)

“GOD PREPARES A CITY FOR THEM” (HEB 11: 16)

“GOD PREPARES A CITY FOR THEM” (HEB 11: 16)

FAITH and COMMON GOOD

Place in which men and women may live together with others

“GOD PREPARES A CITY FOR THEM” (HEB 11: 16)

FAITH† born of the love of God† strengthens the bonds of

humanity † places itself from the service of

justice rights and peace

Without the love of God = Utility, interest and

fear

“GOD PREPARES A CITY FOR THEM” (HEB 11: 16)

FAITH † human relationships † definitive destiny in God † service of the common

good

Faith “is for all, it is a common good”

“GOD PREPARES A CITY FOR THEM” (HEB 11: 16)

6 areas illuminated by faith † family based on

marriage † youth † social relations † nature † just forms of

government † suffering and death

“GOD PREPARES A CITY FOR THEM” (HEB 11: 16)

FAMILY BASED ON MARRIAGE † stable union between man

and woman † goodness of sexual

differentiation † based on love in Christ † “a love forever” † recognizes love as the

creator that leads to the begetting of children

“GOD PREPARES A CITY FOR THEM” (HEB 11: 16)

YOUTH † “the joy of faith” and

“commitment to live faith solidly and

generously” † “young people want to live

life to the fullest” † “Faith is no refuge for the fainthearted but something

which enhances our lives.” – Pope Francis

“GOD PREPARES A CITY FOR THEM” (HEB 11: 16)

SOCIAL RELATIONS † faith gives new meaning

for universal brotherhood ≠ equality

† = common experience of God’s paternity

“GOD PREPARES A CITY FOR THEM” (HEB 11: 16)

NATURE

† “ find models of development which are based not simply on utility and profit, but consider creation as a gift”

“GOD PREPARES A CITY FOR THEM” (HEB 11: 16)

JUST FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

† authority comes from God and which serve the common good

† “When faith is weakened, the foundations of humanity also risk being weakened”

“GOD PREPARES A CITY FOR THEM” (HEB 11: 16)

JUST FORMS OF GOVERNMENT † if we remove faith in God

from our cities, we will lose our mutual trust and be united only by fear. Therefore we must not be ashamed to publicly confess God, because faith illuminates social life.

“GOD PREPARES A CITY FOR THEM” (HEB 11: 16)

SUFFERING AND DEATH† “a moment of growth in faith”† Faith is in link to hope: “ let us refuse to be robbed of hope, or to allow our hope to be dimmed by facile answers and solutions which block our progress.

“GOD PREPARES A CITY FOR THEM” (HEB 11: 16)

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

St. Francis of Assisi

“GOD PREPARES A CITY FOR THEM” (HEB 11: 16)

SUFFERING AND DEATH† “the faith in which faith enlightens the human city is the family

† “Faith is not a light which scatters all our darkness, but lamp which guides our steps in the night and suffices for the journey

Christ: the pioneer and perfecter of our faith

“BLESSED ARE YOU WHO BELIEVED”

MARY: Perfect icon of faith who, as the mother of Jesus, conceived “faith and Joy”

Mary assist man in his faith.

Mother ,help our faith!

Sow in our faith the joy of the Risen

One.

Let us take up and read

LUMEN FIDEI…

…It will help each of us to understand to live and to share

OUR FAITH…

HAPPY READING…