Semikkah7

08/27/2022 – Chapter 1 Discussion – “Ten Reasons to Read This Book” / Group assignment at the end if you choose to participate.

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Again, our book study covers 35 chapters of “How to by Holy” by Peter Kreeft.

I am not going to cover all ten reasons, so please contribute a post on any questions or reflections that you would like to share to the group.

Reason No. 2:

I’ll quote the first two sentences:

“My second answer is that this is all I have to give you. But even a little answer to a great question is more precious than a great answer to a little question.”

This leads to very logical choice when we review the most critical question of our existence, of course speaking from my Christian worldview perspective. For reference: Check out Peter Kreeft and Ronald K Tacelli’s book: “Pocket Handbook of Christian Apologetics” , I am paraphrasing “Pacal’s Wager”:

Yeshua (Jesus) said what does it profit a man to gain the whole world , if he loses his soul. So, if we gain just a little to an infinite never-ending payout , is it not infinitely more preferred to a payout that lasts essentially “the limit approaching zero”, for that is the answer if we divide 100 years by infinity, resulting in -0- relative significance to the preferred choice. Of course, this is presented from a selfish perspective. But in the world, this makes sense, you spend more time in areas that have a higher benefit than those areas that have a minimal benefit at best.

Reason # 6 – “It’s simple.. because it sits light on methods.”

I pick it up with: “But Sanctity is not a part of life, it’s the meaning and end of life; and it does not make life easier, only more unified and more joyful.”

Saved or not, we all will face a judgment so this drew me pause:
“And because love is the whole meaning of life, that’s why in the evening of our life we will judged on our love.” (Saint John of the Cross)

It makes sense , does it not?

I am still wrestling with this one, last paragraph on pg 13:

“Of course, feelings are good and natural allies of willing. Good feeling motivate good willings, and bad feelings motivate bad willings. Good feelings also follow good willings, and bad feelings (guilt, anger, resentment, impotence, fear, self-hatred) follow bad willings. That why God gave us feelings: as motivators and as reward (and punishments).”

The paragraph above that, Peter posits that we are responsible for our willings, “because it is in our power as feelings are not. Feelings come to us, love comes from us. Feelings happen to us, we happen to love. Feelings do us, we do love.”

Say I show love for a stranger. And in accomplishing my tasks for the benefit of that stranger, I feel disappointed that I didn’t receive any appreciation. Do I not willfully need to suppress that “bad feeling” from a “good initial willing”, for it is sinful? I guess Peter could be referring to that bad feeling as coming from a bad subsequent willing, that is a punishment from God, so that I can grow from the struggle out of it? But that is confusing.

It is easier to stick with my response at the coffee bar at work when a young female collegue asked me : “How are you feeling?” My response : I’m blessed and feelings mean nothing! Immediately, I thought: I wish I could retract that one! haha

Reason #7:

I do believe in the infallibility of the Word of God. So, let’s look at the last paragraph beginning with this verse: “Be holy, for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44) And then Peter adds: ” ‘Perfect’ does not mean ‘never made a mistake, never sinned”. “Perfect” means “finished , completed”.

What constitutes “finished, completed”? Of course, I am completed when I rise again after my death. But I think neither the Bible nor Peter are saying that here, for that is a given. By God’s grace, I think it is when you are grievously saddened after a sin for “grieving the Holy Spirit”, as opposed to “I messed up”, even though that is obviously true. Thoughts? Maybe we can wrestle with this one as we proceed through the book.

Reason #8:

I like Leon Bloy’s quote so much, that I pre-posted it to this blog, prior to this kick-off:

“Life in the end, has only one tragedy: not to have been a saint.”

Last full paragraph on pg. 17: “T.S. Elliot identifies the price nicely when he calls it ‘A condition of complete simplicity (Costing not less than everything)’ ” A Dietrich Bonhoeffer quote I saw recently: “Salvation is free, discipleship will cost you your life.” I understand what is saying; salvation is indeed a gift, we cannot earn it, but the “salvation is free” bothers me for the reason of T.S. Elliot quote. Thoughts?

Reason # 10:

Kreeft simply says here: “It will give you more than happiness; it will give you joy. Try it, you’ll like it. Guaranteed”

I have jotted down definitions of pleasure; happiness and joy, borrowing Peter’s description of the later two from his book. The world is confused as to the distinction between pleasure and joy, as they would be if they have turned their back on God, that is given. I see happiness as defined, manifested in a worldly mindset or a godly mindset. So, if it is the worldly mindset, it will not transition at all into joy, in fact it runs counter.

Thoughts? Question: Can I experience pleasure and joy simoultaneously? I would submit not, as defined here. For example, sex within marriage as God intends , is a gift to us. But the physical “good” feeling goes beyond the pleasure category for the christian marriage puts God in the center, so the experience is both physical and spiritual “good”, categorized under “joy”. Other examples to probe and test?

Pleasure – Temporary satisfaction of the desires of the flesh, to which excess leads to an addictive spiral and a feeling of hopelessness.  (a tool of the Devil)

Happiness – The satisfaction of your already-known desires , which eventually gets boring.  Joy never does for it goes beyond what is known.  (*a)

(*a) – pg 33 – “How to be Holy” – Peter Kreeft

Joy – Pure inebriation , the unfathomable love and abundance of the house of God.  In the eternal kingdom of God, it is unceasing. (*b)  In this world, it is a process of unification with God,  as is sanctification. 

(*b) –  pg. 136 – “How to be Holy” – Peter Kreeft

• Try this with loved ones: Ask: “What is the difference between pleasure, happiness and joy.” Do christian responses differ from future christian responses?
• I didn’t reflect enough on this question. So maybe y’all can help me with your comments.

We’ll pick up chapter 2 next weekend. I would encourage everyone to post anytime on a given chapter, either before or after our schedule. The post will appear on the board. But if we miss it , we can pick it up with a double check, a filter on this specific book category underneath the category: “Favorite books.”

Your brother in Christ,

Jimmy

Soli Deo Gloria!