Lesson 6: THE PASTORAL CYCLE:
SEE-JUDGE-ACT
a radical response
- a radical change in lifestyle, vocation, or way of life.
a new and deeper understanding
- The task of the Church is to lead the people to conversion (metanoia/change of heart).
3 important elements:
1. Personal Response: an introspection on one's attitudes, lifestyle, status, etc., and changing one's values and priorities.
2. Political Response: becoming an agent of social transformation.
- seeing the world in a new way.
1. Realization of one's sinfulness
2. A new and deeper understanding
3. A radical response
1. A more holistic and deeper understanding of the problem of poverty and social injustice
2. The recognition of the reality and evil effects of social sin which cause much of the pain in the world.
realization of one's sinfulness
EXPERIENCE
- 1st step or moment in the cycle of Christian praxis.
- This step is the foundation of all Christian praxis and it calls into consciousness the lived experience of individuals and communities.
Christians of today should realize their own sinfulness and unworthiness before the Lord. Christians have to realize that sinfulness is the root cause of our social problems.
Questions asked:
"Whose experience is being
considered?"
"What is experience all about?"
"What do people feel?"
"How do they respond?"
PLANNING/ACTION
SOCIAL ANALYSIS
- the actual living out of one's mission to God and to the society.
- after analyzing the experience and reflecting upon it in the light of faith, the individual/community makes a plan of action.
- goal of the social teaching of the Church--- to lead us, Christians, to a life of involvement for justice, love, unity, peace and integrity of creation.
- is to analyze and examine the causes, probe consequences, delineate linkages and identify factors.
Questions asked:
"What resources do we have to help us with our plan of action?"
"What is the first step we should take?"
PRAYER
Question:
"What's behind all this?"
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION
4 stePS IN THE CYCLE OF CHRISTIAN PRAXIS
- the analyzed experience is seen in the light of the living faith, scripture, Church social teaching and tradition.
- It is not simply a reflection on what one must do; but rather, the element of Christian faith is added.
Questions asked:
"What does my faith tell me?"
"As a Christian, what must I do?"
"What does the bible say about the problem?"
- social action, pastoral action or action for justice
- it is a spiral movement, a cycle that repeats the whole process, yet, at the same time, develops from the previous one and moves forward