Part 1: The readings this week speak to a call within each of us to seek meaning

Part 1:
The readings this week speak to a call within each of us to seek meaning and truth. What are some of the challenges we see in the world in respect to knowing what is true? What can impede us from living lives that align with what we believe to be true? How would our readings address these challenges to knowing and living what we know to be true? The module shared a song about belief and challenges. Do you have a song, book, etc. that helps you remain faithful to your beliefs?
The module readings spoke of idols and things we put in the place of our authentic call to seek and live the truth. Most people don’t worship a golden calf literally, but what would you say are some of the “idols” in our current culture? How might we struggle against idolatry in our current age? What insights do the module readings offer in terms of idols and how we can avoid this temptation?
The readings this week speak of the dialogue and reasonability of faith and the relationship between reason and faith. What are some examples of things we believe without questioning, even though there might not be physical evidence? How do our readings define faith and the relationship between faith and reason? What challenges are there in our current culture to faith and how might our readings address these challenges?
Readings:
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20130629_enciclica-lumen-fidei.html
https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_14091998_fides-et-ratio.html
https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM
https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_ben-xvi_exh_20100930_verbum-domini.html
Part2:
Task: Reply to this topic
What elements have been a light unto my path regarding how I can be the best person I can be and why? What relationships have been the most revelatory in terms of exemplifying real/authentic love in my life? In what ways can I model the ideas in the Light of Faith, God is Love, and Light of Nations in a concrete manner in my own life?
In our readings, we looked at different types of love. How would the readings respond to the brokenness we see around us in the world? How do the types of love, our own existence as body and soul, and the ideas related to the visibility of the Kingdom of God deal with division, pain, and redemption in the world today?
Our readings provided several images of the visible Body of Christ or Church (sheepfold, field, building, marriage, body). Which image would you say best embodies the visible Church today? Pick one of the images and look for some of the biblical references related to it. What are some of the scriiptures references related to the church / Body of Christ? How do they respond to our brokenness as a human family and our call to be holy and united?
The sacraments relate to our own embodied nature (we are both spirit and physical body). What examples can you think of that relate to us making our metaphysical thoughts, feelings, emotions present to others in a physical way? How do these examples communicate something metaphysical such as love and forgiveness in a concrete manner? How does the idea of sacrament connect to our nature as persons in the readings and lectures?
Reading:

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20130629_enciclica-lumen-fidei.html
https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20051225_deus-caritas-est.html
https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19641121_lumen-gentium_en.html
https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/special_features/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_20030417_ecclesia_eucharistia_en.html
https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM