MAN: THE IMAGE OF GOD
"God created man to His own image; to the image of God He created him. Male and female He created man" (Book of Genesis.1:27)
Among all visible creatures, man only was created in the image of God. Man occupies a unique place in the creation. In his own nature, man unites the spiritual and material worlds. Man only is able to know and love his Creator. He alone is called to share in God's own life. He is called by grace to a covenant with his Creator, to offer Him a response of faith and love.The dignity of the human person is rooted in his creation in the image and likeness of God.
The human person is a being at once corporal and spiritual.Spirit and matter in man, are not two natures, but rather their union forms a single nature; it is because of his spiritual soul that the body, made of matter, becomes a living, human body.
Created in the image of God, man can find his fulfilment only in the vision and beatitude of God.Created in the image of God, man can find his happiness only in his encounter with God.
Man's thirst for truth, love, justice, life is quenched only by God, who is truth-love-justice-life.
"If anyone thirst, let him come to me and drink ... from within him there shall flow rivers of living water" (John 7:37)
"He who drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water I will give him shall become him a fountain of water, springing up unto life everlasting" (John 4:13-14)
"Not by bread alone does man live, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God"
Jesus knows man's innermost craving. He teaches us how and where man can quench his thirst.
Fr. Cipriano Bontacchio