On Being Human

In order to define what it means to be human, one first needs to understand humanity. To be able to understand humanity, one needs to examine their actions over the course of history. To be able to examine their actions over the course of history, one needs to acquire a text that dates back as far as possible. One of the best sources man has to assess human behavior is the Bible. The Biblical accounts are a valuable source to study human behavior since they portray a vast array of personalities both male and female, spanning a period of nearly two thousand years. It well represents what men and women are like both collectively and individually. In looking at some familiar Biblical accounts such as the fall of humanity, Joseph and his twelve brothers and the life of Christ, one can determine patterns of behavior which clearly illustrate the predominant characteristics of what it means to be human. For our argument, humanity will be separated into three categories, the bad, the good and the repentant good. From these three groups, the definition of what it means to be human will unfold itself as we explore the characteristics which make up a large portion of humanity.
Before delving into this analysis, it is necessary to understand that one of the most important aspects of being human is that one must be tempted. In the book of Genesis, Adam and Eve were tempted to see if they would be faithful to God’s command. From their choosing to disobey God, original sin was born and mankind’s wills were weakened. However, the point to remember here, is that God tests His children to see if they will be faithful to Him. Throughout all of human history, men and women have been tested by God for the self-same reason. From the choices they make during these moments of temptation they become who they are as individuals, and who people are as individuals, defines what humanity is as a whole. Given this understanding, we can now begin our analysis of humanity by looking at those people who succumbed to temptation (the bad), followed by those who did not (the good) and end with those who fell but later repented (the repentant good).
Many in the world consist of those who fall into temptation and sin; yet, this is not new to humanity. As previously mentioned, the first man and woman belonged to it. Adam and Eve knew not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, yet they did. Eve was the first to eat; however, what must be asked is what actions and what characteristics preceded the bite? The Bible tells us that she had a conversation with the serpent. But why would she talk with a serpent? Because she was idle. From idleness came the serpent, from the serpent came curiosity, from her curiosity came envy from envy came sin. Eve fell into the state of being envious, of wanting what did not belong to her to the point of putting herself before God to acquire it. Yet, Eve was not the only one culpable of sin; Adam too participated in the act. What was Adam’s blunder? First, he wasn’t there to protect Eve. He wasn’t there to guard her against this evil serpent which was his duty as Eve’s husband. This sin demonstrates man’s predominant tendency towards the sin of sloth. Between Eve’s temptation due to her idle, envious curiosity and Adam’s temptation towards slothful irresponsibility, both sinned and ate of the forbidden fruit. However, collectively they both sinned by the sin of pride. They put themselves before God by not obeying Him and by seeking to be potentially equal with Him. In evaluating Adam and Eve’s actions, it is clear that some in humanity can be slothful, envious, idle and proud.
Additional characters in the Bible fell into temptation. For example, in the Gospel of St. Mark, the Pharisees and Sadducees boasted of their great piety and righteousness, yet willingly condemned the Son of God to die. Being blinded by their own ego’s, they could not see Truth staring them dead in the face. They hated Christ because of His goodness, the attention He drew, and the truth He preached and, consequentially, had Him crucified. This idea of hatred and injustice done to innocent people because of people’s great jealousy towards them greatly reflects part of what it means to be human. Still today, there are people who want to see others treated unjustly and care less about their happiness. Instead, they seek their own happiness at the expense of another’s misery. From this observation, some in humanity can be called as malicious, jealous and hateful.
While there are many who fall into temptation, sin and thus make all of humanity look terrible, there are also many who struggle against it and practice virtue. Take, for example, the Old Testament figure, Joseph, and his great act of mercy. To forgive your enemy is a very difficult thing. To not carry a grudge towards your enemy, but to whole-heartedly forgive him for all the pain he caused you shows the potential people have in practicing great virtue. In Joseph, there is the image of a man unjustly sold into slavery by his eleven brothers. Yet, after Joseph gained power and had his brother’s groveling at his feet for help during the famine, he set aside his feelings of bitterness and forgave them for their evil deed. He took extraordinary pity on them and provided for their needs, forgiving them all they had done to him. This tender image of Joseph as the merciful brother and just lord characterizes those in the world who are virtuous and who fight the temptation to do wrong to those who rightly deserve punishment. Thus, Joseph touchingly represents those who show love and mercy towards their neighbor by practicing true charity in forgiving those who ask for pardon. Humanity, therefore, is capability of being loving, just and forgiving.
Likewise, humanity has a second category among the good. This consists of the repentant good. Saint Peter, one of Christ’s dear Apostles, belonged to this category. Saint Peter denied Christ three times when he swore he would follow Him to the death. This great act of betrayal, though a terrible sin, awakened in Peter a great sorrow, and from this sorrow, he repented with his whole heart. He begged God’s mercy and trusted in His forgiveness. He, though tempted to despair like the traitor Judas, hoped in God’s mercy and did not despair. To despair would itself have caused him to fall into greater sin which he did not do. He prayed, hoped, repented and was forgiven. Similarly, the infamous prostitute, Saint Mary Magdalene, asked for Christ’s mercy, sinner though she was. She knew she was wrong, but through her faith in Christ, she was healed from her wicked ways, became a pure woman and faithful follower of Christ. Many there are who through weakness fall into sin, but who continue to fight their evil inclinations through repeated efforts and struggle. Though sinners, they too are worthy of the name good since they strive to be better than they are. To be human, therefore also means to be weak, to be contrite, to struggle against our fallen nature and to trust in God’s love.
What now can be said from this analysis? What does it mean to be human? In a nutshell, to be human means to be tried. It means one will be tempted towards evil. It means one can fall and sin. It means one can resist and become virtuous. It means one can fall, but then ask for God’s forgiveness. Being human means we can practice great vice or it means we can practice great virtue. From the free will choices a person makes in their life, they can become truly great or truly terrible. In the end, being human means to be called unto higher things. It means we are to be like that which we were meant to be before the fall, likened unto God, perfect and holy. With God’s grace, fallen humanity, tempted and weak as it is, must strive to arrive at that eternal garden of paradise, so that with the saints and angels in Heaven, we might enjoy that which we are destined to enjoy, namely the Beatific vision of Almighty God.