Key Terms: final cause, efficient cause, formal cause, common good, flourishing, ecosystem, sanctification, stimulus, Transfiguration, Parousia

Learning Targets:

Explain the concept of “final cause” and its theological significance. Learners will be able to define “final cause” as described by Aquinas, distinguish it from efficient and formal causes, and illustrate how this concept applies both to human creations (like a custom-built table) and to natural processes directed by God’s providence.
Analyze the relationship between change, flourishing (telos), and God’s presence in creation. Learners will examine how living things pursue their telos (purpose or flourishing) within ecosystems, discuss how both good and bad changes contribute to communal well-being or fragmentation, and reflect on the idea that God is present and active in all change—even when goodness is hidden or inscrutable.
Evaluate the spiritual and existential implications of change, suffering, and redemption. Learners will assess how biblical narratives (such as Joseph’s story) and personal experiences illustrate the transformation of suffering and evil into good, explore the role of prayerful contemplation in encountering God in everyday life, and discuss the concepts of theosis/sanctification as ongoing spiritual growth toward one’s ultimate purpose in God.