
Biblical Beasts: Ostrich
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Similarly, man’s freedom depends on being a rational animal, but being rational is not sufficient for man to be completely free. Man’s use of his reason can be like the ostrich’s use of its wings. Sinful man can think as much as he likes and yet can be totally unaware of and unable to reach the heights to which sinless man reaches, which is nothing other than the beatific vision in heaven. The story of our redemption is how Jesus Christ not only shows us what we can do if by grace we were to be cleansed from sin, but he can actually give us the grace to live without sin. So rather than being like ostriches which can’t fly, our nature is transformed to be like the birds that have the freedom of the heavens.