Why God Gave Us Bodies #theologyofthebody

Summary

Father Mike Schmitz introduces the Theology of the Body (TOB), a series of teachings by St. John Paul II exploring the divine purpose of human existence and relationships. He emphasizes that God created the world and humanity out of love, in His image, as a body-soul composite. The TOB posits that our actions, especially with our bodies, reflect our spiritual nature and can communicate truth or lies about our identity as beings made for love. Jesus, through His sacrifice and the gift of the Holy Spirit, offers redemption and the possibility to restore our relationships with God, others, and ourselves, enabling us to live in accordance with our true nature as children of God.

Takeaways

• 📖 The Theology of the Body (TOB) is a term for the teachings of St. John Paul II, given between 1979 and 1985, focusing on human relationships with God, others, and oneself.
• 🌟 God created the world and humanity with purpose and out of love, implying the inherent meaning of life and the non-accidental existence of the universe.
• 🖼️ Humanity is made in the image and likeness of God, originally intended to have unity with God, others, and themselves, reflecting God's nature as love.
• 💖 The body-soul composite concept emphasizes that a human being is both body and soul, contrary to modern views that separate the two.
• 🤝 What one does with their body is significant because the body can express the invisible aspects of the self, such as the soul and spirit.
• ❤️ God's innermost secret is revealed by Jesus to be an eternal exchange of love, indicating that humans, being made in God's image, are made for love.
• 🔍 Our actions, particularly with our bodies, can either express truth or falsehood, highlighting the importance of genuine love and avoidance of using others.
• ✝️ Jesus came to restore the brokenness caused by the fall, aiming to heal relationships with God, others, and oneself through his sacrifice and the Holy Spirit.
• 🕊️ The Holy Spirit provides the means to live as Jesus did, enabling believers to move forward in their spiritual journey with God's grace.
• 🔄 The Theology of the Body can be applied to various aspects of life, including relationships, prayer, work, and how one views and interacts with others.
• 🙏 Embracing the Theology of the Body means living each day as redeemed human beings, walking in the grace of God and striving for unity with God and others.

Q & A

What is the Theology of the Body?

The Theology of the Body is a term given to the teachings of St. John Paul II, which focus on the understanding of the human person in relation to God, others, and oneself, based on 135 Wednesday audiences he gave between 1979 and 1985.

Why did St. John Paul II develop the Theology of the Body?

St. John Paul II developed the Theology of the Body to address the brokenness in the world and the lack of understanding of the human person's true nature and purpose, offering an adequate anthropology and theology.

What does it mean that God created the world and humanity on purpose and out of love?

It means that the existence of the world and each person is intentional and meaningful, not an accident, and that God's creation was an act of sharing His love rather than a need for worship or affirmation.

How does the Theology of the Body view the concept of humans being made in the image and likeness of God?

According to the Theology of the Body, being made in the image and likeness of God implies that humans were originally created with a unity of relationship with God, others, and themselves, reflecting God's nature as love.

What is the 'body-soul composite' and why is it significant in the Theology of the Body?

The 'body-soul composite' refers to the Christian view that a human being is both body and soul together, rejecting the idea that one is merely a physical entity or just a spiritual being, emphasizing the integral nature of human existence.

Why does what we do with our bodies matter according to the Theology of the Body?

What we do with our bodies matters because the body has the unique ability to express the invisible aspects of our being, such as the soul and spirit, and thus our bodily actions can communicate truth or lies about our inner selves.

How does Jesus reveal the innermost secret of God in the Theology of the Body?

Jesus reveals that the innermost secret of God is an eternal exchange of love, being a communion of persons, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, indicating that at the core of God's nature is love.

What is the significance of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross in the context of the Theology of the Body?

Jesus' sacrifice on the cross is significant as it demonstrates the truth of self-giving love, showing through His body the ultimate act of self-gift, and offering a model for how humans are called to love.

How does the Holy Spirit play a role in the Theology of the Body?

The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role by enabling believers to live out the self-giving love modeled by Jesus, restoring and healing relationships with God, others, and oneself, and untwisting what has been distorted by sin.

How can the Theology of the Body be applied to daily life?

The Theology of the Body can be applied to various aspects of daily life, including relationships, prayer, work, exercise, communication, and suffering, by understanding the inherent meaning and purpose of our bodily actions and existence.

What is the final goal of the Theology of the Body in terms of human development and spiritual growth?

The final goal of the Theology of the Body is to help individuals walk daily in the grace of God, redeemed and living as human beings made for love, with restored relationships and a deeper understanding of their true identity in Christ.

Outlines

00:00

😀 Introduction to Theology of the Body

Father Mike Schmitz introduces the topic of Theology of the Body (TOB), expressing his enthusiasm and the challenge of conveying its complexity in a video. He outlines the intention to distill the essence of St. John Paul II's teachings from 1979 to 1985, which focus on understanding human relationships with God, others, and oneself. The summary highlights the need for an adequate anthropology and theology to grasp the brokenness of the world and the desire to restore the original unity lost due to sin.

05:02

🌟 Core Principles of Theology of the Body

This paragraph delves into the main principles of the Theology of the Body. It emphasizes that God created the world and humanity intentionally and out of love, indicating an inherent meaning in existence. It discusses the concept of humans being made in God's image and likeness, originally in unity with God, others, and themselves. The paragraph also addresses the body-soul composite nature of human beings, refuting materialistic and dualistic views, and asserts that our actions, especially with our bodies, are significant. It concludes with the revelation that God is an eternal exchange of love, and as such, humans are made for love, with our bodies serving as a language to express this love truthfully or falsely.

Keywords

💡Theology of the Body

The Theology of the Body is a term that refers to the teachings of St. John Paul II, which were delivered in a series of Wednesday audiences from 1979 to 1985. These teachings explore the relationship between God, humanity, and the human body, emphasizing the inherent meaning and purpose in creation. In the video, Father Mike Schmitz discusses the Theology of the Body as a complex and beautiful concept that provides an understanding of human beings as body-soul composites, made in the image and likeness of God, and the significance of the body in expressing the spiritual and divine.

💡Adequate Anthropology

Adequate Anthropology, as mentioned in the script, is the idea of having a complete and accurate understanding of what it means to be human. This concept is central to the Theology of the Body, as it suggests that to understand our relationship with God and others, we must first understand our own nature. In the video, Father Mike emphasizes the need for an adequate anthropology to grasp the brokenness of the world and our need for a deeper understanding of our human identity.

💡Body-Soul Composite

The term 'Body-Soul Composite' is used to describe the Christian view of human beings as an inseparable unity of body and soul. This concept rejects the idea that humans are merely physical beings or purely spiritual entities. In the script, Father Mike explains that the body is not separate from the soul, but rather, they are one entity, and what we do with our bodies has spiritual implications.

💡Inherent Meaning

Inherent Meaning refers to the intrinsic purpose and significance that every individual and the world itself possesses, according to the Theology of the Body. It suggests that nothing in creation is accidental or without purpose. In the video, Father Mike discusses how God created the world and humans 'on purpose and out of love,' implying that every person's life has a fundamental meaning.

💡Unity

Unity in the context of the Theology of the Body refers to the original harmonious relationship that humans were intended to have with God, others, and themselves. This concept is tied to the idea that humans were created in God's image and likeness, which includes the capacity for love and relationship. The script mentions the brokenness of this unity due to the fall and how Jesus came to restore it.

💡Love

Love is presented as the innermost secret of God in the Theology of the Body, describing God as an eternal exchange of love among the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is also the deepest identity of human beings, as we are made in God's image and likeness. In the video, Father Mike explains that our actions, especially with our bodies, should reflect this identity of love, either truthfully or falsely.

💡Self-Gift

Self-Gift is a concept that describes the act of offering oneself to another out of love, without possessiveness. It is exemplified by Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, where he offered his body for humanity. In the script, Father Mike discusses self-gift as a way of expressing love through our bodies, in line with the Theology of the Body.

💡Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is mentioned in the context of the Theology of the Body as the divine power that enables believers to live in accordance with Jesus' teachings and example. It is the 'fuel' that helps us to move forward in our spiritual journey and to restore the broken relationships with God, others, and ourselves. In the video, Father Mike explains the Holy Spirit's role in untwisting what has been twisted by sin.

💡Restoration

Restoration in the Theology of the Body refers to the process of healing and reestablishing the original unity and relationship that was disrupted by the fall. Jesus Christ is presented as the one who came to restore this brokenness, both through his sacrificial death on the cross and through the gift of the Holy Spirit. In the script, Father Mike discusses how Jesus and the Holy Spirit work together to restore our relationship with God, others, and ourselves.

💡Grace

Grace is the unmerited divine assistance given by God through Jesus Christ, which enables humans to respond to God's call to share in eternal life. In the Theology of the Body, grace is essential for walking in the path of love and restoring the broken relationships. The script mentions that we cannot be perfectly healed in this life, but through God's grace, we can begin and continue to walk every day with the Theology of the Body.

Highlights

Father Mike Schmitz introduces his attempt to explain the Theology of the Body (TOB).

The Theology of the Body is a term for teachings by St. John Paul the Great from 1979 to 1985.

John Paul II's teachings focus on the relationship with God, others, and the unity lost and sought to be restored by Jesus.

The need for an adequate anthropology and understanding of the human being's essence.

God created the world and humanity on purpose and out of love, implying inherent meaning.

God created humanity in His image and likeness, originally with unity in relationships.

The concept of body-soul composite challenges materialistic and dualistic views of human beings.

The significance of the body in expressing the invisible aspects of the soul and spirit.

Jesus reveals God as an eternal exchange of love, indicating humanity's purpose to love.

The body has a language that can convey truth or lies in our interactions with others.

Jesus' mission to restore the brokenness in relationships through His sacrifice and the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit enables us to live as Jesus did, overcoming our limitations without divine grace.

Christopher West's perspective on untwisting what sin has twisted in human relationships.

The Theology of the Body's application in various aspects of life, including relationships, prayer, work, and suffering.

The transformative power of understanding and living by the Theology of the Body in daily life.

The importance of recognizing the body's role in expressing love and unity with God and others.

The call to walk daily with the Theology of the Body, embracing God's grace for redemption.

Transcripts

Okay!

This is —

Okay, I'm super-pumped and what's the word?

Caffeinated? I'm not sure. Excited?

I've been trying to make this video about the Theology of the Body

and I've done it a thousand times now.

A thousand is an exaggeration

but as I said,

I'm amplified right now.

I'm gonna try it one more time.

Hopefully, it's a swing and a hit.

Maybe a base hit.

Maybe ... second?

Maybe third? Maybe ...

Maybe I'll make it all the way around the bases. Who knows?

I'm trying. Here we go.

Hi, my name's Father Mike Schmitz and this is Ascension Presents.

So people have asked often times like, "Could you just explain what the Theology of the Body is?

Like do a video on that."

And I said, "I can try."

Listen. It is beautiful, complex, and massive.

And so, I'm gonna have to like distill it

to here are the elements of the Theology of the Body

that I think can capture but not express fully what the what they call TOB: Theology of the Body is.

Okay, so here are some of the main principles of Theology of Body.

Actually, the first thing we have to do is probably understand you say these terms, you say these words,

like "Theology of the Body," what are you talking about?

The Theology of the Body is a term given to these teachings of St. John Paul the Great

that date back from, I think, 1979 to 1985, for about five years in there, right,

he was giving these Wednesday audiences, which popes are known to do,

for those five years, he gave about a hundred and thirty-five of these Wednesday audiences

that have been collected and assembled and put together.

Now they represent John Paul II's thought regarding relationship with God, relationship with others,

and the relationship, that unity we originally had, but we've lost and that Lord Jesus wants to restore,

Basically, John Paul II was looking at this world around us and saying,

Ah, there's so much brokenness, there's so much hunger for the Lord

and he's already come and he's given us himself

but we don't even understand our selves.

So we need to have what they call an adequate anthropology, right?

We don't even understand what I am as a human being

so we need to have an adequate understanding of what a human being is.

An adequate anthropology.

And also an adequate theology: understanding of who God is.

And an adequate soteriology: understanding of how God saves us, but that's beside the point.

Anyways, so what are the main points of the Theology of the Body

...according to Father Mike?

One is that God made this world and you on purpose and out of love.

Two things that means at least:

One is that he made this world on purpose. That means it's not an accident.

This world has meaning and you are not an accident, your life has inherent meaning.

Number two, out of love, right?

So it wasn't like God was existing before everything and going like,

"I'm lonely. I need someone to worship me" or "Oh, I need some affirmation. I'll create the world."

No, no, no.

God is completely content and full in his goodness and his joy and his love.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — this communion of persons

and he willed to share that joy, willed to create creatures with whom he could share that love.

And so, God made this world and you on purpose and out of love.

Number two, God made humanity in his image and likeness.

And originally with this unity in a right relationship with him, with others, and with ourselves.

Number three, God made human beings in what they call a body-soul composite.

What I mean by that is you are your soul and you are your body together.

That's what a human being is. Body-soul composite.

Now that goes directly against some modern strains of thoughts

or just recent, our culture says either you're an atheist materialist;

you're just a collection of atoms, just a collection of cells.

That's all you are, no more than that.

You just simply are a part of the universe, nothing supernatural about it.

You're just stuff.

Another worldview, would say that actually, that stuff, that's not really you.

The real you is your mind, is your psyche, is your soul.

The real you has nothing to do with the body.

The real you is the mind, is your spirit.

Both of those are partly true.

The Christian view is no, you are your spirit — your soul, and you are your body together.

That's what a human being is.

So another way to say it is, point three, you are your body.

Number one, God made you and this universe, this whole world, on purpose and out of love.

Number two, God made humanity in his image and likeness

and originally with this unity with him, with others, and with ourselves.

Number three, is that you are your body.

Now, if you are made on purpose and this world has meaning

and if you made in God's image and likeness

and if you are your body,

then point four is, what you do with your body matters.

John Paul II, he said this.

He said, "The body and it alone has the ability to make visible the invisible, the spiritual and the divine," right?

So the body, it alone, can express what's invisible.

What's invisible? Your soul.

What's invisible? Your spirit.

What's invisible? Your psyche.

The body can express that and so what I do in my body matters.

Because point five — this is amazing, this blows my mind.

Jesus reveals the innermost secret of God.

The innermost secret is that God is an eternal exchange of love:

Father, Son, Holy Spirit, right? He's a communion of persons.

At the very core, the very heart of who God is, his innermost secret is that he is love.

Go back to point two: who is made in God's image and likeness? You are.

What does that mean about you if God's deepest innermost secret is he's love

and you're made in God's image means you're made for love.

On purpose, in his image and likeness, in your body, what you do with your body matters, God is love,

therefore, your deepest identity would be to love

and what are we called to do?

We can only love truly or falsely.

Basically our body has a language.

In that language, we'll either tell truth with or we'll tell lies with.

In how we interact with other people, we'll either love them truly, honestly, genuinely

or we'll be tempted to use them and actually act on that temptation to use them.

You know whenever I'm using another person,

whenever anyone's using another person, it could be in a thousand different ways, right?

It's almost always a lie.

So it's always a lie. I'm telling a lie with my body,

whether that's with my mouth part of my body, my eyes part of my body

my body part of my body

but it's always connected to telling a lie with my body.

So again, let's recap.

Universe, you — on purpose and out of love.

Image and likeness, originally having this unity with God, with others, and with ourselves.

Number three, you are your body.

Number four, what you do with your body matters, if you are your body.

Number five, God is love,

therefore you also, your deepest identity is you're made for love.

Point six is that Jesus came to restore the brokenness that happened with the fall,

that brokenness we all experience which is we experience a brokenness in our relationship with God

even though we're made for that originally, it was lost, it was broken

with God, with others, and even in ourselves.

Jesus Christ came to restore that and he did it in many, many ways

but in least two ways: one, he showed us that, okay, in and through his body, what did he do on the cross?

His body is telling the truth, "This is my body for you."

I'm offering this up to the Father. I'm doing this for you, this self gift.

Self gift, not possessiveness but this desire to be a self gift.

And secondly, by giving us his Holy Spirit,

he made it possible that we could actually live in the way that he lived.

On our own, we can't, right?

On her own, without grace, it's just like white-knuckling this whole thing.

I mean like, "I don't know if I can hang on any longer!"

But Jesus Christ not only was the model,

he made it possible to open the doors to heaven

but he also gave us his Holy Spirit that is giving us the the fuel to move forward.

And to what Christopher West says, he talks about Theology of the Body all the time is so good.

He's so good at it.

"To untwist what's been twisted by sin."

So Jesus and the Holy Spirit, what do they do?

They restore that relationship with God.

They can heal that relationship with other people

and they can even restore, to a certain degree in this life, this inner integrity that we're made to have.

And when we walk with Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit,

our relationship with the Father is reestablished,

our relation with others is healed,

and the relationship with ourself is brought into order.

This is some of the great news about the Theology of the Body.

And then you translate that and apply it to relationships

and you translate it and apply it to your prayer life

and you translate it and apply it to how you just get up and go to work every day

or how you exercise or how you drive — anywhere

or how you look at other people, how you talk to other people,

how you suffer in your body.

If you are your body and what you do with your body matters,

then you suffer like Jesus suffered, then, wow, that has power to it now.

See, the Theology of the Body can be applied in so many different ways

but I think we have to again understand some of those first tenants, first principles.

What are they again?

One, God made this universe and you on purpose and out of love.

Number two, you are made in God's image and likeness, which we learned is love

and so that means you're made for love, originally with that unity with him, others, and ourselves.

Number three, you are your body.

Number four, if you are your body, what you do the body matters.

Number five, Jesus reveals that God is love.

Number six, Jesus restores,

makes it possible for us to have that relationship with him, with others, and that inner unity once again,

as long as we walk with him.

We can't be perfectly healed in this life,

but, in this life, there is so much gift of God's grace

that we can begin walking and continue to walk every single day with the Theology of the Body,

which means to walk every single day, as human beings, redeemed by God's grace.

From all of us here at Ascension Presents, my name's Father Mike.

God bless.