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.