During creation, GOD created man in HIS own image which shows that human beings are different from other. The Bible has stated that our bodies are the temples of CHRIST, and we should always use them in acts that glorify our creator. The Theology of the Body tries to explain and expound on human sexuality, the purpose of our existence as young people can be explained through understanding the theology of the body. It is through an understanding of this theology that young people will be able to understand what love is the theology gives the importance of having respect and taking care of our bodies. Our bodies were created by GOD so that we can have a communion with HIM and other people. Through understanding the theology of the body, young people will grow to adults who will have a deeper relationship with GOD. There are many young people who never understand how their bodies can be used to serve GOD, others have do not know their purpose in life and live a confused life. People can transform their understanding of their bodies, mind and soul by understanding what the theology of the body entails. Many people have also failed to know their vocation and life, understanding the theology of the body will give you an understanding of your vocation as well as how to life to that vocation. This theology is particularly applicable in solving many of the problems that the society that we are living in faces. As much as we have different vocation, human beings have one common vocation which it to become a gift to the world and share the love with the world.
The church identifies different vocations which include marriage, priesthood and religious life. These are just specific vocations, but there are other primary vocations. One of the major principles in the theology of the body is love. We as young people we cannot live without love. A society can never grow if its people cannot find love within themselves. One can only show and share love with others if he/she wishes them the best. Love is priceless and has to be shared just as GOD shares HIS love with the world. The theology of the body is drawing the line between love and lust. As young people, we are sometimes driven by our own selfish desires. Lust is a desire that treats other people like sexual objects; it is satisfaction of personal and bodily desires. Love is what builds the society and develops into marriage. Many people have the desire of one day having a family with the person they love. The theology of the body emphasis on chastity, the body is not a sexual object and should be kept pure until marriage. Unless chastity develops and grows in us, we can never know the true meaning of love; it is the only way to replace lust with love. As John Paul II said when defining chastity, it is only a chaste woman and the man who is can be able share true love, love has to come with responsibility. Young people should abide by the principle of love and ensure that there is true love and not lust as they grow into responsible adulthood. The purity of oneself can be guaranteed if we as human beings can be able to live a pure life as Christ commanded us. The original nakedness of human beings when they were in the Garden of Eden is a true revelation of human purity. They had the spiritual and bodily communion that should also be revealed among the young people. It is only shame that can make us not to be proud of what we have as human beings. They were naked in the garden, but they were never ashamed about it since they never viewed each other as an object. They considered themselves as gifts to each other. That is how we are supposed to view ourselves as young people. We can be gifts of the world if we do not find shame in what we do. The nakedness symbolizes GOD’s vision to the world. HE had nothing to hide from the world, HE created us in HIS likeness s, and we are the true values of Christ. This should be a teaching and driving force to our vocations since it is the only way we can serve the world generously. Lust can lead us to commit adultery which is a sin that the Bible addresses and warns human beings about this sin. It does not only involve the act of engaging in sex but also looking at another woman lustfully. Morals can only be developed from within our hearts. A moral person will be able to control his/her desires and will not fall into temptations.
Man was never created to live in solitude. There is a way that we should relate with each other. We were created to live in communion with one another that is why GOD created a woman after realizing that man was very lonely. However, there is the need to consider our individual differences brought about by self-determination and self-knowledge. This is what creates original solitude within us. Each of us has a different calling and vocation. The ability to grow into that vocation is determined by human ability to achieve the self-ambition. Original solitude is overcome by the concept of original unity which bides us in the communism of persons. We are able to understand our vocation better by living with others; the theology of the body offers an insight on the human communism. We can only realize our true destiny in life if we associate with other people.
Truth and wisdom are other key aspect that is covered in the theology of the body. We are creating to have the freedom to desire and wish for any good things not only for us but also for other people. After being placed in the Garden of Eden, man was given the freedom to do all he wished. He was free from sin and temptations that face the world. We are living in a world which is full of sins and temptations. The only way to overcome these challenges is through living according to our calling. Our vocation can fail to be a reality if we fall into temptations and prone to sin.
In creating the human communism marriage is considered to be a bond between a man and woman. The world is changing and taking different trends where same sex marriage is taking place. This is not the kind of marriage that is being addressed in the theology of the body; it is marriage between people of the opposite sex. The purpose of marriage was to symbolize the strength and bond that human love can extend to. However those who feel that they have a vocation in priesthood and religious life and have no calling in marriage have no need to worry. The theology of the body allows people to share a spiritual union with Christ. After resurrection, human beings will another form of union. The theology also addresses the marriage sacrament. When marriage is done at the right age and as a result of love, their families are able to stay in unity. Marriage is also a vocation that is brought about by the principle of love. Its sole purpose was for procreation for people in the world who are in marriage. Celibacy and spiritual life are other vocations in human calling. A calling into the spiritual life is a calling from GOD. Celibacy creates a bond between human beings and GOD.
The theology of the body also addresses the lies of the body. Some of these lies include adultery, pre-marital sex, pornography and use of contraceptives. As young youth premarital sex is an issue that has been on the rise. It is the misuse of the purpose of sex and against the doctrine of the theology of the body. Young people should learn to respect their bodies until the right time which is after marriage. As young teenagers, you can learn to be faithful even in the future vocation such as marriage, through observing self-control and purity faithfulness can be made a virtue. Pornography is a selfish use of the human body; people use it as a body to fulfill their inner selfish desires rather than using it as a gift to the world. Many people claim that contraceptives are used as family control method but do not give full love. As young people there are different dreams need to be achieved, however these dreams have to be according to GOD’S calling. The calling is a vocation, and there is a common vocation which is loving other people and living a holy life.
Work Cited
Jordon, Sherry. "Embodied Pedagogy: The Body And Teaching Theology." Teaching Theology and Religion 4, no. 2 (2001): 98-101.
Mersch, Emile. The theology of the mystical body;. St. Louis: Herder, 2001.
Percy, Anthony. Theology of the body made simple. Boston, MA: Pauline Books & Media, 2006.
West, C , Theology of the body for beginners. . . 2004 Ascension Press. p-25 – 82
Anderson ,Granados, C , Called to love approaching John Paul IIs theology of the body . 2009 Doubleday.
