Be Filled

Welcome to Season 4!! We are continuing our study of Saint Pope John Paul II’s teaching on the Theology of the Body. This episode we are taking a look at Audiences 50-52.3 where JPII analyzes St. Paul’s view of purity, how it corresponds to Christ's call to purity of heart, and what is meant by “life according to the Spirit”. 

Quotes: 

“But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a man. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”  (Matthew 15:18-20) 

“In this manner Christ directs an appeal to the human heart: he invites it, he does not accuse it…” (TOB 50.1) 

“I say to you, live by the Spirit and do not satisfy the desires of the flesh; for the flesh has desires contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit has desires contrary to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want.” (Galation 5:15-16) 

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit on things of the Spirit.” (Romans 8:5) 

“The desires of the flesh lead to death while the desires of the Spirit lead to life and peace. In fact, the desires of the flesh are in revolt against God because they do not submit to God’s law, nor are they able to. Those who live according to the flesh cannot please God. But you are not under the dominion of the flesh but of the Spirit from the moment that the Spirit of God dwells in you. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him. And if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of justification. The one who raised Jesus from the dead will give life also to your mortal bodies by his Spirit which dwells in you.” (Romans 8:6-11) 

“Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these….The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-mastery.” (Galatians 5:19-23) 

“The “fruit” grows in them as the gift of a life whose only Author is God; man can, at the most, provide for favorable circumstances that the fruit may grown and mature.” (Man and Woman He Created Them, pg. 334, Footnote 62)

Reflection Questions: 

1. What spoke to your heart most in this episode?
2. What has been your experience of the relationship between outward action and interior spiritual growth? What do you tend to focus on most? Ask the Lord to reveal any way in which you are too focused on exterior actions and not on the condition of your heart.
3. What are ways you might be avoiding what is in your heart? Are you “stuffing” things away? Pray with this and ask the Lord for grace to let Him see those places you want to hide.
4. What is your understanding of what it means to live “life according to the Spirit”? How do you stay open to the Holy Spirit? When desires come up, do you ask the Spirit for guidance?
5. Think back on your life. When have you been living your life “according to the flesh”? When have you lived your “life according to the Spirit”? How can you recognize this difference within yourself? 

Music from #Uppbeat

https://uppbeat.io/t/mark-july/chase-the-sun

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