Be Filled

This episode we discuss Audience 49 of John Paul II’s Theology of the Body entitled “The Ethos of the Redemption of the Body”.  JPII explains how what Christ is proposing to us is a “new” way of living. We discuss how Christ’s words are always through the lens of the Redemption and true power to free us from sin and change our hearts. We end the episode talking about this season as a whole and how God has been working in our lives. 

Quotes: 

“...the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning with labor pains together until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” (Romans 8:21-23) 

“…we can never forget that in the teaching of Christ the fundamental reference to the question of marriage and the problem of the relations between man and woman appeals to the beginning. Such an appeal can only be justified by the reality of the redemption.”  (TOB 49:3) 

“As St. Paul says, a man engrossed in sin does not know what sin is without the law. Such a man will avoid lust only begrudgingly at first, out of obedience to the law. If he perseveres, however, lust itself becomes more and more distasteful to him. His subjective desires come more and more in tune with the true, the good, and the beautiful. In this way, the negative and prohibitive ethic of Christ’s words in the Sermon on the Mount become a positive and liberating ethos.” (Christopher West, The Theology of the Body Explained, p. 251) 

“Purity is a requirement of love. It is the dimension of the inner truth of love in man’s “heart”.” (TOB 49:7) 

“In this behavior, the human heart remains bound to the value, from which it would otherwise distance itself through its desire…“The value in question is that of the body’s spousal meaning, the value of a transparent sign by which the Creator…has written into the heart of both the gift of communion, that is, the mysterious reality of his image and likeness.” (TOB 49:5) 

When tempted to devalue someone:  “I affirm that this is a person made in the image and likeness of God. He or she is loved into existence by Him and deserves to be loved and not used. Lord, thank you for this person you have made. Please open my eyes to the gift this person is and how I can be a gift to him/her.” 

Reflection Questions: 

1. What stuck out to you most from this episode? What do you think the Lord is saying to you?
2. Spend some time meditating on Romans 8:21-23. Here is a guide for Lectio Divina.
3. Reflect on your current spiritual condition. Are you growing in your faith and hope? What are some barriers to your growth right now?
4. What are some “labor pains” you are experiencing right now? Are you able to sit in them in the hopes that God is working for your good? Are there ways in which you are avoiding the pain? As Katie said, “Throw yourself on the floor.” What fruit might God be trying to bear through them?
5. How could Our Blessed Mother walk with you through difficulty? Consider consecrating yourself to Jesus through Mary. Here is the resource Patty mentioned in the show.
6. What are your thoughts regarding temperance and self-mastery? Have you seen the Christian life as just “white-knuckling” or a real transformation of your desires? Thank you so much for listening or watching the show! Be sure to connect with us through our e-mail: befilledpodcast@gmail.com or through our YouTube, Instagram, or Facebook pages. 

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