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Theology of the Body and Ephesians 5
Dr. Janet Smith
God’s Relationship to Man
- Creator / Creature
- Father / Child
- King / Subjects
- Shepherd / Sheep
- Vine / Branches
Dominant Images
- God faithful husband to Israel
- Jesus: Bridegroom to Church
Marriage as Dominant Image in Scripture
- Genesis: 2 become 1
- Wedding at Cana
- Wedding Feast of the Lamb in Revelation
- Prophets: God’s relationship with his people
- Ephesians 5: Right way for us to understand the relationship of God and man
The spousal image in Scripture appears throughout the whole Bible, but particularly in Ephesians 5 (eg. Ephesians 5:21-33)
The Theology of the Body is meant to reveal to us our ultimate relationship – our spousal relationship with God. Celibacy: is also a Spousal relationship.
Married Life: Sacramental sign of God in this world. Like Christ and the church
- Marriage in this world is a sign of the supernatural reality of unity with God.
In Heaven everyone is a virgin. Virgin: everyone totally focused on the Lord
Key to Theology of the Body: St John of the Cross!
Reason Christ was not married: Because he belongs to everyone! Not just one particular person.
Jeremiah 31: 6 – I will rebuild you, O Virgin Israel – SECOND VIRGINITY. God restoring the virginity of very unfaithful Israel.
Spousal Mystery: New Testament
- Christ as Bridegroom to his Church
- Gave of himself on the Cross
- Continues to give of himself in the Eucharist
- Wants union with his people
- Forgives and sanctifies his people
- Gives eternal life
What does it mean to make a complete gift of yourself? It doesn’t mean to be a doormat or to yield to everything.
JPII used the example of wedding vows as giving yourself to another.
– Every time you engage in a sexual act with your spouse you are recommitting your marriage vows.
Complete self-giving:
- Daily tasks: cleaning, etc etc
- Always thinking of each other.
- Seeking holiness together
Eucharist:
- breaking the bread is an act of communion , an act of uniting through sharing
- Covenant
- The Eucharist is a complete self-giving act of love from Christ to us.
- Jesus bridges that infinite gap between God and man by dwelling among us.
The Padilla 7 