1. Chapter 1 Created for Love
Theology of the Body
Chapter 1
Created for Love

2. Introduction
Our sexuality is a gift – choose to be generous or selfish
Society has flipped the “self-giving” on its head
Love stories have become lust stories
Love involves being generous
Lust is sexual desire that is selfish – apart from the love of God

3. Obsession Sexual attraction is good while lust is self seeking
Love seeks to give; lust seeks to get
Obsession
Is the Church obsessed with sex – all these rules
In reality society is obsessed with sex
Magazines
Shows on primetime TV
Whether it is explicit or implicit
Robs humans of dignity
Often come to think of sex as the world does and not as God does

4. Examples – p. 8 Imagine a world with no Divorce Sexual abuse Rape Stds
Depression
Eating disorders
Guilt
Addictions
Cutting
Cheating
Pregnancies outside of marriage

5. Bridging the gap Original Sin affects us all
Instead of wanting what is right, we often desire to do the wrong thing – Concupiscence
Affects every single one us as members of society which is damaged by the effects of sin
Causes despair in a society that believes in sexual liberation
TV and movies have moved from sexual suggestion to sexually explicit

6. We have become desensitized to it in the media- frog in the pot
Country plagued by warped understanding of marriage and the role of sex
Lust – disordered desire for inordinate enjoyment of sexual pleasure
Love that selfishly seeks pleasure at the expense of another
Dominates our culture
Can lead to lack of concern
Lack of motivation to change
Settle for less
But there is HOPE – God is with us

7. To the core
Pope John Paul II dedicated 129 of his Wednesday lectures to the human body and sexuality
Goal – explore the meaning of our bodies and sexual desire as it relates to the purpose of existence
What is love all about?
Theology of the Body

8. Love equals Communion Not meant to be alone
Genesis – “good”. “image and likeness”
Communion of persons – created when 2 or more persons give themselves to one another in love – mirrors the Trinity
God created us male and female so that we could image His love by a sincere gift to one another
Not meant to be alone
Adam knew something was missing
Fully discover our true self in true gift of self to another(s)

9. Celibate life or married life– total gift of self
Celibacy- choosing to forego marriage to devote self to Christ and the Church
“Life is not worth living unless it is lived for others” Mother Teresa
The body is capable of making visible what is invisible – sacramentality of the body – points to the meaning of life
their desires are GOOD signs of God’s existence – His love for us and our call to love one another

10. Digging Deeper- Who am I?
Your actions say say much about who you understand yourself to be
God’s plan for sexual union – we discover the meaning of existence and the meaning of life