Through the four original experiences (including Original Sin) we learn something important about our bodies: Original solitude tells us that our bodies are symbolic; we have a body, like the animals, but are relational like God. The visible and invisible are united in us. Our bodies symbolise something beyond us; they point to God. They point to our whole person, body (visible) and soul (invisible).
Original unity shows us that our body is nuptial. Men and women are the same, yet different. But they are also equal and complementary. John Paul II says, man and woman are two different incarnations of the human person.
Basically, our bodies are made for love – the one flesh union. When man and woman come together the act of sexual intercourse is both physical and spiritual. They come together as symbolic creatures and communicate via their bodies and soul. Sex is the language of love, the language is both sensual and spiritual. Sex is much more than just a bodily function, or recreation.
Original nakedness and original sin demonstrate that we are both free and fallen. In order to love, we need to be free, and sin enslaves us. Without freedom, man and woman cannot give or accept love.
We are all aware that one of the consequences of sin is sickness and death. But were you also aware that one of the consequences of sin is disordered sexual passions? Sin may belong to our spiritual side, our soul, but it also affects our body. After the fall, Adam and Eve felt the need to cover their nakedness. Why? Because sin entered the world there was a need to protect our body from sins of the flesh.
We wear clothes and dress modestly so as to protect our purity and chastity. Consider, a man whose soul is burdened by sin, can only look at a woman for her physical attributes and the pleasure that she can give him sexually. He uses her and discards her once he has finished. Now, if that same man had experienced the absolution of Confession, and had a soul free from sin, was attracted to a woman he would see both her physical and spiritual dimension, and would also be free to give and accept her lovingly. It might be important to explain here that the opposite of love, is not hate, but use.
If we love someone freely, we give and accept them. If we do not, we use them for our own pleasure and when we have had enough, we end the relationship. There is always hope. Jesus died for us, becoming the new Adam, and is now with us in an intimate way. We can know him, communicate with him, and love him. All because he loves us so much that he gave his own life for us.
In redeeming us, he shows us that through the frequent use of Sacraments and by abiding by his teachings, we can once again experience the three original experiences before sin entered the world through original sin. And this is the truly revolutionary part of John Paul II’s teaching. Accordingly, Jesus also gave us the most perfect example of love in accepting others for who and what they are, warts and all, and giving all that we have for them.
Originally posted 2015-01-06 22:27:24.