Theology of the Body for Line Teen

© 2004

Theology of the Body (TOBET)—Talk to Teens

IV. Ok, let’s review what we have learned so far. First, our overall goal is to find out the meaning of our lives. We are doing that through the Pope’s TOB who directs us to Jesus who directs us to Genesis. Genesis reminds us that we are made in the image and likeness of God, and so we have freedom to determine our lives and hopefully, we will do that by being a gift to others. Then, we talked about how we don’t trust in God, and so we violate his law by using others and allowing ourselves to be used—which is also use.

1. So now, what we are going to emphasize are the words transparency and “un’be.” What do I mean by these. (Put a piece of Saran Wrap in front of my face and explain transparency—what you see on the outside is what you get). Another word for that is integrity. That is, your actions reflect what is inside of your heart. The Pope in his TOB speaks of the language of the body…that our actions mean something and since words occur because our body is moving (show the tongue working), our words mean something. There is an old heresy called gnosticism which says that our bodies have nothing to do with our souls. Wrong! Our bodies have everything to do with our souls.
2. When we think that we can act one way but believe another, what we are doing is breaking ourselves apart, creating a fissure, a split in ourselves. (Draw picture of person with a rift, cutting him in two). We might call this split “un-being” ourselves. The opposite of that is “be-ing” ourselves. Remember how we said that with self-possession and self-determination, we can decide on our lives. It doesn’t matter whether an adult tells you to do this or that (whether right or wrong) you have the choice. Have you ever heard of a man named Viktor Frankl? He was in a concentration camp during World War II. He wrote a book about the meaning of freedom, saying that he still maintained his freedom, even in the concentration camp because he still determined his life by his outlook on things, not giving up, not giving in to the atrocities they would do to him. You and I have the same freedom to be ourselves by the gift of self or not.
3. We could choose not to be persons of integrity/ persons of transparency and “un-be” ourselves. What are some ways that you and I are Gnostic, abusing the language of the body and not being ourselves?
   • Cheating on a test/homework. See, outwardly, the body, and thus you, say to your teacher, “I did this work,” when in reality, inwardly, you know you did not study or do the assignment. You are splitting yourselves. (I even tell my students, “I am so proud of you for earning an F because at least you didn’t “un-be” yourself.
   • Lying to others. Through your body you are saying one thing, but in reality, the true, deeper, spiritual reality is that you are saying the opposite of the truth you know deep down inside of you. You are determining your life all right: you are “un-being” yourself. (I taught Dante’s Inferno this year. Guess where Dante’s theology puts the deceivers, the liars? In the pit of hell…the worst sin. After all, Satan is the Father of lies). (This last statement could be too harsh, depending on the audience).
   • Gossiping about others. What your friend sees is that you pretend to be a loyal friend by your outward actions in front of him/her. But in reality, the true, deeper spiritual part of you knows that you are stabbing him/her in the back. Judas did the same. (This last statement could be too harsh, depending on the audience). You are “un-being” yourself.
   • Being 2-faced to adults. In front of your parents and teachers, you put on the guise of this holy, ideal son/daughter/student, but once they are out of sight, you revert to another you. You are “un-being” yourself.
   • You show up at Mass and pretend to be praying but in reality, you are simply wondering how you can talk with that guy/girl. You are “un-being” yourself. (I am not talking about sometimes our minds drift. I am talking about going to Mass, not even trying to worship the Father through the Son in the Holy Spirit).
   • You take the Eucharist in the state of mortal sin. You are saying with your body, “I love you, Jesus” but in fact, you are violating His commands such that your communion is a lie to Jesus, others, and yourself for Jesus says, “He who loves me keeps my commands.” (Remember, just go to confession, and you can and OUGHT to receive the Eucharist again. You can be forgiven for anything if you want forgiveness).
   • Passionate kissing/sex. You are saying with your bodies, “I am married to this person,” but unless you have had a wedding, what you are doing is a lie. You are “un-being” yourself and helping your boyfriend/girlfriend to “un-be” himself/herself under the guise of “I love you.” What a lie and what a terrible sin that creates a split in you.
   
   
   • And don’t tell me that you don’t know what that split feels like. It’s that hypocritical way of living where you are pretending to be someone you are not. In the first video we watch, Nick said, “Guys like us can’t be something we aren’t.” Ironically, he is right, although he meant it in a different way. To be truly you, you must be people of integrity. You can be you. You are good. You have dignity. One thing I look for in my students…when I know that they are becoming or are adults is if they are people of integrity. They live the language of the body by allowing the outer actions to reflect who they are interiorly. And don’t think…ah, I am young. Eventually I will live a life which is not a lie. Take it from me…it matters what you do now. You are making yourself who you are to be now and for the future. For me, I lived a lie, an awful lie—I would lie to my parents, friends, teachers, God, even myself until I was 30 until I finally realized how I had “un-be’d” myself so much that I didn’t even know who I was. I started the lie in 7th grade and no one told me (or I didn’t believe anyone) that those small lies mattered and tore me apart inside. I finally got sick of it. I hope you get sick of your lies tonight. You can be healed. It may take a while until you grow more and more in virtue and away from the lies, but it is possible. How>>>>>>>>
   
   
4. Jesus is the one who lived out the language of the body the best, showing you and giving you the means to live a life of integrity. He said the most important words of the universe: “This is my body, given up for you.” Everything he did with his body was reflective of the truth He knew inside of Him. Make no mistake. You cannot do this on your own. You need Jesus…and His body…the Eucharist and His body, the Church. When His body hung on the Cross, he not only redeemed you by His broken Body and Blood, He “spoke” with His body, saying, “Do this…give yourself to others as a gift in truth…Do this in remembrance of me.” Why should we do this in memory of Him???? Because we will find the meaning of life, we will find ourselves, we will “be” ourselves by giving ourselves away. This, my friends is the meaning of your life. Be whole, be men and women, be a man/woman of integrity, deciding to use your freedom to make yourself. Do this by going to the Eucharist which will give you the strength to be you.

Monica Ashour can be contacted at avining@tobet.org

The Theology of the Body Evangelization Team can be reached at info@tobet.org