To Live or to Lust: That is the Question
Lust: 1 of the 7 Deadly Sins

Title: To Live or to Lust: That is the Question

 

Those are the 2 choices, one leads to life—eternal life—starting here on earth, one leads to death—eternal death—starting here on earth.

 

I.       Introduction—Story about Snow/Blazer  

There are 2 main things I want to challenge you on tonight:

1. Being human and the opposite and

2. Being male and female and the opposite

II.     Who are we? What does it mean to be human?

A.     Proper understanding and living (Gift of self to all)

1. Scenario 1: Crying friend whom you comfort

2. Scenario 2: Classmate who needs help with math

3. Scenario 3: Mom/Dad need help with chores around the house

           

 All of these are great expressions of who humans are supposed to be. We are meant to reach out to others to love them, to give the gift of self to them. If you choose to give in such a way, with no strings attached, you are choosing life over lust.

 

B.     Wrong understanding and lust

1. Scenario 1: Crying friend whom you comfort (Internal thoughts: This idiot, crying over stupid things. I wish had worn waterproof mascara—my shirt is being smeared! Well, I can tolerate this for a little while longer….only for the sake of being able to cheat off her homework. If she weren’t smart, I would be Bye-Bye now!)

 

2. Scenario 2: Classmate who needs help with math (Internal thoughts: This idiot has no brain in his head; what a moron! I would never, ever be over here to help if it weren’t for his awesome wii and Guitar Hero. Otherwise, I would be Bye-Bye now!)

 

3. Scenario 3: Mom/Dad need help with chores around the house (Internal thoughts: Idiot parents! How can I be so smart coming from them?? The only reason I do these stupid chores and even talk to my parents is to get the keys to the car and money from their pocketbook. Otherwise, I would be Bye-Bye now!)

 

Notice, the same scenarios but the heart/internal thoughts are only about using the other person. The opposite of love, according to Pope John Paul, is not hatred but using the other person. This is what lust is all about, objectifying others. Using others only for what you can get from them. Notice, then, that lust, according to the Theology of the Body is much broader than the misuse of the sexual realm.  Those of you who have not fallen prey to society’s message in the area of sexuality, you still ought to examine other aspects of your life to see is you are using others. That is choosing death, not life. It splits you from them and you from yourself.

 

III.     What does it mean to be male/female?

A.     Guys

1.      Right understanding and living: You are “rough, tough, and buff.” Your male bodies are bigger and stronger (remember my story about me, a female, pushing the blazer out of the snow—so don’t take this the wrong way). Because your bodies are made by God like that, it sends you a message. You are to protect and provide for those weaker (especially for women and children).Here are some examples:

a.  Notice if a girl is being gossiped about—you protect her reputation.

b.  If an underclassman—guy or girl—is being picked on, stand up for him/her.

c.  When your mom needs help around the house or with a problem, be there for her. (Story of Fernando—he shed his flesh and blood for a woman).

 

2.      Wrong understanding and lust—When you use your power to do the opposite of protecting and providing. (Use boy and girl dolls to act out the scenario: “Hey, baby, I love you so much, let’s do this to show our love.” His internal thoughts: “She’s not half as hot as those women on porn, but she’ll do…add fuel to my fire so that I can gratify myself with her and lust at her at home when I am alone.” Her internal thoughts: He loves me and will always be with me to protect me and provide for me. I trust him so much I will be in the most vulnerable position with him that humans can be in. He won’t hurt me.)

 

And whose “death” are you choosing by lusting, guys: not just the death of your relationship with God, not just the death of yourself by going against the way you are made as a man to protect and provide, you are helping to cause the “death” of this girl, because she will be broken (show the Dante Project of the person who is torn into pieces). Does this look to you like you protected and provided for this young woman? Society tells you that all of those activities outside of marriage are safe. Society is lying to you. This is a visual image of what you are doing to yourself, to another human, and to your relationship with God.

 

B.     Girls

1.      Right understanding and living: You are “hiding and inviting.” Your female bodies are hiding in that you veil that which is sacred. We are to dress modestly. We are inviting because you have a womb (joke about guys not knowing what that is) and breasts (joke about guys not realizing that). Because your bodies are made by God like that, it sends you a message. You are welcome and nurture all people (especially children).Here are some examples:

a.  You see a guy or girl alone at the cafeteria table—go sit with him/her.

b.  Someone is crying, reach out to nurture him/her.

c.  Your little brother or sister wants to play—nurture him/her by playing a game.

 

 (Story of Aggie who had an abortion).

 

2.      Wrong understanding and lust—When you use your welcome and nurturing attributes the opposite way in forming a friendship. (Use boy and girl dolls to act out the scenario: “I know, I will take a picture of myself and send it to my boyfriend.” Her internal thoughts: “If I send him this and do some sexual acts for him, I will feel like someone loves me. Plus, people will admire me because I have a boyfriend with a cool car.” His internal thoughts: She loves me and will always be with me to be my closest friend. I trust her so much I will be in the most vulnerable position with her that humans can be in. She draws me to her; I desire her.)

 

And whose “death” are you choosing by lusting, girls: not just the death of your relationship with God, not just the death of yourself by going against the way you are made as a woman to welcome and nurture, you are helping to cause the “death” of this guy, because he will be broken (show the Dante Project of the person who is torn into pieces). Does this look to you like you nurtured him? Society tells you that all of those activities outside of marriage are safe. Society is lying to you. This is a visual image of what you are doing to yourself, to another human, and to your relationship with God.

 

IV.   Conclusion—So, what do you do? First, if you have fallen prey to lust, you can change!! You don’t have to do porn, masturbate, use others as objects for your desire. You can choose life. Go to confession to be forgiven, then work on the opposite of lust: the virtue of chastity.

Virtue comes from the Latin, vir, which means “strength.” Society does not think people, especially teenagers, can be virtuous. It is too hard. We ought simply to give in to our sexual temptations and so have “safe sex.” None of it is safe, for it leads to death…is death safe??

One last observation of male/females. Guys, you are to protect and provide….but also to put on proper pedestal to pursue. How? Be a guy. Open doors. Carry her books. Call her/text her just because.. Pay for her dinner. Read poetry together. Write her poetry. Draw her portrait. Hold her hand. Give her a small kiss These elevate her. And when the temptation comes that you want to do more than these small intimate acts of true love, remember life and virtue. Remember your body says, “Protect, provide, pursue” and be rough, tough, and buff…by not giving in to lust. That, is a man. That is virtue.

Ladies, you are to welcome and nurture…but also to provide adventure, not as an object of lust, but as a woman of mystery. Let him do the above things. (You know you can do all of those better…but we give by receiving, by being honored and respected). Ladies, when you are tempted to unveil yourself before you are married, remember that you are to be mysterious, hiding. Think about what is supposed to happen on your honeymoon night (Jewish wedding of 7 days)…to be “apocalypse”, that is, unveiled by your husband fo r whom you waited. You can go against lust and wait for life and love.

 

Act out Ladder Activity of elevating woman so guy can climb ladder to get her.

 

Life is life in the Spirit, the Holy Spirit, He who gives us the strength to live life well. You can do it. I believe in you. That is why I go around the nation giving talks to teens. I believe in you. You can be virtuous. It places demands on you, but you will rise to the occasion. Have hope in God and in God working in you.