Sexuality in God’s plan: Neither starvation diet nor 'fast food'

By Blanca Morales - Florida Catholic

MIRAMAR | On the feast of the Immaculate Conception, over 400 people came out to St. John XXIII Church to learn about God’s plan for sexuality, marriage and the family.

Speaker Christopher West of the Theology of the Body Institute, founder and president of The Cor Project, presented a series of talks throughout the day entitled, “Living the Joy of the Gospel: Rediscovering the Beauty of God’s Plan for Sexuality, Marriage, and the Family.”

Filling the church sanctuary were parishioners and visitors as well as members of the parish youth and young adult groups, many armed with pens and a program booklet.

Mary Saint-Fleur, a St. John XXIII parishioner, had never heard of West before the conference was announced at a Mass. Her children, who are in the youth group, also attended. After the first talk, she said she was already blown away by the content.

“This is what we need to hear. This is what our kids need to be told. And it needs to come from someone other than their parents,” she said.

Young adult sisters Natalie and Maria Soto, from St. Boniface parish, had heard of West. In fact, they follow him on social media. They found out about the event from his Facebook page, and said they did not want to miss the chance to hear him in person.

“Although he’s known as the Theology of the Body expert, he’s more proud to be introduced as a proud father and husband,” said Jason Clark, CorProject executive vice-president.

With his characteristic references to music and pop culture, West linked the gaps in people’s knowledge of Church teaching and corrected the general misinterpretation of theology. But it wasn’t a message of doom and gloom, either.

“We’re not here to lament the bad things... We know what they are. We’re here to bring hope,” he said. The aim is not condemn anyone for a lapse of judgment, but to invite others to reconsider the depth of the Church’s teaching on the human experience and God’s purpose for it.

He also pointed out how the world hungers for truth, goodness and God’s infinite love.

NO SATISFACTION

“Why can’t Mick Jagger get any ‘satisfaction’? Maybe he’s aiming his yearning for the infinite in the wrong place, no matter how much he ‘tries’,” said West, adding that he can relate to that.

Like many others in the world, he looked to satisfy his ache in all the wrong places. The way Church doctrine was presented to him was akin to a starvation diet: It was a message of repression. That starvation for truth led to a “fast-food diet” of self-gratification that was never satisfying.

 

“Sin’s false promise of satisfaction is empty and sickening, like indulging in fast food,” he said. “It leads to food poisoning.”

He didn’t know then that the Gospel message was meant to be an invitation to a feast � the Bridegroom’s wedding banquet, to be exact.

 

THEOLOGY OF THE BODY

When West came across St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body, it was music to his ears. Theology of the Body is a collection of the late pope’s 129 Wednesday audiences that explain Scripture and what it means to be made in the image and likeness of God. John Paul II’s writings expand upon the meaning of marriage, Christ’s teachings, the Mass, as well as the purpose of being men and women.

For West, the teachings painted the message of the Gospel in a new light and he has made it his mission to share that message. “The goal of the Christian life is to listen to God’s ‘love song’ and enter into it. But how do we dance along if we don’t hear the song? How can we dance to the song if we don’t turn the music on?”

The problem in the Church, West explained, is that we’re not taught “the music,” or the beauty and goodness of the teachings. “We’re only taught the rules. Without the music, a person will never realize they're dancing out of step in life.”

 

TIMELY MESSAGE

West went on to explain the mystery of the Incarnation, especially in light of Advent, as well as the deeper truths regarding marriage, pregnancy, and the significance of being masculine and feminine.

If tears and tissues were any indication � along with applauses and “whoas” � then hearts were pierced by the message that was shared throughout the day.

Jean Bouzi and Guerlyne Gracia-Bouzi, parishioners at St. John XXIII, said they came to learn more about marriage and strengthen their own relationship. It was the first time they had ever heard West’s message. “He’s given us a lot to think about,” said Gracia-Bouzi.

But even those who’ve heard West talk before said they learned something new. That includes his daughter, Grace West, who found much to take notes on. “It’s always so good!” said the ‘tween.

See accompanying story: A musical accompaniment for Theology of the Body