Advent and the Theology of the Body
So now that "Christmas" time is here, what do you see everywhere? ...
The image to the right is pretty much one that can be seen anywhere in any city (it's from DC though)...during Advent.
When we think about it, these decorations should be put up Christmas Eve to celebrate Christmas the next day as well as the Christmas Season proper. It's Advent now, which is a preparation for Christmas. And, when you think abotu it, as soon as New Year's Day is over, all the Christmas decorations will be taken down. But that's only the end of the Christmas Octave. Christmas really ends on Feb. 2, the Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple.
So what does this have to do with the Theology of the Body?
Let's look at the sexual act. Premarital sex is becoming more and more a commonplace activity, which naturally strikes against the importance of it within the marital union. The more that the sexual act is engaged before a person is married, the less the person realizes just how important it is. All the physical, psychological, and emotional aspects that are built into the sexual act are there for a reason, and if you misuse that, then the results are bound to bring suffering.
Nowadays, the real meaning of Christmas has been taken out of the feast by so many people. It's about gift-giving (giving a gift is great by the way), but not in light of the greatest gift of all, the Lord's gift of Himself to humanity.
During this season, let's not get caught up in separating Christ from Christmas. Let's remember to celebrate Christmas at its proper time. And in all this, we'll truly see just how our actions affect our spirituality. Just like the boy and girl who wait for marriage before engaging in the conjugal union, so too should we make sure to wait for Christmas to celebrate. In that way, we'll be able to put the Christ back in Christmas.
Happy Advent!
The image to the right is pretty much one that can be seen anywhere in any city (it's from DC though)...during Advent.
When we think about it, these decorations should be put up Christmas Eve to celebrate Christmas the next day as well as the Christmas Season proper. It's Advent now, which is a preparation for Christmas. And, when you think abotu it, as soon as New Year's Day is over, all the Christmas decorations will be taken down. But that's only the end of the Christmas Octave. Christmas really ends on Feb. 2, the Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple.
So what does this have to do with the Theology of the Body?
Let's look at the sexual act. Premarital sex is becoming more and more a commonplace activity, which naturally strikes against the importance of it within the marital union. The more that the sexual act is engaged before a person is married, the less the person realizes just how important it is. All the physical, psychological, and emotional aspects that are built into the sexual act are there for a reason, and if you misuse that, then the results are bound to bring suffering.
Nowadays, the real meaning of Christmas has been taken out of the feast by so many people. It's about gift-giving (giving a gift is great by the way), but not in light of the greatest gift of all, the Lord's gift of Himself to humanity.
During this season, let's not get caught up in separating Christ from Christmas. Let's remember to celebrate Christmas at its proper time. And in all this, we'll truly see just how our actions affect our spirituality. Just like the boy and girl who wait for marriage before engaging in the conjugal union, so too should we make sure to wait for Christmas to celebrate. In that way, we'll be able to put the Christ back in Christmas.
Happy Advent!
Labels: Liturgical Year
posted by Matthaeus Evangelista at 8:25 PM
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