BATTLE FOR THE MEANING OF LIFE

   If, as John Paul teaches, the body and it alone is capable of communicating the mystery of God's love to us; and if there is an enemy of God who wants to keep us from God's love - where, then, would he go to do it? The Church Father Tertullian says that Satan attempts to counter God's plan of salvation by plagiarizing the sacraments. And where better to begin than with the "primordial sacrament"?

Satan's goal is to scramble the language of our bodies. And look how successful he's been. How many people, for example, think that the body and the gift of sexuality are the last places to look for the presence of God?

Much is at stake in our failure to understand the language of our bodies. As John Paul II says, this is obviously "important in regard to marriage." However, it "is equally essential and valid for the understanding of man in general" (Dec 15, 1982). The theology of the body is, in fact, according to John Paul, the basis of the most suitable education in what it means to be a human being (see Apr 8, 1981). Yes, the battle raging in our Church and our world regarding sexual morality is nothing short of a battle for the very meaning of human existence.

Hence, the theology of the body should not be considered merely a minor discipline among many in the overall scope of Catholic teaching. Again, according to the Holy Father, what we learn by reflecting on Christ's words about the body in its creation and redemption "is, in fact, the perspective of the whole Gospel, of the whole teaching, in fact, of the whole mission of Christ" (Dec 3, 1980).