”Whoever Looks to Desire”

This is our second episode discussing John Paul II’s analysis of Christ’s words in the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 5:27-28. This episode we will be looking with JPII at the words, “Whoever looks to desire” found in Audiences 38-41.

Music from #Uppbeat License code: DFEXTNDDO03CUS81

Quotes:

“Christ did not die on a cross and rise from the dead merely to give us coping mechanisms for sin (we already had plenty of those without a savior). Christ died and rose again to set us free from sin…The more we gaze with faith upon Christ, the more “his gaze purifies our heart.” In turn, the light of the countenance of Jesus illumines the eyes of our heart and teaches us to see everything in light of his truth.” (Christopher West, Theology of the Body Explained, pgs.213-214) 

“Desire, blazing like a furnace, will not die down until it has been satisfied; the man who is shameless in his body will not stop until the fire devours him; to the impure man, all bread is sweet, he will not grow tired until he dies. The man who is unfaithful to his own marriage bed says to himself, “Who can see me? There is darkness all round me, the walls hide me; no one can see me, why should I be afraid? The Most High will not remember my sins.” What he fears are human eyes; he does not realize that the eyes of the Lord are ten thousand times brighter than the sun; they see all the acts of men and penetrate into the most secret corners…Likewise the woman who abandons her husband, who provides him with heirs received from a stranger. (Sir 23:16-22)” 

“...the comparison between concupiscence of the flesh and fire: flaring up in the man, it invades his senses, arouses his body, draws the feelings along with itself, and in some way takes possession of the “heart”. Such passion, springing from carnal concupiscence, suffocates the sense of responsibility before God…It is true that, when passion is set into the whole of the spirit’s deepest energies, it can also become a creative force; in this case, however, it must undergo a radical transformation.” (TOB 39:2) 

“Once the inner man has been reduced to silence and passion has, as it were, gained freedom of action, passion manifests itself as an insistent tendency toward satisfying the senses and the body…This satisfaction…ought to extinguish the fire; but, on the contrary, it does not reach the sources of inner peace…the man whose will is occupied with satisfying the senses does not find rest nor does he find himself, but on the contrary “consumes himself.” (TOB 39:2) 

“If we allow our passions to “undergo a radical transformation,” they can become, once again, the desire to love as God loves.” (Christopher West, Theology of the Body Explained, pg.216) 

Reflection Questions: 

1. What spoke most to your heart in this episode? 
2. Has lust been an issue in your life? Do you believe that Christ came to set you free? 
3. “Christ did not die on a cross and rise from the dead merely to give us coping mechanisms for sin (we already had plenty of those without a savior).” What are your thoughts on this? 
4. Do you want the freedom Christ came to give you? What would it look like to be set free from lust? 
5. Could you see your own experience in JPII’s description of how the “fire” of lust grows from a flame to consuming the person? 
6. Were you surprised at JPII’s understanding of lust? Why or why not? 
7. Can you relate to Charlie Brown trying to kick the football when it comes to temptation to give in to lustful desire? 
8. “If we allow our passions to “undergo a radical transformation,” they can become, once again, the desire to love as God loves.” Pray with this. How is God speaking to you?