Sexuality touches upon every aspect of our personhood, body and soul, and it is expressed as either masculinity or femininity. It is developed and expressed primarily through relationships. Our masculinity or femininity draws us into relationship and makes us attractive to the other sex. When we are attracted to another, our good qualities are brought forward. Each woman’s unique femininity will be moulded and expressed through her interactions with others, especially the men and boys in her life.
Likewise, a man’s masculinity is defined and developed by what is drawn out of him, primarily in relationship to the women and girls in his life. So, our masculinity or femininity is unique to each of us because of our individual experiences.
A couple’s sexuality, their attraction and attractiveness to each other, is not just physical. Sexuality draws us out of ourselves into relationship with the other. It is other-centred rather than self-centred, and we are at our best when we allow ourselves to be attracted.
What’s more, when the atmosphere between us is romantic and sexually charged the work of marriage becomes fun. We are naturally more tender, generous, attentive and responsive.
Theology of the Body Insight
The Body Reveals God
“The Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being.” Gen 2:7
As human persons, we are both body and soul. We have a physical nature and a spiritual nature. In the creation story from Genesis 2 God formed the man’s body from the material of the earth and breathed into his nostrils God’s own life. This ‘breath of life’ is our spiritual nature or soul.
“When the first man exclaims at the sight of the woman, “she is flesh from my flesh and bone from my bones” (Gn 2:23) … he seems to say, ‘Look a body that expresses the person’! … one can also say that this ‘body’ reveals the living soul.” TOB n14:4. pg 183.
We cannot see the soul or spirit of another person, we can only see his or her body. In this sense, the soul is hidden; it is the invisible mystery of God, the spiritual and the divine enfleshed in the human body.
Yet we know when a person’s soul is present, by the presence of their body. We know that our spouse’s soul is present, because we can see, feel, experience him/her through our senses – through our own body. We can therefore say that our bodies are ‘sacraments’ because they are a visible sign of the invisible reality of our spiritual nature.
All of creation is sacramental in that it reveals something of the mystery of the Creator. This is why we are able to feel close to God when we are conscious of nature. As human persons, we are the crowning glory of God’s creation! If all of creation reveals something of the mystery of God, we as human persons made in the image and likeness of God, are the fulfillment of the ‘sacrament of creation’. We image God in and through our very bodies created as male and female.
“Only the body, is capable of making visible what is invisible: the spiritual and the divine.” TOB n19:4. pg 203.
Sexuality between men and women in a relationship goes beyond physical attraction—it’s an important aspect of emotional connection, communication, and mutual respect.
Well explained
Brilliantly explained
The catch phrase for me is the ” Crowning Glory of God’s Creation”
A great reminder and an everlasting reminder.
I totally agree with the above comments
We found this to be very relevant and insightful.
Very insightful.
Agree quite a bit with this
Nice reading. Something to ponder on
Very insight information for ourselves and to understand our creation. Thank you
perfectly useful
Really enjoyable and captures the essence of feminine and masculine qualities
Very insightful… I love this
Sensuality goes deeper than just physical.
Sensuality goes deeper than just physical. It’s an embodiment of all we are and more.
A man’s masculinity is defined and developed by what is drawn out of him, primarily in relationship to the women and girls in his life. So, our masculinity or femininity is unique to each of us because of our individual experiences.
Very insightful thank you 🙂
Sexuality is other centred and not self centred…….
Insightful and inspiring
nicely explained
Profound and food for thought – we are the “…crowning glory of God’s creation”.
A couple’s sexuality, their attraction and attractiveness to each other, is not just physical. Sexuality draws us out of ourselves into relationship with the other. It is other-centred rather than self-centred, and we are at our best when we allow ourselves to be attracted.
This is so beautifully written! Thank you