Theology of The Body of Pope John Paul II: Final Victory Over Death

Theology of The Body of Pope John Paul II: Final Victory Over Death


By Eric V. Encina





“The last enemy to be destroyed will be death.” – (1Cor. 15:26)
During my Holy Week to Eastertide Meditation, I find a very interesting spiritual topics from the Theology of the Body of Pope John Paul II: The Final Victory Over Death (John Paul II – Man And Woman He Created Them, translated by Michael Waldstein, pages 401-405, Chapter 70, General Audience of January 27, 1982.

This theological discourse about resurrection is the summit of the Christian Faith. This relevance to Faith is eternally held by all Christians, for without resurrection as St. Paul in his 1 Cor. 15:14,20 says: “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is in vain and also your faith is in vain… But now Christ has been raised from the dead”.


In this Pope John Paul II’s writing, he demonstrated how St. Paul as he encountered the resurrected Jesus Christ, put the foundation of his mission apostolate to preach the Gospel to the gentiles. His conversion to Christianity has been the glorious one of all his faith to God. St. Paul has encountered oppositions to peoples who reject or deny the truths of resurrection. He proved that resurrection has been a holy covenant of God to His chosen peoples and demonstrated that God “is not a God of the dead but of the living” (Mark 12:27). Pope John Paul II has elaborated the full significance of the resurrection as the final and the fullest word of the God-man-revelation, per se, the Living God.




The doctrine of resurrection is a doctrine of eternal truth of the Living God that death is temporary and the victory over death is certain to those who cling to the Living God restoring all things to God for life so that “God may be all in all” (1 Cor 15:28) And what is relieving is that the power of the resurrection is the power over sin. Sin and death are equally vanquished and destroyed.


In Cor 15:42-46 in clearly demonstrates vividly that “What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised full of power. It is sown in natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. Thus, it is written, that the first man, Adam, became a living being, but the last Adam (Jesus Christ) became life-giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual that is first, but the natural, and then the spiritual.”



St. Paul’s conversion, his discourse and dialogues with the Pharisees have shown his living faith to Jesus Christ and the truths of the resurrection. That conversion begins from the conversion of heart in divine grace of the living God in the second person of the Holy Trinity – Jesus Christ. His dialogue with the Pharisees that human “heart” is the center of struggle with concupiscent desires in man in the Sermon of the Mount while taking reference the truths and reality of the resurrection. Those who have converted hearts in grace will resurrect.


Death is the consequence of sin and humanity is under the slavery of corruption. Sin has not only an interior but also a “cosmic” dimension. That is why our body is perishable, weak, natural and in dishonor as all consequences of sins. But our Redeemer, our Blessed Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross to redeem us from the slavery sin and corruption and save us from eternal death. And the whole creation “waits with longing for the revelation of the sons of God…and cherishes the hope that in itself will be set free from the slavery of corruption to enter into the freedom of the glory of the children of God” (Rom 8:19-21).



The Mystery of Redemption is the work and gifts of the Spirit and is at work in man’s soul with Faith, Hope And Charity. It is inspiring for all Christians to hear that “We ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies” (Rom 8:23). Redemption is the way to the resurrection. The resurrection constitutes the definitive accomplishment of the redemption of the body.



“Our hope is in the name of the Lord, Who made Heaven and Earth”.









“Salt is good, but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” --Mark 9:50, NRSV



As pro-lifers with salt, i.e. faith in God, in truths and in life, we must have constant "hope" even amidst seeming despair in the world under the culture of death. Death will soon be finally defeated forever.


We must have "hope" amidst cynicism of those who deny and despise the sacredness of human life.


We must hold in our hearts, mind and conscience the very foundation of hope Who is Our Living God, the Lord of Life and of truths.


We must become or continue to become an inextinguishable agent of truths, of life, and of hope and not be an agent of the culture of deceptions and death.



A pro-lifer is an agent of hope – the hope of life-soul-saving mission in the 21st century.


We must always altogether pray, desire, hold, speak and work for true hope with faith and charity to live in the grace of God, to deliver us from the slavery of sins and corruption and finally bring us to eternal home in heaven.




Please continue to help saving the innocent unborn children, the voiceless and the defenseless in the world, the poor and the needy not only for the sake of charity but for the sake of our eternal salvation in fulfillment of the gifts of resurrection to those who remain in Him.


An act of charity for life and souls helps eternal salvation. In contrast, an act of selfishness, greed and avarice or corruptions, serves culture of sin, of corruption and of death.


As pro-lifers we must believe that in giving for life, there’s hope and blessing to both the giver and the receiver. There is an act of divine charity, encouragement and justice.


Giving help for the love of God and of neighbor is the foundation of future resurrection.


Let the poor pray for the rich and the rich help the poor and the innocents.



Finally, let us continue our prayers before the Living God- the Lord and Author of Life, to help us continue doing and serving pro-life with humility and sacrificial missionary efforts with love, forgiveness and prayers to pitiful others who are misled by the evils of the times and are in danger of eternal damnation.




Let a new springtime of truths, of love, of life, of hope, peace and justice sprout eternal for all peoples by the power and graces of God to Whom all good things come.


Long live and God bless!


Thank you very much for reading. Comments, suggestions, opinions and correction are always welcome.



HAVE A BLESSED EASTER!





Eric V. Encina
Filipino Pro-life/Family/Justice Activist
Activism Center For Life, Family & Justice
c/o Lito Alhambra Old House, Homesite,
Km2. Brgy. Lawa-n, PO Box 8, 5800 Roxas City, Capiz Province,
Philippines
eric_encina@yahoo.com
rc_encina@yahoo.com
reynalda_life@yahoo.com my wife’s email
New Email: eric.encina8@gmail.com