Body theology

Today I spent some time at the gym, and now I am once again "painfully aware of every muscle in my body". It reminded me of something I wrote for the parish newsletter last summer and never shared here.

Like many of our parishioners I am a member of the Family Fitness Center across the street (a.k.a. the Jesus Gym) but during the school year, between my ministry and my family commitments, I can never keep up a regular exercise regimen.
In June, I discovered a new studio downtown where a fantastic instructor gives classes in Pilates and Yoga. Being a woman in my early 40s (there, I said it!) I need all the “core strength” I can get, so I happily bought 20 classes confident that through the summer I could find the time to take care of my “physical self”.
Well, I am proud to share that last Saturday I ended up going to the studio twice.
First at 9 am, for my regularly scheduled class; then at noon, for a private, very special class I shared with the other women of the office staff.
To begin with, let me tell you that nothing, nothing builds “esprit de corp” and “bonds of affection” like spending one hour together sweating and groaning on yoga mats.
Then, let me add that after two hours of work-out in the same day, I am painfully aware of every muscle in my body…especially the ones I didn’t really know I had!

We become mostly aware of our body when we are in pain or discomfort. Most of the time we take this amazing gift for granted. And of course we are also aware of all the things we don’t like about our body, the details we would like to change, the pounds we’d like to get rid of.

One of the reasons for Episcopal Pew Aerobics (the fact that we kneel, stand, sit in church, expressing our relationship with God not just in word and music, but also in action) is to keep us aware of our bodies. We are embodied creatures, wonderfully made, and God took on a body in Jesus to face the whole of human experience.

Sacraments, being the outward and visible (tangible, edible) signs of inward and spiritual grace, affect the body just as they affect the soul, demonstrating clearly the importance of the physical component. And why not? God created us in God’s image. God created bodies that are both doing redemptive work and being redeemed. God gave us our bodies to cherish, to nourish, to enjoy, and to love.

On Sunday it will be my privilege to baptize two babies, to pour water on their heads, to anoint them with oil. I will be expressing – on behalf of our community – the love that we share with God, for their minds, their souls and their bodies. This year I want to pay more attention - more theological attention - to my body and how I use it in my daily service of God. I will pay more attention to the taste of the bread and wine on the altar, to the feel of the hands I hold in prayer, to the ache in my heart when I face injustice and hatred.

God gave us these wonderfully made bodies. God talks to us also through them.