The ultimate victory of joy over grief and life over death is Christ’s resurrection. Through Christ’s resurrection, mankind received a glimpse of the eschatological reality that would replace the temporal mode of existence. Christ’s glorified body reveals the victory over suffering and pain in man’s temporal body. Counseling sessions should include such optimistic views in dark times.
The Glorified Body is the Body God Always Intended For Us
The new glorified body is an outward and sacramental sign of the joy the soul will experience. Rising from the ashes of temporal existence, the new body will be free of limitations and pain and experience only the blessings of God. This promise is seen throughout Scripture when St. Paul reminds everyone that one day man will also rise and his body and soul will be reunited in perfect bliss. Pope John Paul II continued this theological discourse as well and mentioned that the new body will be spared the limitations of the temporal body but most notably will be free from suffering and death. As Christ’s body shed its temporal limitations, albeit free of original sin, so shall humanity shed its limitations and the glorified body shall bask in the sun of the Trinity. Both soul and body shall share in this ultimate beatific vision and forever be spared the stains of suffering and sin it experienced in the temporal realm.
In addition to being spared death, suffering and the hideous mark of original sin that scarred human nature in the temporal phrase, this theology of bodily resurrection also throws to the side the erroneous Neo Platonic ideals that the body is a prison for the soul. The whole of human nature is comprised of body and soul and both will share in the Beatific vision. The superiority of the soul is only in function not essence.
Christian Spiritual Counselors should emphasize that temporal suffering leads to eschatological happiness; a happiness that will be equally shared by body and soul in perfect harmony. If you would like to learn how to become a certified biblical Christian counselor, then please review.
Mark Moran, MA