1. Theology of the Body for Teens
Seventh Grade Curriculum 2.3
God’s Love for Us

2. Bellwork Answer the following in writing:
1. What is your image of God?
2. Has it changed since you were a small child? If so, how?
Do you have a favorite passage from Scripture to that “speaks” to you about who God is?

3. Opening Prayer
O God, you are my God— it is you I seek! For you my body yearns; for you my soul thirsts, In a land parched, lifeless, and without water.
I look to you in the sanctuary to see your power and glory. For your love is better than life; my lips shall ever praise you!
I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands, calling on your name. My soul shall be sated as with choice food, with joyous lips my mouth shall praise you!
I think of you upon my bed, I remember you through the watches of the night You indeed are my savior, and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy. -From Psalm 63

4. God’s Love and Human Images
Creature and Creator
King and Subject

5. God’s Love and Human Images, cont.
Shepherd and sheep
Father and child

6. Scriptural Imagery
What is the most frequent image used in Scripture to describe God’s love for us?
Pair up with a partner. Look up two of the following passages. Each of you read one passage to your partner, and then discuss how this image offers new insight into your idea of God.
Song of Songs 4: Hosea 2: 14,16
Isaiah 54: John 3:29-30
Isaiah 62: Ephesians 5:25
Jeremiah 2: Revelation 21: 2, 9
Sum up your findings on the board as a class.

7. Discuss Have you heard any of these Scripture verses before?
What is your reaction to hearing this kind of language about God’s love for his people?
Do you get a different image of God than you had before by reading these verses from Scripture?

8. Spousal Love of God God loves us like a good husband loves his wife.
Old Testament—God makes an exclusive and everlasting covenant with his people, Israel.
New Testament—Jesus reveals himself as the divine Bridegroom who showed the full extent of his love when He gave his life on the cross for his bride, the Church.

9. Christ’s Spousal Love
The blood and water which flowed from the pierced side of Christ are symbols of the sacraments of baptism and the Eucharist from which the Church, His bride, is born.
An echo of the story of creation in which Eve was fashioned from the open side of Adam.

10. Homework Assignment Watch Matt Maher’s “The Spirit and the Bride”
How do the images and the lyrics help you grasp how much God loves you? Write two paragraphs in response to His love.