Theology of the Body Explained (West) Observation/Question - Fig Tree?

[TimothyH]

I’m reading Theology of the Body Explained - A Commentary on John Paul II’s Man and Woman He Created Them" (revised edtion) by Christopher West.

In Chapter 2, in the section labled “The Entrance of Shame” (page 187) the author quotes Genesis 3:7

Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized that they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves. (Genesis 3:7)
The fig tree episode in the Gospel of Matthew immediately came to mind.
Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went over to it, but found nothing on it except leaves. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again.” And immediately the fig tree withered. (Matthew 21:19)

I’m wondering if anyone has picked up this train of thought and followed it in the context of JPII’s Theology of the Body?

If fig leaves are representative of man’s shame, could not Jesus’ withering of the fig tree be a statement about returning to how it was “In the beginning?” There is after all, the reference to “Fruit”.

Or am I reaching here?

-Tim-

 

[NotWorthy]

I’b be a little leery of this reasoning. Why? Because Jesus condemns the fig tree in order to “restore it to what it was like in the beginning”? I’m not sure if that will hold water.

 

[TimothyH]

I’b be a little leery of this reasoning. Why? Because Jesus condemns the fig tree in order to “restore it to what it was like in the beginning”? I’m not sure if that will hold water.

I’m sorry if I wasn’t clear or if I’m asking in the wrong forum. I’m not speaking about the fig tree itself being restored, as in a literalist interpretation.

I’m asking this question in the context of the explanation of shame brought about by original sin as explained by John Paul II’s Theology of the Body, and specifically in the context of Christopher West’s explanation of JPII’s Theology of the Body in his books on the subject.

As an example, the Holy Father spoke about man “In the beginning” before original sin and brings up Jesus’ answer to the Pharisees’ question about divorce by saying “In the beginning it was not so”. John Paul II states that this was Jesus’ reference to how man and woman lived “In the beginning”, before sin entered the world and the life we are called back into through Christ’s redemption.

Those who have read West’s book or studied TOB know what I’m talking about and I just wonder if the fig tree fits somehow.

May no fruit ever come from you again
The fruit of shame? The sour fruit of lust? The rotten fruit of immoral union?

-Tim-