You give your undivided attention to the Lord (1Cor 7:35)
Note: This reflection is based on the second reading of this Sunday. If you wish to have a sermon on the gospel reading of today, click here.
There are some people who argue that priestly celibacy has no Biblical basis. According to them celibacy is merely a later invention of the Catholic Church. It might be an historical fact that Catholic priesthood being compulsorily associated with celibacy would have evolved through the centuries. At the same time it is not fair to deny the Biblical basis of celibacy.
In the first reading of today, once again we hear Paul evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of marriage and celibacy in the context of one’s undivided intimacy with the Lord. Paying some attention to what St Paul is saying could help us better understand the meaning of celibacy for priests today, and also the importance of the intimate relationship that every Christian is expected to build with the Lord.
For Paul, celibacy is only a recommendation – for all Christians!
St Paul recommends celibacy as a good state of life. “To the unmarried and to widows I say: it is good for them to stay as they are, like me. But if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry… (1Cor 7:8-9). This is the same idea that he had developed earlier on in 1Cor 7:1: “Now for the questions about which you wrote. Yes, it is a good thing for a man not to touch a woman; yet to avoid immorality every man should have his own wife and every woman her own husband.”
What is the implication of this? First of all, it is important to note that celibacy is only a recommendation. As I had pointed out last Sunday, one reason why perhaps Paul sees the idea of someone remaining as they are – unmarried – as good, is because of his belief in the immediacy of the Second Coming of the Lord.
However, the recommendation to remain unmarried is offered to all Christians. St Paul does not show signs of institutionalising celibacy, or to reserve it to a certain group of Christians. In his Letter to Titus, a letter that could have been written in the later years of Paul’s life, when Paul had already given up his belief in the immediacy of the Second Coming of the Lord, he only demands that the elder in a Christian community (in today’s structure, that would be the priest – who is the presbyter, that is, the elder) be a man of good character and discipline: “Here is a saying that you can rely on: to want to be a presiding elder is to desire a noble task. That is why the presiding elder must have an impeccable character. Husband of one wife…” (1Tit 3:1-2).
But for what purpose did Paul remain single, and recommend that status to all Christians?
Purpose of Celibacy: Give your undivided attention to the Lord
The reading of today is the continuation of the first reading of last Sunday. You might remember that in the earlier part of Chapter 7, Paul has already invited us not to be too engrossed with the affairs of the world. And because “the time has become limited, and from now on, those who have spouses should live as though they had none” (1Cor 7:29-31).
In the section that we heard read today Paul continues to offer a positive view of celibacy. The purpose of celibacy, according to St Paul, is that one who is not married “can devote themselves to the Lord’s affairs” (1Cor 7:32). As if this is not clear enough Paul continues to reiterate it once again insisting that the reason why he recommends celibacy is “that you give your undivided attention to the Lord” (1Cor 7:35).
In this light we can understand the purpose of celibacy of priests today as an invitation and an opportunity to give their undivided attention to the Lord. Given this possibility, it would not be fair and proper for priests to fill that space created by celibacy with work or anything else – even in the name of ministry – and not fail to give their undivided attention to the Lord. To me personally, this is a great temptation today: not recognising that the purpose of my celibacy is to focus on the Lord.
Even if I have understood the meaning and purpose of celibacy, how do I remain faithful in my celibacy?
Means to be a Celibate: Give your undivided attention to the Lord
It is interesting to note that the end of celibacy is the undivided attention on the Lord, and the means to remain celibate is also the undivided attention on the Lord. This is the wisdom that emerges out of my own experience as a priest.
As St Ignatius asserts in what is called the ‘Principle and Foundation’ in his Spiritual Exercises, the goal of my life is to be one with God for ever. God has placed all created things in my life so that I use them in such a way that I can reach the goal of my life: to be one with God for ever – or in the words of St Paul today: to give my undivided attention to the Lord. And St Ignatius continues, if any of the other creatures of God takes the place of that purpose – to be one with God for ever, then it amounts to idolatry, because it has taken the place of God in my life.
And the lesson that I have learnt in my own short priestly life is that as long as I am focused on that purpose – to give my undivided attention to the Lord – then I enjoy celibacy. Celibacy is grace-filled. When anything else competes to divide the attention, be it work or any other relationship, then celibacy seems a burden, a mere rule.
Let us pray, then, for all priests that we appreciate the purpose of celibacy and use the means of celibacy. Let us pray for all the faithful that we seek to give our undivided attention to the Lord.
If you wish to have a sermon on the gospel reading of today, click here.