Readings:
2 Chronicles 20
Sirach 24
1 Corinthians 7

1 Corinthians 7

Paul is now addressing another question that was posed to him in the letter from the Corinthians. This question is concerning marriage ne celibacy. Paul tells them that it would be better to remain single, but that the vocation of celibacy for the kingdom isn’t a vocation for everyone. Due to human nature, concupiscence and the temptation of the world around us, it’s better for most to pursue the vocation of marriage instead.

Both are callings, and as such, both are not meant for everyone. Some people aren’t cut out for one of the other, so to prevent headaches and sinful situations, both should be discerned before committing to one. Nothing that is called by God should be taken lightly or assumed, it should be prayed about and discerned with a spiritual adviser to make sure you are going into the right vocation for you.

But although marriage is a beautiful thing, and the church definitely needs married couples, Paul is explicitly clear that the single state is prefered. This isn’t just about the priesthood either. Any married person can tell you that there’s a lot of commitment and responsibilities that goes along with it, so much that it’s not possible to be totally committed to missionary or evangelical endeavors as much as a single person would be, or to any other occupation or vocation. And because evangelization is the highest calling, and the direct command of Our Lord to all believers just before his ascension, it is what should be occupying the majority of the time of church ministry and function. Since the church is made up of a collective of people, that means we need people wholly dedicated to these and other functions, and that’s not as doable for married people as it is singles. It’s just a fact of time management, but also a fact of commitment and vocation too.

Although he says the single state is superior, he also tells them to remain and flourish in whatever state God has called them in. Basically don’t abandon your spouse to become a monk. It’s counterproductive, it’s wrong, and we’re not all called to the single life. We can’t get upset and worried over circumstances that are beyond our control.

Paul compares this to people who were circumcised as Jews and then became Christians. Although circumcision is no longer necessary in the new covenant, Paul says they shouldn’t try to reverse this now and become uncircumcised. Which itself wouldn’t be possible to do, so he’s using a bit of hyperbole here. The lesson ultimately is to flourish where you find yourself, and not try to change unchangeable things. Work on what you can change.

Paul also makes clear that if someone does chose to get married then he commits no sin in doing so. This was to refute the teachings of some that denounced either marriage or the marital act. Probably a local strain of Gnosticism.

Tomorrow’s Readings:
2 Chronicles 21-22
Sirach 25
1 Corinthians 8-9