Theology of the Body 2015/11/04

I'm amazed that it's eight weeks since my previous post on this topic. In that post we actually reached the section where John Paul II considers St. Paul's take on celibacy and marriage. There are four chapters remaining in the book I'm using, so that means three posts after this one, unless a chapter has to be broken into two posts.


"Why does Paul say that celibacy for the kingdom is 'even better' than marriage? Because it is grounded in the eternal, not the temporary.

"Those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this. What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. … For the world in its present form is passing away. (1 Cor. 7:28-31)

"Here, Paul describes his own way of life, one of radical chastity, obedience, andpoverty. … But what does Paul mean by the 'troubles' of marriage? He issues a warning for those who believe that married life will only bring happiness and joy. In reality, married love is a difficult love. Along with the joy of union, couples will experience frustration, disappointment, and sorrow.

"Paul does not depart from Christ's teaching, but he presents it differently. … Jesus stressed the difficulties of voluntary celibacy….

"By comparing celibate persons to eunuchs, Jesus emphasized the greatness of the renunciation involved in choosing celibacy. Paul, on the other hand, focuses on the permanent value of the kingdom of heaven, contrasting it with the perishable and transient nature of earthly things.

"Jesus did not explain how celibacy would benefit the kingdom. Paul fleshes this out, presenting a vivid description of celibacy in action:
"I want you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs — how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of the world — how he can please his wife — and his interests are divided. … I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you might live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord. (1 Cor. 7:32-35)

"The ultimate goal of celibacy … is to 'please the Lord.'

"To be spiritually fruitful, celibacy must be totally directed toward 'the Lord's affairs.' The unmarried person can devote his or her entire mind, work, and heart to the kingdom of God, the 'pne thing needed' (Lk 10:41).

"Does this mean that the celibate person focuses solely on God, to the exclusion of earthly life and his fellow human beings? On the contrary, 'The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it,' Paul says a little later, quoting the Psalm (1 Cor. 10:26. Because 'the Lord's affairs' encompass all of creation, the Christian cares for the whole world."