"Paul writes with urgency and force. 'The time is short,' he warns. …for this world 'is passing away.' The kingdom of God … is our eternal destiny. We should not become too attached to things that are perishable.
"Marriage … is tied up with things that are perishable. …[H]e urges us to live in expectation of the coming resurrection, where 'people will neither marry nor be given in marriage' (Mt. 22:30).
"While championing detachment from this world, Paul does not slip into a Manichæan dualism of 'spiritual' and 'physical.' Our very bodies are habitations of the Spirit. … 'Therefore honor God with your body,' 1 Cor. 6:…20). This applies to all Christians, married or unmarried, for each 'has his own gift from God.'
"The influence of God's grace extends to every aspect of marriage, including the sexual embrace. … (1 Cor. 7:3-6) These words … can only be understood in the context of a loving marriage, … this seems to indicate the need for spouses to be sensitive to the inherent differences of the sexes. …
"Both vocations — marriage and celibacy for the kingdom — answer one of humanity's fundamental questions: Why are we created male and female? A true and complete theology of the body is fundamental for a proper understanding of our humanity. It is equally essential for understanding questions of ethics. In all of these fundamental questions, we must listen attentively to those key words of Christ about 'the beginning,' 'the heart' of fallen and redeemed man, and the resurrection.
An der Grabstätte von Kronprinzessin Cecilie
1 week ago
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