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Our Faith
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 FOR THE SAKE OF GOD'S KINGDOM - Part 2
- (Celibacy, A
Contemporary Refelction)
- By Fr. KJ Veeger, MSC
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Since the beginning of Christianity up to now, quite a
number of men and women always preferred unmarried life “for the Kingdom
of God,” and abstained from marriage, sexuality and family life. Their
decision to do so is not exclusively based on Jesus’ words and example,
but also co-influenced by ideas and beliefs, which are contemporary and
part of culture. For example, there has been a period in Saint Paul’s
life when he and others strongly believed that the end of the world was
near at hand and their generation would be the last on earth. So
marriage became of less or no importance. He himself never married.
Although later in life, he relativized his belief
 and
has written beautiful texts on marriage, he never arrived at a positive
appreciation of sexuality and married life.
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Another influential factor is the vision on man and the
world that at a certain time prevails in society, and either supports
and favors celibacy, or discriminates against it. For example, during
many centuries until recently, that vision on man and the world was of a
dualistic character. Man lives in the world, but does not belong to the
world. He should not be a “worldly” person! He should not be
contaminated by the things of the world, but rather seek the things that
come from “on high.”
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Body and soul, each with its own often conflicting
demands and desires, were conceived of as the double nature of man.
Such dualism was conducive towards a negative conception of sexuality
and marriage. On the other hand, unmarried life is a sign that the
persons concerned are the “children of the Resurrection.” So it is not
surprising that for a very long time, a negative judgment of sexuality
played a role in the process of deciding for celibacy. Sexual
intercourse was seen as being concentrated on oneself, drawing people
away from God and fellowmen, giving in the passions of one’s lower self,
and thus, more or less sinful.
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Since the middle of last century, a different vision
captured people’s minds. It was a more unitary and secular understanding
of man and his world. The world was given to man by his Creator as his
task and challenge, which are one and the same for all. Whether they
are married or not, they have received God’s mandate to develop the
world, making it an ever better mirroring of His Love and Justice. They
always should aim at and work towards its final perfection, when God
will become “all in all.”
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God’s Grace and man’s efforts are not two contradictory
or competitive units. If people sincerely try to contribute to the
well-being of others, both spiritual and material, they contribute to
the “new earth and the new sky.”
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By itself alone, both marriage and celibacy cannot be
called good or less good, and cannot be compared as the one being better
than the other. Good or not good depends on what a person makes of his
life. If somebody is so much in the grip of God’s Love and seized by
Jesus’ work of salvation, that he cannot do anything but surrender
himself and make himself totally available for God and fellowman, he
certainly does what is pleasing to them. Being married or unmarried is
not the determining factor! Rather, the contents of life and its quality
are decisive and are the grounds of any judgment.
- TELL US LIKE IT IS!
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powerful hand working in your life recently?
- Everyday, people
are experiencing God’s mighty Word in their lives and it is a pity that
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IN THIS ISSUE:
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Our Faith
By Fr. KJ Veeger, MSC
Surabaya Corner
By Ramon Martillano
Place of Refuge
By Philip Yuson
Straight from the Heart
By Carolle Bautista
G* KIDSPACE
By Tintin Magbitang
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