The importance and goodness of marriage! Marriage and the family are found right from the beginning in Genesis – Through the Old Testament, there is the Song of Song - The beginning of Christ's Ministry was at a wedding in Cana – It is a marriage that Christ raised to be one of the seven sacraments. Indeed, what is one great image of heaven? The wedding feast of the Lamb! – marriage - a sign of Christ and his Church! Throughout history, marriage and family have been essential to the furthering of society and are even the basis of society - there is a reason the Second Vatican Council has a full section of its document on the Church in the modern world on marriage. – Marriage is a great good! The one who desires to marry desires a good thing!
Yet St Paul today seems to say it is better not to marry. – What is going on with Paul? – It is not that Paul does not think marriage is good – for he says that it is a sign of Christ and his Church – Paul is well aware of the goodness of marriage! – yet, nevertheless, he is recommending celibacy?
Each text we read at mass is only a short pericope – short extracts for a larger text, sometimes a much larger text– here from St Paul's first letter to the Corinthians – a letter that runs 16 chapters long – of which at any Mass we only read a short section, a couple of verse. – sometimes, the key to understanding a passage requires a slightly broader look at the text - If we look outside this small section just a little – to the verse immediately prior, which was proclaimed at Mass last week – there is the key to understanding St Paul on marriage and celibacy – “For the world in its present form is passing away.”
We rightfully talk about the importance of marriage – no society where young men and women feel they cannot marry will last for long – no society that forgets what marriage actually is will last for long – marriage is at the foundation of creation and society – but it is not the end – for the world in its present form is passing away – and in the world to come – as Christ puts it, “at the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage” – Marriage ends with death – but it points to something further – the world to come.
If we consider all those great things about marriage – its greatness is in that it is a sign of these things to come – It is a sacrament – an efficacious sign – giving grace – a sign of the kingdom of Heaven – of the wedding feast of the lamb – of the love of Christ and his church – Yet it is a sign of those things and provides graces towards them – but it is not those things. Marriage is part of God’s plan of salvation – marriage has a role to play in the salvation of souls – marriage is a great gift uniting a man and woman – yes, for the rearing and education of children – but also on the pilgrimage of life – together in the drama of salvation – a task to get each other to heaven.
Marriage points to something beyond itself – marriage is not the destination – and so there are those called to celibacy – looking to God in a different way – a more direct way – a way that some, but not all, are called to– A call to celibacy – not to avoid the burdens of marriage – but a calling to live as a sign of the world to come – a sign that this world is passing away – a sign lived by giving up the things of this world – there is a reason that priests in the Roman Rite are celibate.
And going further than the diocesan priest, religious – Monks and Nuns profess the evangelical councils - vows of poverty – giving up possessions – obedience – giving up their will – and celibacy – giving up marriage. All so that they might adhere to the Lord without distraction – there in prayer and contemplation.
Not all are called to this life – indeed, if no one married, society would fail – someone needs to be a farmer – plumber – carpenter – The religious is not necessarily holier – marriage is a sacrament that brings grace and, if cooperated with, sanctification – but the religious is needed – for the Monk or Nun lives as a sign – by their lives consecrated to God – of the world to come - Paul is right to say that those who are called to this life ought to answer the call – For it is a path to God – but also, those who take up this path live as a sign to those in the world always to remember – even as others work the land – build families -and rightfully work for peace and justice in the world – This world is passing away – Christ will return the Glory – the goal is heaven
But for those married – it is a sacrament – for those who desire marriage- marriage is a good thing – but for those called to celibacy – to be a priest or religious life – it is a call one ought to answer. Either way – let us listen to St Paul – do not be anxious about the things of this world – for it is passing away.