Ordinary Time 4 - January 28, 2018

Ordinary Time 4

January 28, 2018

Gift of Celibacy

            Many years ago, a young nun was assigned to teach first grade at a Catholic school. She found it difficult, though, because she was questioning her own vocation. She felt like she was wasting her life because she wasn’t married and wasn’t doing anything the world typically considers “successful”.

            One day, one of the six-year-olds, who the nun knew came from a broken home, said to her, “Sister, are you married?”

            The nun once again felt the sorrow and loneliness of her vocation. “No,” she replied sadly.

            “Do you have any kids?” the young girl asked.

            “No,” she replied.

            The little girl then smiled, relieved, and said, “Oh good, ‘cause now you belong to all of us.”

            And this is precisely the gift of celibacy – that is, the gift of remaining unmarried for the sake of Christ. Priests, nuns, and many laypeople are called to celibacy (remaining unmarried), but this is one of the most misunderstood parts of Church life today.

            St. Paul knew it would be controversial too. In the second reading today, he speaks about how celibacy is a great gift because it allows someone to focus themselves entirely on the Lord. This was one of the aspects of Christianity that Jews and Greeks both had a hard time with – it was very foreign in Greek or Jewish culture to remain celibate by choice. But Paul really exalts celibacy – it is a great gift, so that a person can focus completely on the Lord.

            Priests and nuns are not the only ones called to celibacy – I know a number of laypeople who have sensed a call to give up marriage for the sake of the Kingdom. My friend Paul, for example, who works for a church in Maryland. He is not a priest but has felt called to dedicate his life completely to Christ and for the salvation of souls, and he has done that so powerfully by renouncing marriage.

            So, why celibacy? Why, in today’s world, would someone willingly and freely give up marriage? I think there are three reasons why celibacy is a great gift:

            First, celibacy allows a person to belong completely to Jesus and completely to others. Mother Teresa said, “By blood, I am Albanian. By citizenship, an Indian. By faith, I am a Catholic nun. As to my calling, I belong to the world. As to my heart, I belong entirely to the Heart of Jesus.” A lot of times celibacy is seen as a denial of something – giving up marriage. But primarily it is an embracing of Someone – of Jesus Christ, and through Him, to embrace His people. As a celibate priest, I am so blessed to belong to Christ totally, and through Him, to belong to my parishioners. This past Christmas I was able to go over parishioners’ houses to celebrate Christmas day – that’s something I could never do if I had a wife or kids!

            Second, just as marriage results in physical fruitfulness, celibacy lived well results in spiritual fruitfulness. Everything that an earthly father does for his children, a priest does for his children. A father gives life to his children; a priest gives spiritual life to his children through baptism. A father teaches his kids how to walk and talk; a priest teaches them how to walk with the Lord and talk to Him in prayer. A father provides food for his family; a priest provides the Eucharist, our spiritual food. A father cleans up after his kids’ messes; a priest cleans his parishioners’ souls through Confession.

            In my former parish there was a kid named David who went from being a totally apathetic teenager to being someone who walked himself to Mass every Sunday. I asked him why he suddenly started caring about his faith, and he told me, “I believe in Jesus because you’re not married.” I was surprised and asked him what he meant. He told me, “I figured the Catholic Faith couldn’t be a lie if you were willing to give up a wife for it. No one would sacrifice so much for a lie.” Wow!

            People often talk about the sacrifice of celibacy. A wise preacher one said, “Is celibacy crazy? Yes, about as crazy as a soldier jumping on a live grenade to save his buddies.” In other words, yes, it’s a sacrifice, but where there is love, sacrifice is easy. Ask any parent – there are thousands upon thousands of sacrifices parents must make, but they do it (usually) gladly out of love.

            Finally, celibacy is an eschatological sign. That’s a theologically technical way of saying that celibacy is a reminder of Heaven. In Heaven we won’t have marriage in the same way we do here – yes, we will still love our spouses, but we will love Christ with an all-consuming love…much like someone who has renounced marriage for the sake of the Lord.

            People are surprised to find that my Facebook status says I am married – because I am married – to the Church! That final union between Christ and His Church is foreshadowed in those who have given themselves totally to uniting their lives to Him.

            And this is precisely why the world hates, questions, and reviles celibacy – because it is a reminder that Heaven is real and that it’s worth it to live radically for Jesus Christ. In a world that says we can’t find happiness unless we indulge every desire and every pleasure, celibacy stands as a witness that sacrifice and love and the Lord are the only ways to true happiness.

            I would like to encourage the young people here this morning to consider – is God calling you to a life of celibacy, as a priest, a nun, or a consecrated layperson in the world? Many young men and women are called to give up marriage for the sake of Christ – do not be afraid! It is a joyful life of radical self-gift. For the rest of us, especially those who are married, let us pray that many more people may embrace that call to celibacy. St. Paul recognizes it is a great gift to belong totally to the Lord; I pray we may recognize that gift as well.