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Answer:
Very
Rev. Ihor Kutash
kutash@unicorne.org
We are all created by and for the
Lord. Our vocation begins here upon the earth but goes on into
eternity. To the extent that we choose to co-operate with the Lord's
grace we experience peace, love, joy, wholeness. We make our choices
with our mind, our will, our heart but also with our body which is
created to share in divine life just as is our soul.
This vocation is lived out in communion with other beings. Normally it
is lived out with a partner. It was God who said: "It is not good for
man to be alone" and He proceeded to create a
helper for him similar to him - even, according to the creation story,
created from his body. So one might extrapolate and say as well: "It
is not good for woman to be alone".
Nonetheless things in this world are not as they ought to be, for sin
has entered in and corrupted the loving relationships that ought to
exist between beings. Thus it often happens that men and women find
that they must be alone for various reasons and seasons. And then
temptations come - to accept partners with whom one does not share a
true commitment of love and fidelity and then to share intimacies,
which are pleasant indeed, but ultimately do not bring real
satisfaction. For after the glow of satiation is over one is still
left alone, hungering for something more, sad and confused that the
perceived state of bliss is so fleeting.
It seems, you see, (and this is what the Bible and the Church hold to
be true) that sexual intimacy is intended for strengthening and
deepening the growth in communion of two beings who have made a
commitment to each other in the Lord and before their brothers and
sisters. Outside of such a life of commitment, with all the
challenges it brings, such intimacy simply does not hit the mark. And
because it seems to offer so much in the way of pleasure, contentment
and togetherness the disappointment and disillusion that come as a
result of the misuse of such intimacy are profound. That is why
followers of Jesus tend to hold on to celibacy, asking Him to help them
deal with their needs, their victories and their defeats, until they
find themselves blessed (and challenged!) with the opportunity to
embark upon a life of commitment to a partner. Then, sexual intimacy
becomes a true and wonderful blessing. And there continue to be
challenges and temptations. The only answer I know for dealing with
these is to keep on humbly, gratefully, and trustingly walking step by
step with the Lord and seeking to find, step by step, with His help,
the path in which one ought to walk to fulfil the vocation - a glorious
and lofty one - which is been given to us.
That vocation is nothing less than to be a saint! To be sure, in the
true and original meaning of the word, which is: to be different, to be
set aside, to shine as beacons in a world where the darkness of sin and
temptation are all around. To admit that we are not as we ought to be,
and to refuse to give way to this state. To seek over and over to
become more and more manifestly that which we are created and called to
be: children of the Light, children of God, participants in the true
Humanity which has been revealed in Jesus Christ, which is also in
perfect harmony with divinity.
No easy task. But this is the only way to find lasting joy, peace and
love. And what a wonderful path it is!!!
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