1 Corinthians 7:34

  • Thread starter Thread starter dove51
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
D

dove51

Guest
I’ve been pondering this verse lately and I’m actually really worried about how dead on it seems to fit my life right now:

“And the unmarried woman and the virgin thinketh on the things of the Lord: that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she that is married thinketh on the things of the world: how she may please her husband.”

I’m young and unmarried. I’m desperately trying to figure out my vocation, be it in religious life or in marriage. Both scenarios could be pleasing to me, I’m just waiting for God to let me know which he wants for me.

I am really worried about something, though–I’m not one to love by halves. I have a tendency to love in two extremes–either I’m in a phase where all I love is God and I don’t concern myself much with the love of other people, or I’m very focused on loving/being loved by others to the extent that I forget about God.

Right now I’m in the latter stage, and it frightens me. I’m thinking about marriage, and I’m worried that if I do get married, I’ll get so wrapped up in that relationship that I won’t have that deep love and high priority for God in my life, and I’ll end up losing salvation over it. I feel very far away from God right now because of it. Almost like we’re strangers. That’s obviously not good.

I was hoping someone here might have something to say about this? Is it uncommon to feel this way, like I have to choose between Jesus or people? I am wondering if it is even possible for me to get married and remain an active, faithful Catholic who keeps God first in her heart.
 
There’s a lot of faithful saintly married woman. Like for example, saint Rita, saint Monica, saint Anne, not to mention Mary Mother of God!

Anyway, if you don’t want to lose God make sure your future spouse loves God. That way, he will surely keep you in line. Another thing is, bring God into your relationship. For example, do church activities together, pray together, etc.
 
Hi, the two loves are intertwined"…a person who does not love the brother that he can see, cannot love God whom he has never seen.” [1 letter of John 4:20-21]

God, love and glorify Yourself in us
God, how can I fulfil Your commandments to others and to love and worship God above all?

Unlike holy souls who effuse great joy and praise, my attempts to love and worship You seem very poor. I am child of a scientific and empirical era in a world of physical realities and challenges. I desire faith in Your loving action in temporal affairs even where it is hidden. I desire to praise and love in whatever way You desire, however little understanding I have of Your ways and truth.

It seems to me that loving You is about choices. Jesus witnessed that our salvation depends upon love and service of God in other persons. He proclaimed that, “Whatever you do for even the least of my little ones, you do for Me” who am God. Therefore, we love and worship You in our care of others.

You command that we love others enough to strive even unto death of something of ourselves for their welfare, as Jesus did. I ask You to love others wholeheartedly in my thoughts, prayers, my words and actions. Please bring about blessings for them even in my worst failures to witness Your love. Please develop my trust in Your loving action in temporal affairs even where it remains hidden.

We glorify You in the Eucharist, that summit of worship, petition, and thanksgiving, God’s own offering and fulfilment through Son and Spirit, with the whole Body of Christ. We worship You in the Eucharist as individuals, yet as brothers and sisters of the community. Let me, let us, thus love and worship You in communion.

Blessed be Jesus, who gives us redemption and Eucharist. Blessed be the Spirit who channels His Gift, and gives us creative ways to praise and love God. Blessed be God who is able to give Yourself the honour and praise that we desire to give You.

God alone can appreciate the depths of God, therefore love and delight Yourself in us so that we truly love You. I ask that whatever my activity or state of mind, You will love and adore Yourself in me, our God. Delight Yourself within me in every moment of my existence. This is possible to You for whom “nothing is impossible.” [Genesis 8:14]
 
tee said:
Anyway, if you don’t want to lose God make sure your future spouse loves God.
Click to expand...
**
Exactly, I agree. In all vocations (married or single or religious) we are called to place God FIRST.

I think your statement about not loving in “halves” is interesting. If you approach marriage in the right way, you are not loving Jesus with one half and your spouse with the other…you are loving DOUBLE. The more you love God the more you are able to truly love your spouse. And the more you truly love your spouse the more you love God. Love multiplies, not divides.

So, if you have had the problem in the past of putting people before God, try to really figure out how and why. And find yourself a good faithful Catholic man who will be just as concerned with helping you get to heaven as you are him. When you fall, he will carry you. When he falls, you will carry him.**
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top