Are you free of a wife? Then do not look for a wife. - 1 Cor 7:27

[Kenny_Kamel]

I am a lector at the Cathedral of my Diocese and due to what I think it God’s Divine Humor, my reading yesterday included the thread title verse. Anyone who knows me or has read many of my posts on CAF knows that I am a 30 year old guy who desires to get married hopefully in the near future. I actually had a deep discussion about this subject with my best lady friend two nights ago and as soon as I read this while lectoring I looked up to see if she was gesturing to me

Anyway, would anyone care to share their thoughts on this verse and what Saint Paul was getting at? I have a hard time dealing with my desires for matrimony, I try to do as much as I can to no focus so much on these desires yet I cannot help but continuously seek out promising female prospects. Truly it seems that I always have at least one young lady on my mind, I don’t want to (and nor do they) have these thoughts detract from my faith life and other things I do with and for the Church but I can’t help but think that if I don’t do my part to make things come into fruition my desires in life will pass me by.

 

[philial]

St Paul’s reccommendation was not an order. Remember, he was talking to a Christian community that expected the return of Christ within their lifetime, so should remain free of entanglements in the meantime. But, he also said that it is better to marry than to burn up with desire!

While I’m not sure that constantly seeking likely females is helpful , having a desire to enter sacramental marriage is not, in itself, a bad ambition!

 

[mamaslo]

I have heard it explained that at the time, they thought the end was coming right away. So your focus should be on God.

the Church who was given to us by God says that marriage is a vocation…it helps you get to heaven. It is a sacrament and natural, it is good.

Paul was conscious of the normal issues between husbands and wives and it does compete with your attention to certain things. I think this also leads to the reason why priests are celebate. They only have the church family to deal with on a daily basis…Both are courageous tasks, if you ask me.

Read the catechism too, and this will help balance it all out. Marriage is to us as we are to Christ. If you are not married, then you are married to Christ alone. Often God sends someone along who you join with and it helps the relationship with God and helps in your formation, sanctification, and in the end, running the race to get the prize.

There is nothing wrong with you wanting to get married. But if you discern priesthood first, then you will know if you are/are not called to that and the bonus…you get closer to God.

 

[SonCatcher]

First, the context of St. Paul’s letter:

Early in Paul’s ministry, he was convinced that Jesus would return in such a short time that nobody had time to plan for anything. The time spent looking for a spouse would have been better spent praying and preaching. His later letters indicate an acceptance that this world would continue a little longer than he expected. Now most theologians are of the opinion that we likely have thousands of years before the end. The concept is known as the “fading of the parousia”. (on a side note, it would be good for us to heed our Lord’s warning about the wicked servant who started beating the other servants due to his master’s long absence)

That said, there is a practical sense which could be taken from the verse. When I was nearly 30 myself, I also longed to marry. Indeed, for nearly a decade, I felt somewhat envious of my friends who married. I was, during that time, “looking for a wife” and rather anxious about not finding her. At some point, however, I stopped (a grace, I am certain). The anxiety was removed and I was no longer “looking for a wife” (though I still desired to marry). In due time, I did meet the woman I eventually married. It seemed a very natural progression to me.

 

[In_Hoc_Signo312]

While I’m not sure that constantly seeking likely females is helpful , having a desire to enter sacramental marriage is not, in itself, a bad ambition!

Great, that means that my greatest wish isn’t wrong.

 

[GEddie]

While I’m not sure that constantly seeking likely females is helpful , having a desire to enter sacramental marriage is not, in itself, a bad ambition!

In fact, as marriage is a good, desiring it is correct.

But avidly looking can be counterproductive. And as God nowhere promised everybody a spouse, the temptation to make such a “quest” the center of our life must be resisted. IMNAAHO.

ICXC NIKA

 

[Dorothy]

St Paul’s reccommendation was not an order. Remember, he was talking to a Christian community that expected the return of Christ within their lifetime, so should remain free of entanglements in the meantime. But, he also said that it is better to marry than to burn up with desire!

While I’m not sure that constantly seeking likely females is helpful , having a desire to enter sacramental marriage is not, in itself, a bad ambition!

What you said above was what my pastor told us in his homily. He explained that the apostles thought Christ’s return would be very soon.

St. Paul also wrote very beautiful things about marriage!

 

[PJM]

=Kenny Kamel;9768555]I am a lector at the Cathedral of my Diocese and due to what I think it God’s Divine Humor, my reading yesterday included the thread title verse. Anyone who knows me or has read many of my posts on CAF knows that I am a 30 year old guy who desires to get married hopefully in the near future. I actually had a deep discussion about this subject with my best lady friend two nights ago and as soon as I read this while lectoring I looked up to see if she was gesturing to me

Anyway, would anyone care to share their thoughts on this verse and what Saint Paul was getting at? I have a hard time dealing with my desires for matrimony, I try to do as much as I can to no focus so much on these desires yet I .cannot help but continuously seek out promising female prospects. Truly it seems that I always have at least one young lady on my mind, I don’t want to (and nor do they) have these thoughts detract from my faith life and other things I do with and for the Church but I can’t help but think that if I don’t do my part to make things come into fruition my desires in life will pass me by.

1st. Cor. 7:26-28
I think therefore that this is good for the present necessity, that it is good for a man so to be. Art thou bound to a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife. [28] But if thou take a wife, thou hast not sinned. And if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned: nevertheless, such shall have tribulation of the flesh. But I spare you"

THE MESSAGE HERE IS ANSWER THE CALL TO A VOCATION THAT CHRIST HAS PICKED FOR YOU!

IF MARRIAGE…HAVE LOTS OF CHILDREN [GOD PERMITTING]

IF SINGLE STAY CHASTE

IF TO RELIGIOUS LIGE GOD WILL PROVIDE THE GRACES YOU NEED TO DO HIS WORK.

From Haydock’s Catholic Commentary:

“Ver. 25-28. Now concerning virgins, &c. He turns his discourse again to the unmarried, who (if they have made no vow) may lawfully marry, though he is far from commanding every one to marry, as when he says, seek not a wife. And such shall have tribulation of the flesh, cares, troubles, vexations in the state of marriage, but I spare you, I leave you to your liberty of marrying, or not marrying, and will not discourage you be setting forth the crosses of a married life”

God Bless,
pat /PJM.

 

[jcrichton]

I am a lector at the Cathedral of my Diocese and due to what I think it God’s Divine Humor, my reading yesterday included the thread title verse. Anyone who knows me or has read many of my posts on CAF knows that I am a 30 year old guy who desires to get married hopefully in the near future. I actually had a deep discussion about this subject with my best lady friend two nights ago and as soon as I read this while lectoring I looked up to see if she was gesturing to me

Anyway, would anyone care to share their thoughts on this verse and what Saint Paul was getting at? I have a hard time dealing with my desires for matrimony, I try to do as much as I can to no focus so much on these desires yet I cannot help but continuously seek out promising female prospects. Truly it seems that I always have at least one young lady on my mind, I don’t want to (and nor do they) have these thoughts detract from my faith life and other things I do with and for the Church but I can’t help but think that if I don’t do my part to make things come into fruition my desires in life will pass me by.

…if your Vocation is not that of the Priesthood or Religious, I cannot see how being married can detract from serving Christ both as a lay person and as a married man.

Will you be able to serve Christ better as a consacrated single man? None can tell you except your personal experience and Vocation… married or single your devotional life depends not on your maritus status but on your personal conviction and generosity towards the Body of Christ!

…as far as St. Paul’s encouragement… he understands that as a single person you can give yourself and of yourself more freely (not more genuinely) and in a greater capacity since you will not have the double burden of serving your spouse/family and the House of God!

Maran atha!

Angel

 

[Nigel7]

Anyway, would anyone care to share their thoughts on this verse and what Saint Paul was getting at?

I think that Paul simply knew the importance of watching football on Sunday afternoons free from any distractions.