Wednesday of the
First Week in Ordinary Time
(I Samuel 3:1-10.19-20; Mark 1:29-39)
Many people discern a call to serve the Church, but few believe
that God may be asking them to remain unmarried. They fear being left unfulfilled as human
beings if they do not give themselves to another in sexual intimacy. Entertainment conveys this message, and
parents encourage their children to give them grandchildren. Albeit in an oblique way, the first reading
today addresses this question of vocational celibacy.
The biblical author indicates that a vocation is not
easily discerned by commenting that “a revelation of the Lord was
uncommon.” Yet the Lord does not cease
to knock at Samuel’s door. The priest
Eli provides the key to discernment of God’s call. Samuel must converse with the Lord in deliberate
prayer if he is to understand what God wants of him.
We should understand that the Church does not hold
virginity and celibacy high because sexual intimacy is suspect. Quite the contrary, it recognizes the beauty
and, indeed, the necessity of married love.
But it also is alarmed by the fascination of uncommitted sex today. By holding its priests to celibacy and by encouraging
women to consecrate their lives to Christ, it underscores the existence of the One
who orders our lives. God not pleasure gives us lasting happiness. Deep
and continual prayer will tell whether God is calling us to testify to Him in
this special way.
