Wednesday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time
(I Corinthians 7:25-31; Luke 6:20-26)
Some thought at the beginning of the present century that
the world would live perpetually in peace.
One intellectual wrote of “the end of history.” By the term he meant an enlightened
world that recognizes the folly of war and the need to create prosperity for
all. The events of this day – September
11 – in 2001 disabused everyone world of this dream. In today’s first reading St. Paul also
imagines history coming to an end with the revelation to the world of Christ’s
majesty. Paul proposes ideals for
individuals with the end of history in mind.
With the world soon coming to an end, Paul thinks it best
that people do not seek marriage. Rather
they should wholly concern themselves with pleasing the Lord. Intense prayer and devotion would be in
order. Of course, Christ’s coming has
not taken place yet. The world remains a
place of contention and pride. Although
there is always need for some to give full attention to the Lord, marriage is
in greater need than ever.
Marriage sears people of the illusion that they are
individuals who can live happily by themselves.
Children, the fruit of marriage, require growth in responsibility. Marriage itself should turn the couple to God
who provides the moral strength to overcome its various challenges. As much as youth today eschew marriage, it is
as necessary as ever if as a society we are to meet the threats of a still
dangerous world.
