23rd Week in Ordinary Time 2024 - Wednesday - Marriage, Celibacy, and Sept 11

 After spending a third of his letter addressing abuses and divisions within the Corinthian community, St. Paul turns to questions from the community or other areas of concern which had been reported to him.

Today’s passage is from a section dealing with Marriage and Virginity. It appears that there was considerable confusion about these topics. On one extreme, you had members of the community who were still abiding by the perverted sexual norms of the surrounding culture—Paul addressed these sins in the first part of his letter. On the other extreme, you had members of the community who were claiming that since Christ was coming soon, everyone needed to remain celibate and married people needed to practice total abstinence. 

While St. Paul recommends that those with the charism for perpetual virginity and celibacy should undividedly devote themselves entirely to the Lord, St. Paul also calls Christian marriage good. In his letter to the Ephesians Paul well develop the theology and sacramentality further teaching that sacramental Christian marriage is a sign, reminder, and expression of Christ’s union with the Church.

Paul’s approach of calling both celibacy and marriage good illustrates the beautiful unity-in-diversity of the Church. Celibacy, consecrated virginity and marriage can point to Christ. All Christians no matter their state are called to holiness.

The Lord’s teaching in the Gospel today, aren’t simply meant for priests and nuns, but for all Christians of all places of all times. All are to practice the beatitudes by cultivating poverty of spirit, mournfulness for sin, perseverance during trial, detachment from worldly riches, fame, and earthly pleasure. 

23 years ago today, our nation suffered a horrific terrorist attack resulting in the death nearly 3000 people. In the aftermath, Congress passed a bill requesting that the President designate September 11 as Patriot Day. 

Today, the U.S. flag is flown at half-staff at the White House and on all U.S. government buildings and establishments throughout the world; flags are also encouraged to be displayed on individual American homes. Additionally, a moment of silence is observed to correspond with the attacks, beginning at 8:46 a.m., the time the first plane, American Airlines Flight 11, struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

In a world full of such tremendous moral ugliness and disregard for human life, the task of the Christian is the same as it has been in every age, to cultivate holiness of soul that points others to Christ, to preach Christ and him crucified, for He is our only salvation and hope, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

- - - -  

That through Our Lady, Queen of Peace, terrorism and war, and the cheapening of human life may be brought to an end.

That our civil representatives may use their authority to lead and build our nation in godly ways.

For all those who harden their hearts toward God, for those who have left the Church, for all those in serious sin, for their conversion and the conversion of all hearts.

For the sick and afflicted, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, for victims of natural disaster and inclement weather, those who suffer from war, violence, and terrorism, for the mentally ill, those with addictions, the imprisoned, the unchaste, for the comfort of the dying and the consolation of their families. 

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased priests and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom. We pray.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord.