1 Corinthians 7:29-31
I tell you, brothers and sisters, the time is running out.
From now on, let those having wives act as not having them,
those weeping as not weeping,
those rejoicing as not rejoicing,
those buying as not owning,
those using the world as not
using it fully.
For the world in its present form is passing away.
I imagine that had our current Holy Father quoted the first two lines from the above passage there would be those who would report that Pope Francis is changing the Church’s teaching on marriage! The fact is some things change and some things do not. There are the eternal teachings which have been handed on to us. There are disciplines, like not eating meat on Fridays, that can change. In fact, life itself is not all that stable.
Perhaps the words of St. Paul are responsive to these questions, when he advises radical detachment from every cherished good. Business, family, feelings, all indeed lovely—all messages from God's bounty—but none of them is God's very self. No one of these lavish gifts is the Giver.
We are all, in effect, pilgrims, prophets, apostles, and sojourners in this passing bright circus of the world. We all have our message to give and our own act to perform. Such is the nature of our call into existence. This is important, but pales when compared to the glory that is ours in Christ Jesus. In Him is our security, our joy, our salvation! Praise be to God.
Joyfully, Father Mike