In our Gospel today from Matthew 19:3-12, Jesus says not all can accept marriage, some have “renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom”. This is a hard concept for many people to accept. I have heard people say, “I feel sorry for those poor priests or nuns because they can’t be married”. I have heard others say, “I don’t want my son to be a priest, or my daughter to be a nun because I want grandchildren.”
In my experience, I don’t know of any priest, nun or single deacon that wishes they were married, and I know quite a few. Jesus calls some to marriage and some to remain single for the kingdom, and both are authentic calls from God.
I don’t believe we should ever interfere with a call from God. My wife Mary Jo and I had been dating for a couple of years, when we both wondered if we were being called to be single. We took a break from dating, not because of any problems, but to discern God’s call in our lives. Even though I was in love with her, I encouraged her to discern becoming a nun, because I didn’t want to get in the way of what might be a true call for her life. Boy did she turn some heads when she went up for the blessing for women discerning to be nuns on a Cursillo weekend! After some time, God showed us both that he was calling us to marriage.
So let us take this Gospel to heart, and not interfere or impose our will on God’s call to others. That call is between them and God!
De Colores, Deacon Kevin
