Reflections 1/14/2020: I am fascinated with Pope Francis’s openness to at least discuss allowing the clergy to be married… no longer making celibacy a requirement for the priesthood or nun-hood! That seems sooo revolutionary! But the truth of the matter is that the Roman Catholic Church existed for 1100 years with celibacy as an OPTIONAL choice… more than 1/2 of their existence! It was not until the Second Lateran Council (1139) that whole of the Western Catholic Church decided to accept people for ordination ONLY AFTER they had taken a promise of celibacy.  Sure, Jesus chose to be unmarried, but did not make that a requirement of even His chosen 12 disciples. In fact Peter, the rock on whom Jesus planned to build His Church, was clearly married. I guess growing up Protestant, and seeing my married pastors passionately and effectively serving Christ in a married state, has skewed my take on this… AND experiencing my own deep commitment to Jesus in my married state. 

We are just now studying in Acts the constant tendency of people to keep adding requirements to the simple gospel message. The first Jerusalem Council (48) took a strong stand against this… trying to stamp out add-ons from square one! Requiring celibacy for purity and holiness feels a lot like that to me. Sooo, it will be interesting to see where this goes! God, I thank You for Ed, my husband, who daily enhances my intimate walk with You through being a powerful vessel through which You convey Your love for me!