Is Purity Obsolete Nowadays?
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
Mt 1:18-25
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
3rd Misa de Gallo
Gospel reading talks about the birth of Jesus. Now Jesus’ birth was SCANDALOUS then. Today we hear often of young people having pre-marital sex. Well Mary herself was pregnant with Jesus even before Joseph took her.
Joseph is a good man. He strongly believes in the law. Thus when he heard that Mary was pregnant, he decided to divorce her as prescribed by the law.
But the law required stoning to death for those who commit adultery – like Mary. He really was in love with Mary – he could not imagine her stoned to death for being an unwed mother.
So he decided that the divorce be done in secret. Joseph had everything well planned.
But in a dream the angel revealed to Joseph the bigger picture. Mary’s son is the Messiah. Mary is pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit because her baby is Son of God. The angel advised him to switch his focus from his small family to the bigger plan of God for humanity.
Joseph then opened his mind – thinking not only of his own small family but of God’s bigger family – all of humanity. Joseph saw the bigger horizon of God’s plan of salvation. Joseph opened his mind and understood. But do we understand this episode as he did?
Like Mary who had previously opened her mind to God’s plan for her to be Mother of the Savior. Mary and Joseph opened their minds and understood. But do we understand this episode as she did?
Besides this episode in the life of Joseph and Mary in our own present day we might not also understand many other things – among them purity. Nowadays we say purity is impossible. We do not believe that a pure boy exist today.
We often say: Why be pure? Do pure boys (or pure girls) still exist? We say: It isn’t easy to be good with all the pornography accessible even in cellphones with internet. Filth is just so accessible today.
But the fact is many people even young ones still maintain good habits including purity. They don’t smoke, drink or sleep around. They listen to and follow their parents. Do you believe these good people exist? One of them is this cute guy.
In fact, there are quite a lot like in this group – the Live Pure Movement in the Philippines. These young people do exist. They have come out to the open posting their beliefs on the web.
But the problem is many people have closed minds. One of them met the pope on his plane trip back from Africa to Rome. When Pope Francis arrived back from Africa he was asked by one journalist with a closed mind.
The man confronted the pope about the Church policy on prohibiting condoms. Many parts of Africa has a serious problem with STDs. He asked: “Why not allow condoms to reduce even a bit the problem.”
The man confronted the pope about the Church policy on prohibiting condoms. Many parts of Africa has a serious problem of STDs. He asked: “Condoms are not the only method of solving the epidemic, but it’s an important part of the answer. Why not allow condoms to reduce even a bit the problem.”
But Pope said: Like many who oppose the Church, you see only the small problem which is preventing pregnancy and STD. You need to open your mind to what is the bigger problem which for me is Fidelity.
Besides there are many other bigger problems in Africa than STDs e.g. hunger, war, water, environment. When we finally no longer have these problems, then the conversation can turn to condoms. Pharisees were like these placing the law above humanity.
We are invited then by the pope, Joseph and Mary and youths in the Live Pure Movement to OPEN OUR MINDS.
OPEN YOUR MINDS. After the example of Mary who accepted the Baby Jesus and Joseph who accepted Mary after thinking beyond his small family to the bigger humanity.
OPEN YOUR MINDS. After the example of many young people who still believe in purity in spite of the pressing influence of the internet.
OPEN YOUR MINDS. After the example of Pope Francis who went beyond the law to meet the the pressing needs of people in Africa.
Pope Francis invites us once again to open our minds in his encyclical FRATELLI TUTTI – On Fraternity and Social Friendship.
Pope Francis invites us once again to open our minds in his latest encyclical FRATELLI TUTTI – On Fraternity and Social Friendship
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