The camera zooms in on his face; sweat drips from his brow, his hands tremble as he yanks at the white collar around his neck. It’s just another television show on one of those no-annoying-commercials TV stations in which a priest faces quite a dilemma. His hormones have taken his vows and momentarily chucked them right out the stained glass window. The end result – a priest that is not too thrilled that he had gotten thrilled. A scene that is, perhaps, repeated all too frequently in seminaries and convents alike, if I am any judge of human desire. Join me, if you will, in a little attempt to re-write the script concerning this burning issue.
OK, let’s get our Bible straight – after all that’s what the whole restraint system is supposedly based on. In the Old Testament, God had appointed a whole tribe, the Levites, to fulfill the priestly function that was required. Clearly there was no restriction placed on that tribe as regards marriage or the priestly function would have perished long before the Israelites ate a single grape in the Promised Land. There was no honey taken out of their milk. There’s a funny side effect of non-restraint called continuance.
Then comes the New Testament. Here we find a truth that’s sure to shatter the stone walls of any church. Well, I didn’t write the Book so if you’re a Bible grocery shopper please ignore the following. The New Testament states that Jesus Christ has taken care of the priestly function once and for all. Biblically speaking, there is no priestly function left to fulfill. The sign in the window reads, “NOT HIRING”. Once you’ve got an ace employee doing the job, you can fire the HR people.
Why you might ask, and you really should, is there such importance placed, in some denominations, on the priestly function today? The answer, quite simply, is MAN. It’s mankind’s continual desire to please the Creator by his own works while God continually says that “I’m pretty pleased with what my Son has done.” God says, “Christ did it all for you.” Man responds, “Yes, but let me add a few flowers, beads, a nice statue, and a really reverent hat.” God says “I don’t really care what you wear”. Man responds “But it’s such a nice habit!” God says, “Don’t call anyone but me your Father”. Man responds, “Is it OK to do that Father Murphy?” God says “Confess your sins to me.” Man responds, “It’s a sin not to go to confession.” God says, “Better to marry than to burn.” Man responds, “Don’t marry or you’ll burn.” And so it goes.
Look, before you throw the book at me about my comments on the Book, let me state for the record that should you choose to repress any desires you have for the sake of any cause – it is perfectly your right to do so. But back up just for a second if you’re going to do it in the name of God. The fact of the matter is that He just doesn’t require it. To paraphrase the great Martin Luther, “Unless convinced by scripture, I will not recant my comments.” Priests in the Old Testament had families; Jesus Christ was and is the last priest. Then along comes man with his incessant desire to patch, impose, legislate, repress, and regulate – to edit a picture that has already been perfectly framed. Only man could fill with guilt men (and women) whose sincere desire is to please God.
All right, back to our story on that no-annoying-commercials TV station. Allow me to indulge and take a little literary license with the closing scene. A small wedding at a country church. A warm Spring day, some cows in the fields and the sound of distant crows. A few friends gathered to celebrate the joyous occasion. The minister turns to the happy couple, “Do you Father take this Sister to be your…” – you know the rest.