Strive for Purity of Body, Mind and Spirit
I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things
of the Lord, how to please the Lord... And the unmarried or betrothed woman is
anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit.
1 Corinthians 7:32-35
of the Lord, how to please the Lord... And the unmarried or betrothed woman is
anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit.
1 Corinthians 7:32-35
The above passage from the Bible describes how all single people (the unmarried) should conduct their lives. All single people, no matter whether they are Catholic or not, are supposed to be conducting their lives according to God's Word and Commandments. But it is common knowledge that many single people nowadays are not living by the Commandments of God and that goes for many single Catholics as well.
As we all know, the world and its many forms of impure distractions have taken the place of God in our current world. Pleasure and sexual immorality runs rampant today, especially among many single people because it has become an accepted way of life for those singles. Chastity and celibacy in unmarried people are no longer celebrated as they should be but many feel that they are a hindrance instead of a blessing. The life of Our Lord Jesus should be a model of how men should conduct their lives and how they should avoid sexual immorality because it destroys the life of the soul due to mortal sin. Also, for single women, they should be modeling their lives after the purity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Both single men and women need to learn how to discipline their lives so they will not offend the Almighty Father or Our Lord Jesus. So, what do you do if you have already been sexually active as a single person? Jesus made it clear to Mary Magdalene what she should do according to Scripture:
"Teacher," they said to Jesus, "this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery.
In our Law Moses commanded that such a woman must be stoned to death. Now, what do you say?"
They said this to trap Jesus, so that they could accuse him. But he bent over and wrote on the ground
with his finger. As they stood there asking him questions, he straightened up and said to them,
"Whichever one of you has committed no sin may throw the first stone at her." Then he bent over again
and wrote on the ground. When they heard this, they all left, one by one, the older ones first.
Jesus was left alone, with the woman still standing there. When Jesus stood up, he said to her,
"Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" "No one, Lord," she answered.
"Neither do I condemn you," said Jesus. "Go, and from now on do not sin anymore."
John 8:4-11
In our Law Moses commanded that such a woman must be stoned to death. Now, what do you say?"
They said this to trap Jesus, so that they could accuse him. But he bent over and wrote on the ground
with his finger. As they stood there asking him questions, he straightened up and said to them,
"Whichever one of you has committed no sin may throw the first stone at her." Then he bent over again
and wrote on the ground. When they heard this, they all left, one by one, the older ones first.
Jesus was left alone, with the woman still standing there. When Jesus stood up, he said to her,
"Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" "No one, Lord," she answered.
"Neither do I condemn you," said Jesus. "Go, and from now on do not sin anymore."
John 8:4-11
You may be saying, "Well, I haven't committed adultery." That may be so, but Jesus is also addressing the sexually immoral people of the world as well in that Scripture passage. Single people who have committed sexual sins can still be reunited with God and Jesus if they go to confession and confess their sins to a Catholic priest and receive absolution by the priest. In the last sentence of the Scripture passage, Jesus is telling people that have committed sexual sins that they should "Go, and from now on do not sin anymore." This is a direct order by Jesus Himself. Therefore, single people, especially single Catholics, should take Jesus at His Word. Jesus is willing to forgive sins of sexual impurity but, once a sin is confessed, it is imperative that one not sin again against God.
What many people forget is that at the end of their lives, they will meet Jesus face to face and they will be judged by what they have said and done in this life. This life should be thought of as a journey that we are taking that should lead to Heaven. This life is only temporary. The next life, whether in Heaven or in Hell, will be eternal and forever.
So, how can single Catholics strive for purity of body, mind and spirit? There are ways that will help single Catholics strive for purity of body, mind and spirit. First, single Catholics can strive for purity of body by learning how to respect themselves and others by realizing that the Holy Spirit dwells within us and others. You should not abuse or misuse your body with immoral, impure and/or sexual acts because:
"You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a
great price, so you must honor God with your body."
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
great price, so you must honor God with your body."
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Second, single Catholics can strive for purity of mind by learning how to discipline their mind to behave wisely and to avoid impure thoughts by praying for purity of mind, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." (Psalm 51:10) Also, St. Paul advises that we:
“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality,
impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.”
Colossians 3:5
and
"Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolators nor adulterers
nor sodomites nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers
nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God.
That is what some of you used to be; but now you have had yourselves
washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the Name of the
Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God."
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.”
Colossians 3:5
and
"Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolators nor adulterers
nor sodomites nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers
nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God.
That is what some of you used to be; but now you have had yourselves
washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the Name of the
Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God."
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Third, single Catholics can strive for purity of spirit by learning good, clean, healthy, pure and virtuous habits every day. Once you learn how to live by virtue, your life will change for the better. You will learn to behave well with others and to respect every human being, as a brother and sister of Christ.
It is advisable to confess every month whatever sins we have accumulated for that time period. Venial and mortal sins can erode our good judgement little by little. Little sins can eventually turn into bigger sins so we dare not take the chance of foregoing confession due to laziness but people must go to confession as soon as a mortal sin is committed.
It is possible to become a holy person even in this earthly life. It just takes commitment, faithfulness, obedience to God, to His Commandments and to the Catholic Church, prayer, persistence in virtue and a reliance on our Almighty Father and on Jesus Who is The Master of our lives.
It is advisable to confess every month whatever sins we have accumulated for that time period. Venial and mortal sins can erode our good judgement little by little. Little sins can eventually turn into bigger sins so we dare not take the chance of foregoing confession due to laziness but people must go to confession as soon as a mortal sin is committed.
It is possible to become a holy person even in this earthly life. It just takes commitment, faithfulness, obedience to God, to His Commandments and to the Catholic Church, prayer, persistence in virtue and a reliance on our Almighty Father and on Jesus Who is The Master of our lives.
