A commitment is not a straitjacket

FAR from straitjacketing or stereotyping us, entering into a

commitment would simply show that we are so driven with love and a

deep sense of freedom that we are willing to take on whatever

consequences our commitment would make on us.

   

          We are human with a soul that is spiritual but with a body

that is material. While our spiritual self orients us to the infinite

and to an endless range of possibilities, our material self puts us

under so many conditions and specifications. In a sense, a commitment

concretizes the spiritual in us.

  

          We have to learn how to blend these two fundamental

qualities of our being, because we can neither be purely spiritual nor

purely material. We have to be both. Our spiritual self needs to be

materialized, while our material self needs to be spiritualized.

   

          And entering into a commitment simply puts the spiritual and

infinity-oriented character of our love and freedom into the material

conditions and specifications of our life. A commitment is our love

and freedom expressed in a concrete and specific way. It makes our

love and freedom avoid being fuzzy. Rather, it makes them clear.

  

          While a commitment has its costs, requirements and

obligations, we would be willing to meet and assume them precisely

because of love and our sense of freedom. A commitment shows our level

of maturity. When we enter into a commitment, we know what we are

giving up in order to gain something much better than what we give up.

   

          A commitment reflects what Christ once said about a certain

detachment that is necessary to be with him. “If anyone comes to me

and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and

brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple,”

he said. (Lk 14,26)

  

          We have to understand what Christ really meant by “hate”

here. To be sure, it does not mean that we hate anyone in the usual

way we understand the word “hate.” Let’s remember that we are

commanded to love everyone, including the enemies.

  

          Rather to “hate” here means to be detached from anyone, no

matter how close he is to us, who can sort of compete with our love

for God. Nothing and no one should stand in the way of our love for

God, knowing that by loving God fully, we also would know how to love

everybody else properly.

  

          A commitment will always involve some sacrifices, some

giving up. This happens when a man marries a woman. He marries her

because he loves her, but when he already marries her, he is committed

to love her till death, with a love that, since it involves the body,

is exclusive.

  

          By marrying he knows that he has to raise a family, and

therefore should be ready to take on the pertinent responsibilities

that will require a lot of sacrifice.

  

          The same when a man enters the priesthood. He submits

himself to the requirements of celibacy, poverty and obedience, making

himself as available as he can to the assignments given him by his

bishop and the spiritual needs of the people.

  

          A man with a good sense of commitment knows that even if he

has a concrete way of doing things, he is not envious of how others

are with their own way of doing things. Neither does he feel superior

or inferior to them because of their different lifestyle.

  

          A commitment to a vocation provides one with a specific path

to reach his ultimate goal, which is to be with God in heaven. One

knows that his commitment to a vocation is one path among many others

that can bring us to heaven. We just have to respect each other and

try to figure out how we can mutually help each other.