Beginning with Christ, Not Ourselves

Such beautiful, insightful new perspective by Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P., from his audio retreat Heaven: Obstacles and Opportunities:

What does one do...if for one reason or another, marriage is not ever going to be possible? Is one destined for a life of continued frustration, and lack of sexual fulfillment?...First of all, married or unmarried, it is only Jesus Christ who can fulfill us. How He chooses to fulfill us is a matter of His design. Whether or not we attempt to follow that design is a matter of our choice. The fact that He doesn't call everyone to marriage does not mean that He doesn't call everyone to union with Himself. Notice how we answer the question by beginning with Christ, and not ourselves. The nature of the answer so depends on where we begin. If we see life as centered around our own concerns and achievements, our quest ends at the borders of our egos. If we see our life as centered around God, then our quest begins at the borders of our egos. How we think of ourselves then becomes a challenge of how we can please Him--our joy lies in knowing more and more about Him and what He wants of us. Whatever path the Lord asks us to follow, we can be sure that it will entail sacrifice because sacrifice is the language of love.