Our Holy Father Andrew the Jerusalemite, Archbishop of Crete (740). Venerable Martha, Mother of the Holy Simeon of the Mountain of Wonders.
1 Corinthians 7:24-35. Matthew 15:12-21.
Read 1 Corinthians 7:24-35
In anticipation of the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, “for the form of this world is passing away” (1 Cor. 7:31), St. Paul advises the Corinthians to stay in their present marital state. He gives his advice not as a “commandment from the Lord,” but rather “as one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy” (1 Cor. 7:25). He advises those who are married to stay married and those who are unmarried to stay unmarried. That being said, he assures them: “But even if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned” (1 Cor. 7:28).
Why does Paul recommend the Corinthians to remain in their current marital state or even to stay unmarried if possible? He wants them to be able to “serve the Lord without distraction” (1 Cor. 7:35) because “the time is short” (1 Cor. 7:29). As Christians, our eyes should be ever oriented towards the coming in glory of Jesus Christ, for the advent of the fullness of God’s kingdom. Although Paul’s advice about marriage here was not a commandment from the Lord, he acknowledges that “keeping the commandments of God is what matters” (1 Cor. 7:19). No matter what our state in life is, whether we are single or married, our aim should be to care “for the things of the Lord” and how to please Him (1 Cor. 7:32).