Virginity to be mourned, so too celibacy...

The first reading on Thursday, 21st August, from the book of Judges (11:29-39) speak of Jephthah's predicament of having to offer his daughter, the only child, as a burnt offering in fulfillment of his vow after his victory over the Ammonites as she happened to come forth to meet him...
And the girl happily offers herself, provided she be spared for two months to go off down the mountains to mourn her virginity with her companions!

Yes, virginity seems to be an unusual, unnatural state that needs to be mourned as in the above story. So is celibacy, i suppose! 

The book of Genesis states, 'God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.' (1: 27) In the following chapter, in the second version of the creation story, the LORD God says, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him." (2: 18).

Jesus, when confronted by the Pharisees on divorce, quoted the above two verses in Mt 19:3-6! Following this, the astonished disciples wonder, "...it is not expedient to marry" (Mt 19:10). To this he responds, "Not all men can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven..." (Mt 19:11-12).

Jesus never seemingly demanded it of his disciples, nor was it a demand in the early church. And there seemingly was no special credit attached to such a state of life, if at all anyone  embraced it voluntarily.

Though it is said to be voluntary, there is no option among the Catholics for married clergy! Is it not against the nature of things? Is married clergy not Christian?

However, much later when Christianity became a state religion and the leadership was bestowed with power, position and possessions matters changed to retain and not to alienate the wealth by way of marriage, family etc. 

For that matter, most of the non-Catholics don't have this bizarre tradition and practice.

Conveniently we have equated celibacy with chastity! Chastity is holiness/perfection to which Jesus called his disciples to: "... be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect," (Mt 5: 48) in tune with the Levitical demand: "... be holy, for I am holy..." (Lev 11: 44).

Let's be honest to ourselves in order to regain our lost credibility and trustworthiness which again is an expression of holiness and perfection.

Is our claim to celibacy reflected in our lives?