Purity Among Young People (Mt 5:3-12)

Holiness is our goal, and we must not let ourselves be turned away from this vocation and from our goal of seeing God. To see God, one must be pure. The society in which we find ourselves is plunged into impurity. Even Christians are plunged into impurity. The consequences of impurity are:

-Adultery: a married man being with a married or unmarried woman

-Fornication: sleeping with someone when one is not married

-Concubinage: living with someone without being married

-Physical and moral prostitution

-Rape

-Pedophilia: which, in addition to being an impurity, is a scandal; therefore a double sin.

-Masturbation: giving oneself pleasure is selfish and contrary to God’s plan

-Pornography: the sexual act is created by God and must be discovered in the intimacy of the couple

-Homosexuality

-Fondling.

No reason should drive us to sin and we must not let ourselves be influenced by others, for Jesus tells us that we are not of the world. Nowadays, many marriages encounter difficulties because of a lack of formation. Chastity in marriage is learned in celibacy. There are settings such as nightclubs that are not to be encouraged. Although dancing is not bad in itself, this kind of setting increases the risk of falling into moral and physical impurity. This is why paroliens are advised to organize gatherings that end no later than 10 p.m., for it is better to avoid the darkness, knowing that the devil acts in the darkness. One must also avoid friends who lead us into sin, as well as worldly reading that influences us in a negative way. There is no freedom in sin. One is free only by ordering one’s life in God. « Everything is permitted to me, but not everything is good for me.» 1 Cor 6:12. If one has fallen, one must rise again by going to confession, for its purpose is to help us renew our relationship with God.

Spiritual maturity consists in controlling one’s desires. It will be difficult for you to remain faithful if you have had a shallow emotional life. Fornication, adultery, and impurity are mortal sins. One must have purity of gaze, so that even in the presence of others (particularly of the opposite sex), it does not influence you. Modesty is a spiritual virtue. One must also let God guide us in the search for our partner, for he always has the best choice.

Henri Bayemi