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In cooperation with Bishop Geoffrey Robinson and
his publisher, John
Garratt Publishing, we have pleasure in presenting the end chapter
meditations from his book which has created so much interest around the
world. Today the reflection comes from Chapter Nine.
"A Turbulence and a Whirlpool"
In so far as a sexual act between two persons is based on love, it is
a means of giving expression to the very deepest longing of the human
heart. It can neither fully express nor totally satisfy that longing,
but it is one of the most profound and rewarding expressions of love there
is in human life. It helps to reinforce the truth that agape (self-giving
love) must constantly be renewed by eros (desire) and philia (affection).
Because the deepest longing of the human heart is as serious a topic
as there can be on this earth, one of its most profound and rewarding
expressions is also serious. Indeed, for those who see the deepest longing
of the human heart as the foundation of all that is spiritual and the
source of all meaning in life, its sexual expression is something we should
treat with the greatest care, and even reverence.
Sex can, of course, be pleasurable and desirable in itself, irrespective
of whether it is an expression of love or not, so sex and love are easily
divided, and there are many dangers when this division occurs.
At the same time, persons who find a lifelong relationship in which sex
and love are at all times and in every way in perfect harmony most probably
don't exist,' and it is obvious that one cannot speak of failure for all
who fall short of this near-impossible standard.
Sexual union is also the means by which new human life is created, and
the relationship between the expression of love and the creation of new
life is both complex and delicate. The complexity must never be oversimplified
or underestimated.
Sexuality is a mixture of body, mind and feelings and it seems to touch
the mystery of life itself, for it is a place where blind instinct, rational
thinking and strong emotions meet like three separate streams forming
a turbulence and a whirlpool. It is always ambiguous and paradoxical.
There is nothing quite like it in human life to mock our rationality and
give the lie to our claims of calm control.
When we begin to speak of morality in this field, we must tread lightly
and carefully.
Credit: These meditations
are taken from the end of chapter reflections in Bishop Geoffrey Robinson's
book, Confronting Power and Sex in the Catholic
Church Reclaiming the Spirit of Jesus, published
by John Garratt
Publishing. We thank Bishop Robinson and John Garratt Publishing
for permission to reproduce these meditations on Catholica
Australia.
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Bishop
Geoffrey Robinson who has degrees in Philosophy, Theology and
Church Law, was Auxiliary Bishop in the Archdiocese of Sydney from
1984 until his retirement in 2004. In 1994 he was elected by the
Australian Bishops to the National Committee for Professional Standards,
coordinating the response of the Catholic Church in Australia to
revelations of sexual abuse, and from 1997 until 2003 he was co-chairman
of this committee..
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We welcome your thoughts in response to Bishop Robinson's reflection
in our forum.
©2007
Geoffrey Robinson
[Sunday Reflections Archive]
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