Intimacy

Matthew Kelly has written a book called The Seven Levels of Intimacy. He explains that in every relationship, there are various ways for you to share intimacy with one another, some healthy and some not so healthy. Ultimately, every relationship is about loving another person and your wanting to be loved in return. yet, there are many times that we try and hide from others, usually out of fear, which is a fear that the other person will reject you, and this rejection is a very powerful means for you to avoid intimacy at any level.

We begin with Matthew Kelly's first three levels of intimacy, cliches, facts, and opinions. These levels can be used to begin a relationship, one that has potential to deepen into something pretty wonderful. But the danger with these levels is that you may decide to use these levels to avoid any real intimacy with another person.

Christ the King

We celebrate the kingship of Jesus Christ in this last Sunday of the liturgical year. What does it mean that Jesus Christ is King? The short answer is that his kingship means that he is the ruler over your life. But, when you acknowledge his kingship, it is not so that he rules you as a tyrant. His kingship is not solitary. No. He has made you a king as well for you to share in his royal kingship. When you were baptized, you were baptized as priest, prophet and king. You are called to exercise your kingship along with Jesus.

But just as a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand, you will not be able to remain in Jesus if you are not in agreement with him on how to rule your life. Basically, it comes down on how you rule your passions and emotions, and how you rule a life of virtue.

We have been discussing marriage for the last few weeks and now we are beginning a series on intimacy. What is it that you want most in your life? If you are like most people, you probably want to be loved. And being loved will go hand in hand with showing love. This is where intimacy comes in. It is a sharing of your life, of your hopes and dreans, of your fears and failings, with another person and allowing that person to share their hopes and dreams, their faults and fears and failings with you. When we then bring Jesus' kingship into our relationships, we will be able to share that intimacy that brings life, that brings an abundant life, to the person we are with. Abundant life will come through a true sharing of one's life with another, through love and mercy and forgiveness. It is the end result of living the fruits of the Holy Spirit: gentleness, kindness, peace, modesty, self-control, generosity, love and chastity.