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“Without the basis of meaning, life becomes a very strange phenomenon,” says K. Kėvalas, speaking incredibly openly even on a subject as delicate as celibacy.
Therefore, the conversation with him on the “Kauno diena” program of “Žinių radijo” is not only about faith, but also about the questions that afflict each person: “Why am I here?” And “why am I here?” “How to transmit the faith so that people have more joy?” Asks Archbishop Kęstutis Kėvalas.
Everything changed one summer morning
K. Kėvalas entered the Priest Seminary at the age of 21 years. The cleric said he did not think of that path during childhood or adolescence.
“If someone had suggested, they would have said, ‘Go on your own and take that step.’ At first I thought of being a sound director. I went to Vilnius and talked about directing at the Film Studio. (I thought) maybe playing movies. I really wanted to connect my life with music in some way. (…) I also really enjoyed the technique.
I started studying radio electronics at Kaunas University of Technology. A year has passed, as if everything is fine, “said K. Kėvalas.
The young man’s world was shaken only by the words he heard one summer morning.
“It was the summer of 1991, I went to my mother’s hometown in the Rokiškis district, and suddenly I got up on Sunday to turn on the television, and (I see) the bishop speaks. At that moment, see the bishop speak it was something like the Ufonaut, so unexpected. ”That image stopped my attention.
He spoke so graciously that “seminaries have been opened, the homeland is free, we are invited to join the priesthood.” It was so neutral, but that phrase impressed me so much that I practically couldn’t recover, “said K. Kėvalas.
The young man was upset at the time, even beginning to think that he might be fed up with something.
“A thought came to me, ‘Or maybe I am that person?’ Life seems to be in order, the planes are there, friends are too, everything is moving forward, and suddenly it brings me out of cancer. In what years have I dried myself up with that question? (…) That swaying exhausted me. I made a decision (…) Peace came over him. As if he received a sign that maybe that’s my way. Although, of course, during the seven years of seminary that I would always consider, isn’t it really too much jazz here? How do young people say: the roof did not fall? ”Said K. Kėvalas openly.
The archbishop now admits that he feels he is sitting on his sled.
“Although, of course, there are always thoughts that ‘oh, if life had turned out differently, it might also have been an interesting journey’, but after being a priest for so many years, he is practically identical (with a profession). Although Immediately after priesthood ordinances, I would also consider out of inertia: “Should I be a priest?” But then you say, “Attention, here is your choice. Then comes the responsibility for that choice, ”said K. Kėvalas.
The first years of celibacy were not easy.
The cleric admitted that when he went to seminary, one of the most difficult questions that haunted him was how to deal with the body, how he would accept celibacy.
“Going to the seminar was number one: what will happen? If it doesn’t get along, how will it look here? One announces and the other does. You cannot do that, you have to accept. The most interesting thing is that the human body can tame this, “recalled K. Kėvalas.
However, according to the cleric, it can also be a motivating power for you.
“It is built to build a relationship. If you leave a relationship: the family, the husband’s wife, the energy is diverted to another side. (…) Celibacy makes you open to everyone. Everyone is a family, it is good for you being with people, they want to build those relationships, “said K. Kėvalas.
Although the cleric was outspoken, the early years of his youthful celibacy were certainly not easy for him.
“It just caught our eye then. You tame and the body gives way, ”said K. Kėvalas.
He wants to proclaim the faith with joy.
One of the questions a clergyman thinks about is how to pass on faith so that people have more joy.
“Faith in itself is an incredible motivating force to live, it gives us confidence and the strength of life and of other people. But we often convey that belief in a way that does not reflect content. The content is a nuclear bomb of hope, of joy. Western civilization is built on these foundations, it is tested, it works: cities and culture arise.
And our surrender is sometimes with malice or accusation. Then, as publishers, we distort the content we publish. Therefore, I am often concerned with how to present something good, ”said K. Kėvalas.
The archbishop takes Jesus as an example, when that transmission was very simple, through narrative, even through gentle humor.
“If you sympathize with the softness, simplicity, and originality of that initial announcement, it can teach you not to make sense, to do it simply, easily, and joyfully, because that’s good news. You should announce yourself happily,” said K. Kėvalas.
The cleric also does not agree with the fact that a person has to beat his chest and repeat: “I am guilty.”
“It just came to our attention then. We can talk about us as humans making mistakes, and that’s natural, but man himself is basically good. He creates himself as a creation of God. If you always humble yourself, you sin. Because by constantly humbling myself As a worthy person, I fall into another curve, that “I am worth nothing, I am not worthy of anyone, I am guilty.” Then nobody needs to settle, do nothing. It ends with the fact that you will not be fit for heaven, because it lacks courage, ”said K. Kėvalas.
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