Scripture readings for today's reflection can be found at Friday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB
Our Lord is teaching us today the importance of the
vocation of marriage and that God should be in the center of each marriage.
Jesus is reminding us that, “…a man shall leave his father and mother and be
joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” Our Lord is reminding
us to enter into marriage carefully and with love and to keep God as the center
of the marital relationship. Jesus, knowing the challenges of human relations, tells
us that marriage is a spiritual bond that should not be rushed into. It’s not
like some sort of “business deal” where if things get tough, you just dissolve
the relationship and move on. Rather, each spouse, with their love for each
other, are to help each other grow ever closer to God. The vows are very clear:
in good times, and in bad times, in sickness and in health, till death do us
part. Further, they are to teach any children that come from this relationship,
of the love that God has for them. It is the parents’ responsibility to bring
the children up in the practice of their Christian faith. Is it easy? No! Is it
worthwhile? Yes, it is!
The Pharisees in today’s gospel were looking at
marriage not so much a relationship that should reflect God’s love, but simply as
something that can be dissolved if things don’t work out. They were looking at
it from the perspective of “law” as apposed to a relationship between a man and
woman with God in the center. They seemed to be insensitive to the fact that
there is more to marriage than just a contract. Marriage is the reflection of
God’s love for us.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us, “The matrimonial
covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership
of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses
and the procreation and education of offspring.”
Jesus further teaches in today’s gospel that, as
important as marriage is, not everyone is called to be married. He goes on to
say of marriage, “Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so;
some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced
marriage for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven.” What our Lord is teaching is
that not everyone is meant to be married. Some are called to the single life, some
to religious life or some to the priesthood. All vocational callings are from
God and should not be taken lightly.
Let us pray for all married couples that in whatever
struggles they are facing in their relationship, that they may keep God as the
center of who they are as married people and show that mutual love and respect
to each other so they can reflect that love of God to those in their life and to
the world.
Beautiful reflection! My parents were married for 64 years: from May 27, 1950 until my Dad died at the age of 91 on August 16, 2014. Whenever anyone asked Mom for the secret of their many years of faithful & devoted married life, she would respond "PUT JESUS AT THE CENTER IF YOUR MARRIAGE." My Dad would quip "the first 100 years are the hardest!" This is how they both lived & shared as partners in their life together: serving GOD, serving one another, serving family & extended family, serving the Church, & serving friends they "adopted" who became like family to us. Although I chose to remain single, I trust that I have been & am being faithful to their wonderful example of loving service.
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU for mentioning that not everyone is called to marriage & for referring to the single vocation, which is my vocation & which is frequently overlooked. I am grateful that the Catholic Church provides for & honors a variety of vocations, including the single vocation & the various lay expressions of religious orders.