“This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh;” (Genesis 2:23).
The major theme for this 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time focuses on the bond of love that marriage creates between a man and a woman, a bond that God wishes to be permanent. The readings challenge the spouses to practice the fidelity of their ever-faithful God, honoring their holy covenant before Him and one another.
Many theologians, philosophers, scripture scholars concur that marriage is one of the most fulfilling, as well as one of the most demanding of all relationships. Unity in marriage is an ideal, which requires careful and continual effort and attention because marriage is not the union of two identical clones but of two distinctive persons. In an authentic marriage, two people live in mutual love and complementarity, wherein each person finds fulfillment and realization with the other.
Rather than narrow life or constrict freedom, marriage should complete and enhance it. In the mutual giving of two committed persons all the circumstances of life can be shared; all the happenstances in life can be met and managed. At times, these circumstances can be delightful because each partner is at his/her best. However, “for better or for worse,” two people must also love and accept one another when they are tired or upset, when money is tight, when illness strikes, when days are long and tempers are short, when children stretch the bond of love to the limit.
Only a love that is willing to endure the bad times as well as the good can support and sustain the unique relationship of marriage.
God does not want us holding a relationship of Transaction but Transformation. Therefore, Dynamic Christian disciples are those who (1) BELIEVE, (2) GROW, (3) SERVE, (4) LOVE and (5) LEAD others to Jesus. Today’s topics focus on the vocation and nature of marriage and challenge us to imitate the relationship between Christ and the Church.
How can we promote and protect a good marriage, having sympathy to the divorced, accepting them with respect, compassion, sensitivity, love and support, sharing the depth of their pain?
Wishing everyone a blessed week in the Lord.