Bible Reflections I 13.08.2021 - Friday I Indraya Manna

Ordinary Time - Week 19

Readings 

            I - Joshua 24: 1-13

           II - Mt. 19:3-12

CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE: A SACRAMENT  

In today’s Gospel passage as a response to the question posed by the Pharisees, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause?”, Jesus highlights the supremacy of marriage, in which man and woman become one flesh, a union inseparable and willed by God Himself. Marriage is a covenantal relationship characterised by unity and indissolubility rooted in fidelity and faithfulness to one another.  It is the replica of the relationship between Christ and the Church (Eph. 5: 22-23) and hence it is a sacrament.  It is a lifelong commitment to one another all in mutual love, understanding, forbearance, flexibility, adaptability, humility and patience.  

Despite marriage being a sacrament, break ups too are not uncommon today.  Couples get separated for silly and capricious reasons.  The sacrament of matrimony gets shattered in each one’s striving for false freedom, carefree living, autonomy grounded in utter selfishness and egotism, intolerance at the success of the other, considering the other not as their life partner but as their rival, self-righteousness and pride.  A family that prays together stays together.  Prayer strengths the nuptial bond and family relationship building bridges beyond barriers turning hatred into love, discord into harmony, non-acceptance into acceptance, egotism into altruism, rivalry into  companionship and pride into humility.  Habituate family prayer and nurture fruitful living making family a church in its miniature.  In the silence of our hearts let us keep repeating: “Lord Jesus, Bless our family”.