Wednesday, April 7, 2010

God Instituted Marriage

Genesis 2:20-24
"The man gave names to all the cattle, all the birds of the air, and all the wild animals; but none proved to be the suitable partner for the man. So the Lord God cast a deep sleep on the man, and while he was asleep, he took out one of his ribs and closed up it's place with flesh. The Lord God then built up into a woman the rib that he had taken from the man. When he brought her to the man, the man said: This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; This one shall be called 'woman,' for out of 'her man' this one has been taken." That is why man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them shall become one body."
Men and women were created to be partners. Partners not only in cooperating with God to create new life, but to be partners on their journey through life. Husbands and wives are responsible for helping each other to determine the truth, follow the commandments, determine the right path in the situations, for growing closer to God, and ultimately for the sanctification of each other's souls. This is a tall order that should not be entered into lightly, hence the creation of the marriage vocation. It is a lifetime commitment, for richer or poorer, sickeness and health.

God knew it was not good for man to be alone. That we need each other, and especially a partner who we can trust not only to keep us company, or to serve us, but above all to help us achieve. He knew this so well that he even provided it for His own Son. God did not need Joseph to bring Jesus to the world. But He knew that Mary, great that she was, would need Joseph to help her to raise Jesus, and to grow to become the woman who was able to watch her son be beaten and crucified, and to become Queen of Heaven. Mary and Joseph both filled different, but equally important roles in their union. It was a hard time when Joseph obeyed the Angel and took Mary into his home as his wife, even in her condition. It was a decision of love, to love.

This requires a high degree of love. Love is what will bind you together in the hard times as well as the good times. Without love the good times are bad, and the bad times are hell. We must remember that love is not only a feeling, but it is a choice. We can choose to love our spouse, just as we choose to love God and follow Jesus. Jesus gave us the commandment to love, saying it is the greatest commandment. We are to love one another as Jesus loves his bride, the Church, and Jesus loves the Church more than we can fathom; and He has loved her through good times and bad throughout history.

Throughout the Old Testmant God had a high regard for the marriage covenant. And in almost all stories it is through or in marriage that God fulfilled his promises, and guided people down the right path. God promised Abraham decendents as numerous as the stars in the Heaven. Abraham knew his wife was barren. Did he abandon her saying, God has promised me children, therefore has verified my right to break our marriage covenent? No. He stuck with his partner through the hard times, and then was rewarded with Issac.

The book of Tobit (a personal favorite!) is not only a guide on how to choose a good spouse, but is a beautiful outline of what marriage means and takes. Take the time to re-read this short book.

1 comment:

  1. Lori, you are very right. I have not read the book of Tobit, but I will!

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