One Flesh
One of the central themes often highlighted in Catholic marriage preparation courses and marital retreats is that love is not merely a feeling but a conscious decision. Feelings can be fleeting and influenced by circumstances, but the decision to love is steadfast and enduring. This decision is reflected in the daily acts of kindness, patience, and forgiveness that spouses show each other. It is in these small, consistent choices that the true strength of marital love is revealed.
Is that easy? Not always. The realities of life with its financial struggles, long working hours, temptations and disagreements can overwhelm a relationship. Those are just a few of the external factors that can lead to marital problems; the baggage we carry from childhood to the grave can also make some of us very difficult to live with.
Today’s Gospel reading about marriage can be particularly painful for those who have experienced divorce. Divorcees often feel isolated from the Church community because of the emphasis on marriage in Scripture and Church Tradition. However, the Church extends a compassionate invitation to all, including those who have gone through the pain of separation.
The message is clear: you are welcome to come home. The Church is a place of healing and reconciliation, where everyone should be able to find support and understanding. Tribunal offices help divorcees with their marriage annulments, and priests are often adept at dealing with issues surrounding the Sacrament of Marriage. I have received wonderful advice about my marriage in the Confessional over the years, which is a little surprising all things considered.
Prayer helps, particularly the Rosary and a thorough Examen, as does clear communication. Some days I feel the need to hand my marriage over to God just as I do my other challenges, and these are the days we get along the best.
As we reflect on today’s Gospel, let us remember that love is a decision—a daily commitment to act with love and compassion. We are also reminded to reach out to those who feel isolated, offering them the warmth and acceptance that Christ extends to all. In doing so, we strengthen the bonds of our community and live out the true essence of Christian love.
For further reading, I found this very good article called Seven Things Catholics Should Know About Marriage from Franciscan Media.
Today's Readings: Genesis 2:18-24 Psalm 127 Hebrews 2:9-11 Mark 10:2-16
Photo: Fresco: The Wedding at Cana, by Fritz Kunz (1906) Photo by Renata Sedmakova
Source: Twenty-seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time
This Sunday