Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, through today’s readings, we are offered a profound reflection on the beauty and sacredness of marriage, rooted in the creation narrative from Genesis and articulated further by the teachings of Jesus as we see here in the Gospel of Mark. Marriage, as we know it, is not merely a social contract or an arrangement; it is a divine institution, designed by God as a reflection of His love for humanity.
In Genesis 2:18-24, we hear how God created the first woman from the rib of the first man, signifying the deep unity and intimacy that should characterize the marital relationship. God’s declaration that "it is not good for the man to be alone" emphasizes that companionship is a fundamental aspect of our humanity (Gen 2:18). The union of husband and wife—"the two shall become one flesh"—is a sacred mystery, one that is blessed and sanctified by God Himself.
The beauty of this marital love is echoed throughout our readings. Psalm 128 beautifully illustrates the blessings that flow from faithfulness in marriage, where the wife is likened to a fruitful vine and children as olive plants. This imagery captures the richness that family life can bring—nurturing, cultivating, and strengthening our community.
However, as we reflect on the divine purpose behind marriage, we must also acknowledge the current crisis and attacks against the family unit. Today, families face numerous challenges—divorce, loneliness, mental health issues, and the pervasive individualism of our culture. Exorcists have noted how the devil targets marriage and family because he understands the power of love and unity as a witness to the light of Christ. Hence, the very definition of traditional marriage is challenged, opposed,
and at times even ridiculed by our modern politics with the hopes of appealing to the non-religious or non-believers. The great rally cry is “love is love”, but it is an abuse of the word which sees people believing they can and have indeed married things like animals, trees, and yes, even themselves. Hence, the love which God speaks of is unconditional love within a context. If a man “loves” the wife of his neighbour, he can’t pursue her simply because he thinks she’s the best, or that she really likes him in return. There are confines which allow true love to grow and flourish. The challenge before us is not merely to withstand these dangers but to actively promote the beauty of marriage—something that requires our intentionality and courage.
How do we respond to this crisis? First, we must turn to the heart of the Church and her teachings. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, "The matrimonial union... is a reality that is established by God" (CCC 1601). This reveals that marriage is not solely about personal happiness but about participating in God's divine plan for creation and about his will transcending ours for our own good and that of others. The highest good, the greatest gift, will always be eternal life with him, and so all sacraments, marriage included, are directed ultimately to this end—attaining our eternal salvation by cooperating with God’s grace.
Furthermore, we can look to our families and communities and make a concerted effort to strengthen marital bonds. Parents and guardians should strive to model love and fidelity. "By mutual self-giving, husband and wife respond to the divine call to love and be loved" (CCC 1642). This self-giving is not just an act but a commitment—a daily choice that invites God's grace into our relationships.
Above all we must turn to prayer, inviting God to bless our marriages and families. The importance of praying together and for one another cannot be overstated. In doing so, we fortify our relationships against the attacks of the enemy.
In the Gospel reading, Jesus emphasizes that what God has joined together, no human being must separate (Mk 10:9). This
is a confirmation that when two people meet, be it for the first time, or over the span of months and years, it is God who initiates the union. Much like a priest who is called by Christ, more than he himself choosing this. As Jesus reminded his apostles, “You did not choose me, but I chose you.” As individuals, our preparation for marriage must be anchored in solid faith, moral guidelines, and a willingness to embody the love of Christ while knowing that he is the one who always takes the initiative to love us first. We need to believe that God loves us profoundly, and that in fact much more than we can ever imagine, because we can give ourselves to a lifelong-commitment to Christian marriage or the vocation of Holy Orders.
Let us not allow the challenges of our time to dim the sacredness of this union. Instead, let us take inspiration from the words of Pope Saint John Paul II, who said, "As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live" (Familiaris Consortio, 86).
Let us continue to champion God’s idea and will in marriage, and not the manifold opinions that are out there which run counter to reason itself. We know who the author of confusion is. For this reason we would do well to continually seek the angelic protection of our Guardian angels and Saint Michael and his archangels, but also of the Seraphs, the Cherubs, Thrones, Dominations, Principalities, Powers, and the Virtues. They all behold the eternal and infinite beauty of God, a loss of vision which Satan to this day yearns for, more than anything else. That beauty emanates from the God’s very essence, which is love. God is love, and the love of marriage is therefore rightly likened to Christ’s sacrificial love for his Church, as his bride. May we continue to pray for the Church and our young Catholic couples, so that our traditional family unit may continue to
overcome all the assails of the devil and one day thrive to the glory and honour of our Father in Heaven.
Oh Blessed Mother, Bride of the Holy Spirit, and Queen of Heaven, pray for our families and for all of us who have recourse to thee. Amen.
To all of our married listeners; May the Lord bless you and shine his face upon you. May he strengthen you with divine love to withstand all assaults, and may the infernal spirit be restrained by the Great Restrainer and all his angels, as through the intercession of Queen of all families we call down his blessing upon you and your family: in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Go in peace. Thanks be to God.
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