Fr Xavier Writes 6th October 2024
We are called this 27th Sunday to reflect on the dignity of marriage and the permanence of marriage commitment. This question is surfacing more and more in today’s church, as we are bombarded from all sides by the worldly view that lifelong marriage is unacceptable. We are here to obey God; not people who are more focused on convenience than commitment.
Life could be described as a journey, and marriage is two people making that journey together in partnership. The newlyweds pledging themselves to each other stirs something deep within us - it’s an acknowledgement to the community that their lives have taken a new direction through the power of love, which demands mutual respect and trust of each other.
A good marriage must be created. In marriage, the little things are the most important, like speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways. It’s the capacity to forgive and to forget, which means never going to sleep angry. A married couple cannot stand together and face the world unless their union is based on love. Love is what cements and binds that relationship together for life; hope that has to be lived for years, through good and bad times.
Remember always the solemn pledge, made at the altar of God, to love each other for better or for worse; a pledge that should not trip lightly off any tongue.
