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To witness a 25th, 40th, 50th, 60th, or even 70th wedding anniversary reveals the wonder of God’s love at work in the lives of couples who persevere in faithfulness, care and love. Marriages are a tremendous witness to God’s love in the world. In marriage a man and a woman enter into a mutual sacramental consecration, a sacred covenant bond for life, excluding all others.
It is God who makes husband and wife holy as they cooperate with the grace of the sacrament. With the grace of baptism and confirmation strengthened with the marriage grace, which intensifies the couple’s relationship with the Trinity, the couple is consecrated to each other in a public declaration before God and society. They are consecrated as “one”, a couple who embrace the vocation of Christian marriage. They live in the mystery of the call of God and the mystery of one another and that means a lifetime of discovery as they grow together in the way of love and respect, helping and encouraging each other to live fully for God in the state of marriage.
Marriage in the Lord has a purpose of evangelization – calling people into relationship with Him. This is the key to a successful marriage – being God-centered – not just focusing on your spouse but having a relationship with God first. Couples should never marry out of need but rather out of strength. Having a solid, maturing relationship with the Lord is necessary to enter into a permanent relationship of shared life. We are to bring to marriage a certain psychological and emotional maturity, an ability to stand on one’s own while giving of self 100%. Marriage can never be a 50/50 arrangement. It must be a complete self-giving, a love that is unconditional and unending no matter what, in order for marriage to survive the culture of death and destruction so prevalent in the world today. With marriage centered and rooted in Jesus Christ the couple can fulfill God’s call by building up His Kingdom. We are disciples of Jesus Christ called to make disciples who make disciples. Couples can do this easily by living in the culture of life, having children, rearing them in the faith in a Christian family life, wherein the parents share their own experience of God’s love, care and provision. When each member of the household has their own individual prayer life in intimacy with the Lord, and the couple can share their prayer life together as a couple and as part of family prayer and worship, the witness value for evangelization is tremendous. Couples can minister effectively to build the Kingdom in their own home when they are of one mind and heart, following the same Spirit. They can from the same perspective, minister on a wider level beyond their own home in effective ways as the Lord leads them. To have the same vision, to share prayer and perspective with each other helps the couple to experience God strengthening their relationship while they minister together. Many times a husband and wife have separate involvements and support each other in their ministry. But at other times a couple will work together on the same outreach complementing each other’s contribution. Above all, the couple alive in the Lord, who are growing in their relationship with each other, will minister just by being who they are as a couple, a family, who love and serve the Lord. When communication is good, when the Lord is trusted and forgiveness is readily given, the presence of the Lord in the relationship stands out. It is never too late to make a good marriage better or to seek the Lord’s grace to renew the love and commitment undertaken at the time of marriage. If marriage has broken down completely the witness of trusting the Lord, walking in faith and in love, can lead to new strength and the fulfillment of the Lord’s purpose for you in another way. Marriage is always hard work but the result is worth the effort. Be faithful – the Lord always is. Rev Dr. Peter Coughlin, Editor of The Bread of Life magazine, recently graduated with a Doctor of Ministry degree from the Graduate Theological Foundation. Currently pastor of St. Andrew parish in Oakville, Ontario, he continues to serve the renewal of the Church through the Charismatic Renewal and the ministry of healing. Read more from Father Peter here. To view a wonderful, scripturally-based guide for improving you marriage called, "Celebrating Life Together,", go here. |
