Ephesians 5:22-33
22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.
25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
What is the best advice that you could offer to a couple who is about to be married? Nearly everyone has an idea about what is needed for a great marriage. But, some might be reluctant to offer advice. The fact is, the great variety of opinions on this subject illustrate the problem. Marriage is difficult. And what seems to work for one couple, doesn’t work for another. Why?
We are not perfect. Even the best marriages have areas that could have been better. And, even if imperfections are not obvious to others, they are obvious to the Lord. Also, there is so great a variety between people that a “one size fits all” kind of advice would be difficult. And, human examples all fall short,
St. Paul, in teaching about marriage by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, avoided this problem. Certainly, he teaches how husband and wife can serve one another in love. He describes love in terms of self sacrifice and respect. But, in the end, he shows us what pattern God really has in mind for us.
All the time that St. Paul was talking about marriage, he was thinking about Jesus and His church! We are Jesus’ bride the church, and Jesus is the one who gave all things to save us. Jesus did this through His death on the cross and resurrection. Our responses to the Lord in praise and thanksgiving are first acts faith and then acts of love towards God, who first loved us.
So, what advice might be the best for Christian marriage. Remember Ephesians 5 and the pattern of Jesus and the church. In light of that, stay close to Jesus in your personal prayer life and in your church life – where you receive God’s Word and the Sacrament of the Altar. Experience His love for you in the ways that He has ordained. Through His gifts you will be strengthened to trust in Him above all things. Remember, only through faith in the Lord can we meet the challenges of marriage in this troubled world. But, with the Lord, there is love for all eternity.
Let us pray.
I thank you Lord Jesus for loving me perfectly, despite my sin. Strengthen my faith in you so that I will be able to follow your example in my relationships with others. In your name I pray, AMEN.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come,Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.