Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-

 THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY MATRIMONY

Genesis 24: 10-27

“Therefore, what God has joined together, let man not separate”. Mark 10: 9

The Bible begins with Adam and Eve being created in God’s likeness. God tells them to be fruitful and multiply. Their love for each other is the image of love God has for us. The sacrament of marriage is a covenant.  In the sacrament of matrimony, two people are united in such a way that they become one flesh. The purpose of the sacrament is to help the partners in this life as they work to live in faithfulness to God. Their love for each other is a reflection of the enduring love between Christ and His Church and it provides them with a foretaste of divine love. The sacrament of Christian marriage involves their entire life as they journey together through ups and downs of marriage and become more able to give to and receive from each other. Their life becomes sacramental to the extent that the couple co operates with God’s action in their life and sees themselves as living “in Christ” and Christ living and acting in their relationship, attitudes and actions.
Members of modern family face an uphill battle to remain faithful to the sacred trust they have received from God to be a living school of love. Today, the beauty of family life is not everywhere reflected with equal brilliance, since the plague of divorce has an obscuring effect. Almost fifty percent of marriages in the United States will end in divorce or separation. However, the fact remains, when done correctly, it can be a rewarding union. Christian marriage is a sacrament that orders the husband and wife to serve one another. This service is based on the Christian virtue of charity and is done in a spirit of care and concern for the good of the spouse and children (if any) following the example of Christ. When two unknown people, like Isaac and Rebekah, whether from the same or from different cultural background decide to hold each other’s hand and share their future as husband and wife, they come together because of God. Such relationships are made by God and that is it is said that marriages are made in heaven. As His image bearers, we humans are designed for relationship, to live and be loved. And the deepest expression of this relational nature that God has given humanity is found in the institution of marriage. 

The story of Isaac and Rebekah teaches that marriage is built not just in love, but on faith. Rebekah had to choose whether she would leave her family and become the life of a man she had not met before and did not know at all. This was a great leap of faith! Have this faith lead and guide us in our married life. 

Prayer
Good Lord, help our youngsters find suitable spouses in their life journey. Also, help the married spouses adore the sanctity of marriage based on fidelity, love, prayer and faith. Amen.


 Thought for the Day
“The family that prays together, stays together”

Samuel K. Samuel
St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church, New York

Popular posts from this blog

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
  Constant, patient and welcoming love of God   St. Luke 15: 11-32  V.21: And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ The parable of the ‘Prodigal son’ is one of the most frequently quoted parables that Jesus told His disciples. The parable contains the rich mine of human virtues and emotions. This parable is lived and re-lived in progressing civilizations from time immemorial and continuing. It brings out in vivid detail the pathetic depth of human sinfulness and the glorious heights of God’s forgiveness.      As a story of human nature, fathers are generally merciful to their children in any circumstance. They are very protective and are eager to provide for and secure the lives of their offspring. Jesus is telling this parable to underscore the superlative love of God to His children. The nature of such love is reiterated by Jesus in Matthew 7:11. Humankind wh...
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Revelation for Liberation Acts 27:18-26 Sherine Thomas Long Island MTC, NY 20  When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. “After winter comes the summer.  After night comes the dawn.  And after every storm, there comes clear open skies” so said a Scottish clergyman from the 1600s. It’s been said, that hope can sometimes be the most dangerous weapon.  However, it’s sometimes the hardest weapon to carry when you’re living with the loss of a loved one, something that almost feels like a terrible nightmare that’ll never go away.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry when day in and day out no one seems to hear or see those tears that are shed or silent cries that are made during a heartfelt prayer. It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you see your loved one lying on that hospital bed.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you search and seek out answers to tel...
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
PRIESTHOOD: THE ANOINTED MINISTRY Exodus 40:12-16 Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting... wash them with water. Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest (Exodus 40: 12-13). Priesthood among the people of God was a divine command and initiation. God wanted some people to be separated for the special ministry among his people. God appointed Aaron and his descendants to take up this kind of ministry among the people of God. Priests are always separated and appointed as channels that connect God with his people. All throughout the history of Israel, priests played an important role in connecting people with God and to lead and guide them in the statutes of God. But there are incidents in the Bible where the priests failed in their duties and that led the people to go away from God. So the priests have a special and significant ministry to perform in this world among his people. Two important things...
Read more