The secular culture chokes on the opening of today's first reading, "Wives should be submissive to their husbands" (Eph 5:22). Yet that is not the most radical sentence of this passage. St. Paul's call for husbands to love their wives as Jesus loves the Church (Eph 5:25) is an extraordinarily radical challenge, both for the culture of Paul's time and for every age since.
In Paul's time, wives were considered the property of the husband and had no rights at all. Yet Paul commanded husbands to lay down their lives for their wives, to care for them as they cared for their own body (Eph 5:28-29), as Christ loves the Church (Eph 5:25). How does Jesus love the Church? He says to the Church: "This is My body, to be given up for you" (see 1 Cor 11:24). To love his wife in this way means that the husband says to his wife: "This is my body, to be given up for you."
Jesus asks in today's Gospel passage: "What does the reign of God resemble?" (Lk 13:18) The kingdom of God is like the radical love of a husband who loves his wife as Jesus loves the Church. He literally lays down his life — his interests, schedule, hopes, dreams — for her welfare. He walks to the cross for her. He honors, nourishes, and provides for her. He uplifts her, as Jesus does for His Church. He spiritually leads her, teaches her, and loves her. He leads and teaches the children they bring into the world.
Yes, the world will notice a husband who loves his wife like this. The people in the world, seeing this married love, will realize that Jesus loves them (Eph 5:32).
| PRAYER: | Father, raise up husbands and wives who will lead the way in evangelization through love, hospitality, and making and raising disciples for You (Mt 28:19-20). |
| PROMISE: | "Happy are you who fear the Lord." –Ps 128:1 |
| PRAISE: | Kevin reconciled with his wife and their marriage lasted until death. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College