From the Deacon's Desk

Each day, I reflect upon a word or a phrase inspired by the readings of the day. I encourage you to do the same and perhaps incorporate that word or phrase into your daily prayer.

For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh…(Matthew 19:3-12)

ONE FLESH: The gospel reading for today includes the words we often hear in the marriage rite, words indicating that the two “will become one flesh.”

When I preside at a wedding and offer a homily, I usually include the following message to give the couple an understanding of the tremendous responsibility they are undertaking:

“In this sacramental marriage, each of you has the responsibility to help the other get to heaven. Your marriage is an epiphany – it reveals Christ. With marriage comes the obligation to reveal Christ.

Each morning when you wake up, you will need to make the decision to love your spouse. You are obligated to reveal Christ by the way you love one another – the way you talk to and treat the other, as well as by the way you interact with the world around you.

Secondly, your marriage should reveal Christ to others. Others will see Christ in how you love one another and in how you, as a couple, interact with them. Your marriage will be a lamp on a lamp stand, where it gives light to all in the house.

Finally, if you are blessed to have children, you will be obligated to reveal Christ to them daily. Through your love and support, they will come to know God.

What I have just shared with you is serious business. A wedding is not a quick “I do” and some dancing; it is the beginning of a marriage. And with that marriage comes the challenging responsibilities I’ve described.”

THAT is what it means to be of one flesh – joined together with the sole purpose of glorifying God through the love the couple shares.