Married in the Church and in the Trinity

The two shall become as one. They are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore let no man separate what God has joined.” —Mark 10:8-9

In a culture that is becoming increasingly anti-Catholic, anti-Christian, anti-marriage and anti-family, Catholics are increasingly getting married outside the Church. The beauty and truth of God’s plan for marriage has been twisted and obscured to such an extent that many young people no longer recognize what God intended for marriage from the beginning.

Today’s readings from Genesis 2:18-24 and Mark 10: 2-12 give light to the glorious truth that marriage is meant to be a sign of Christ’s love for His Church, and of the love within the Trinity.

The following reflection from Presentation Ministries One Bread One Body highlights the critical need for faithful husbands and wives to give witness to the truth of God’s plan for marriage and family:

God is three Persons in one God. He is Trinity-Unity. He calls us to be one as He is one (see Jn 17:21). The Trinity made the Church one so that we can share in Trinity-Unity through the Church. Jesus made the two spouses in marriage as one (Mk 10:8) to be a sign of Christ’s love for the Church and of the mystery of Trinity-Unity (see Eph 5:32). Thus, unity with and in God is the meaning and goal of life, the Church, and marriage.

The devil is attacking Christian marriages so as to further damage the unity of the Church and to block our realization of and entry into Trinity-Unity.

The Trinity, the Church, and marriage go together. We need many holy, united marriages to show us that the Church is to be one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. In a united Church, we will enter into Trinitarian unity and love. The devil is attacking Christian marriages so as to further damage the unity of the Church and to block our realization of and entry into Trinity-Unity. The Church is also being attacked so that it will poorly pastor Christian marriages and thereby undermine its own mission. This will lead to a further breakdown of the institution of Christian marriage, even further undermining the Church and obscuring and obstructing Trinity-Unity. Therefore, be one in the Church, in marriage, and in the Trinity. – Presentation Ministries, One Bread One Body

The following is a beautiful prayer from the USCCB in Defense of marriage:

Prayer in Defense of Marriage

God our Father, we give you thanks
for the gift of marriage: the bond of life and love,
and the font of the family.

The love of husband and wife enriches your Church with children,
fills the world with a multitude of spiritual fruitfulness and service,
and is the sign of the love of your Son, Jesus Christ, for his Church.

The grace of Jesus flowed forth at Cana at the
request of the Blessed Mother. May your Son,
through the intercession of Mary, pour out upon us
a new measure of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit
as we join with all people of good will
to promote and protect the unique beauty of marriage.

May your Holy Spirit enlighten our society
to treasure the heroic love of husband and wife,
and guide our leaders to sustain and protect
the singular place of mothers and fathers
in the lives of their children.

Father, we ask that our prayers
be joined to those of the Virgin Mary,
that your Word may transform our service
so as to safeguard the incomparable splendor of marriage.
We ask all these things through Christ our Lord,
Amen.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, pray for us!