聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Picture this family: the woman is suspected of adultery; the man plans a quiet divorce; their son gets into trouble with the authorities and is unjustly executed by the state. And this was the family of Jesus.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 As you may guess from the above example, turning to God is essential for a successful family life. Matthew鈥檚 Gospel says, 鈥淔or where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them鈥� (18:20). If God is in your midst, what are your chances of success?
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭he family that prays together, stays together,鈥澛燜ather Patrick Peyton of Family Rosary Crusade used to say. Research cites a聽study that the divorce rate for couples who attend church regularly聽and pray on a daily basis account for less than one divorce in every 1105 marriages.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Far from scaring anyone away from the sacrament of marriage, I want to point out the blessing that this union can create. But I won鈥檛 pull any punches either. If it was not for prayer and God鈥檚 partnership in our 47 year marriage, my wife and I we would not be celebrating.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The cost of looking after one delinquent in a state home is approximately $90,000 per year, with no guarantee of success. Did you know that a man and a woman in a home that provides love and respect can do this job successfully for a fraction of the cost.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 A home where love and respect are the cornerstones creates the conditions for successful child-rearing. Pope Francis says: "The whole purpose of our life is a mission of love; it is to love one another and to allow ourselves to be loved... And the family unit is the most sacred of places."
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Of marriage, Father Brendan McGuire says, 鈥淲e call it the Sacrament of Matrimony because it is the most sacred of places where we as individuals grow up and learn the security of being loved as a child; there is nothing so precious as having that safe environment and knowing that we are loved and that we can love in return.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 McGuire does not minimize the challenges. In 鈥淢arriage 鈥� Carpool of Life鈥� he says, 鈥淭he car pool lane of marriage takes you to eternal life!鈥� Once you are in it you cannot get out.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭here are huge sets of concrete bumpers in the lane鈥� If you change lanes, you will lose some part of your car鈥� The car pool lane in LA is a great metaphor for marriage! Once you are in it-you are not getting out of it without some severe damage -you are in it till the end!鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 There are particular situations involving abuse where a marriage needs an off ramp, but it is not good for the children and there is a cost, McGuire concedes.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Again, my purpose here is not to discourage the marriage vocation choice, but to understand that there is a purpose for the 鈥渃ar pool lane鈥�. The trip is freer, less complicated as you speed through the miles that otherwise can be tedious or dragging you down, as sluggish traffic will.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 There is a freedom and joy in living within the rules and barriers set down by the Catholic Church, and other Christian Churches, in regard to the vocation and sacrament of marriage.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Marriage is a wonderful path. Love and respect in a home where God can live will provide the environment for family growth.
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