Well, I believe in marriage. I believe strongly in what marriage was created to be and what I believe its purpose to be. I don't believe marriage is just for a husband's and wife's benefit, for them to stay in their little comfortable bubble of bliss and enjoy by themselves. I believe husbands and wives are called to be witnesses to the world, that marriage is a tool that should glorify God.
St. Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:25, "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her." The purpose of this directive was that the Christian marriage is to be a reflection of Christ's relationship to his bride, the Church. When others look at the Christian marriage, they are to see Christ's great love reflected in the love the husband has for his wife.
I also believe that everyone (married couples, in particular) is called to be supportive of this vocation, especially in a world that has such a secular and watered down view of this most precious of divine calls to service to the Church and humanity. We are to encourage one another in our marriages, most importantly serve and minister to those who are struggling in their marriages.
One of the ways I feel called to do this is through my little, unimportant blog here on marriage. My hope is that it might provide an inkling of occasional hope to happily married couples, struggling married couples, those who haven't yet discerned their vocation, single people and even those called to religious life. Maybe even future Jen. I pray that it moves people in a way that would set them on fire for their own holy callings.
I fully and humbly admit that, being a newlywed, I have no idea what I'm talking about. I've only been married a little over a year and have, God willing, a lot of life together with Mark ahead of me. I know struggles are waiting to meet us there and that our love (the decision) will be tested and tried. Will I feel like blogging about the joys and blessings of marriage then? Probably not.
With all this in mind, I am blessed to have hope. Hope in the sacrament of marriage, hope in my marriage, hope in the marriages of those I love and hope for all married couples.
"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom ... we boast in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us."
I encourage you to pray regularly for married couples, especially those struggling in their marriages. Hold fast to "a future full of hope" and realize that, if you've been called to marriage, you are called to be more that just a person having life experiences with someone else, doing your own thing in the world. You are called to be a mirror of Christ and the love he has for his Church. It's a big job, but you'll be equipped to meet your challenges. That's the ultimate goal as a married person, really.
How will you answer the call today?
Destin, FL, June 2008
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