The teaching of the Master on marriage is set – and not by chance – in the context of the ultimate and definitive dimension of our human existence. We urgently need to rediscover the richness of this teaching. By heeding it, married couples will come to see the deeper meaning of their journey through life. As this Exhortation (Familiaris Consortio) has often noted, no family drops down from heaven perfectly formed; families need constantly to grow and mature in the ability to love. This is a never-ending vocation born of the full communion of the Trinity, the profound unity between Christ and his Church, the loving community which is the Holy Family of Nazareth, and the pure fraternity existing among the saints of heaven. Our contemplation of the fulfilment which we have yet to attain also allows us to see in proper perspective the historical journey which we make as families, and in this way to stop demanding of our interpersonal relationships perfection, a purity of intentions and a consistency which we will only encounter in the Kingdom to come. It also keeps us from judging harshly those who live in situations of frailty.

All of us are called to keep striving towards something greater than our families, and every family and ourselves must feel this constant impulse. Let us make this journey as families, let us keep walking together. What we have been promised is greater than we can imagine. May we never lose heart because of our limitations, or ever stop seeking that fullness of love and communion which God holds out before us. (325)

 

With this last thought we end the journey through Laetitia Amoris. It has been a wonderful experience to reflect on the gift of love, marriage and family through the teachings of the Church. I know that in purposefully skipping Chapter 4, “Love in Marriage” I did not reflect fully on Pope Francis’ powerful reflection on St. Paul’s beautiful teaching from 1Corinthians 13:4-7, but I promise I will return to this in the future as it holds such great richness from our tradition.

“All of us are called to keep striving towards something greater than our families…” What are we striving for? To become the reflection of the Most Holy Trinity in our lives. It is a call to a unity of love, purpose and desire that drives us in the direction of forgiveness, mercy and compassion. It is a desire that we all aspire to but seldom live up to in our daily lives…and yet there are times in experiencing this moment, this timeless blessing the peace of Christ rests within our hearts, our marriages and our families and love grows..

In reading and reflecting on what Pope Francis has taught us in this beautiful document, I would sum it up into three important actions, each person, each married couple and each family should do to grow in faith, hope and love, or in other words become the reflection of the Most Holy Trinity.

1. Work—love is work. Family is work. Marriage is work. We must be actively engaged in the work of love, family and marriage on a constant and ongoing basis. It is not the work of drudgery, nor is the work of constant weight. It is the work of joyful presence where each action in mutual love is met with other actions shared and given. We are reminded throughout the document that the work of marriage, family and love brings joyful blessings and graces to each and every member of the family of God.
2. Forgive—to not be bound by the limitations, the hurts and the failures of love but rather seek the better, the truer and the more beautiful in the blessings of love. It is too often the reality in speaking with a couple in crisis they will readily catalogue the list of sins committed against them but look dumbfounded when asked to list the blessings. We know this truth: when we hold on to sins we cannot hold on to the blessings of life to the fullness God wishes us to do. Forgiving our beloved is an act of recognizing the reality of sin—letting go and then letting the blessings renew and rebuild the love God shares with us.
3. Live—to be with God. In living with God at the center of our relationships, especially the marital relationship, we allow each act of love to be an act of blessing. Whether it is the small words and works of kindness shared or the embrace of love that communicates, blesses and renews life within the relationship—we are invited to bring God into these moments of life—to be with God. While many people think God and the Church want to bind us up with so many rules where life becomes stifled and listless, we know this is not true. When we live with God and through pure and holy love share the gifts of abundance and generosity with others…especially within the marital bound…we live in true freedom where we unbind the sin which restricts joy.

May God bless you and keep you safe to woke, reconcile and live the life of a true disciples of Jesus Christ.

Fr. Mark