God-centered family is a happy family

Oct.4^th, 15  Sunday Homily : Fr.Francis Chirackal CMI.

Gen 2:18-24, Heb 2:9-11, Mk 10:2-16

For Readings

http://www.usccb.org/nab/100415.shtml

One afternoon, according to an old Sufi tale, a man named  Nasruddin was sitting in a cafe, drinking tea  with a friend and talking about life and love.  “How come you never got married, Nasruddin?” asked his friend at one point.  “Well,” said Nasruddin, “to tell you the truth, I spent my youth looking for the perfect woman.  In Cairo , I met a beautiful and intelligent woman, with eyes like dark olives, but she was unkind.  Then in Baghdad , I met a woman who was a wonderful and generous soul, but we had no interests in common.  One woman after another would seem just right, but there would always be something missing.  Then one day, I met her.  She was beautiful, intelligent, generous and kind.  We had everything in common.  In fact, she was perfect.”  “Well,” said Nasruddin’s friend, “what happened?  Why didn’t you marry her?”  Nasruddin sipped his tea reflectively.  “Well,” he replied.  ”It’s a sad thing; seems she was looking for the perfect man.”  In today’s gospel Jesus reminds us that an imperfect man has no right to divorce his imperfect wife whom the perfect God has given him as His perfect gift.

Today’s first reading tells of God’s eternal plan regarding the marriage relationship between man and woman. He created man and woman as equal partners, sharing the responsibilities of good and evil as husband and wife, father and mother. Second reading speaks of the inevitable part of suffering in family life, which we have to bear with the suffering Jesus. Jesus in the Gospel speaks of the indissoluble nature of marriage bond.

The massage that is conveyed through today’s readings is not just of the married couples. Along with its stress on holy marriage bond between husband and wife,  it also speaks of all of holy and unholy relationships, expected and unexpected relationships which  may find in marriage and family situations. When Jesus said, “Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate”, there is no ambiguity in His words. It obliges all valid marriages to remain permanent as it is a sacred bond. It is a relationship and bond of sacrificial love and acceptance. There is no room for exploitation or torture, but unlimited space for the exploration of unfathomable mutual love and forgiveness, sacrifice and self-giving, greatness of God and beauty of life.

 For a marriage to succeed requires a constant effort of goodwill from the part of husband and wife. One side effort alone will not succeed. A couple must try to grow together in a relationship that is dynamic, never static. Unless the couples keep constant touch with the source of ever flowing dynamic energy, they can’t grow day by day. The never ending source of energy is nothing other than the Almighty God. Therefore, for a stable and happy married family life, daily prayer is essential. All families, without exception encounters occasional healing needs, as it continue its journey in life path. Hurdles, pains, sufferings, hardships, are a part of family life. In a praying family, God takes the role of a family physician and gives healing as it is required, and enables the couples to continue their journey together with peace and joy.  Praying family is a growing family.

To accept Jesus’ teaching on marriage requires the openness of children and a sense of dependence on God’s strength like a child depends on its parents.  Marriage love should be authentic, strong, sincere, firm and with give and take attitude.  Just like in any other situations, hypocrisy will not help to fulfil the family goal. When real married love is accompanied by vision, joy and creativity there will be respect for life and a desire for holiness. When married couples allow Christ to be at the center of their family life, they experience deeply the peace outpoured by God – a peace that flows forth to their children and grandchildren.

Let us recommit ourselves to building up the strong and stable family, to strengthening marriage, to blessing and nurturing children, and to making our homes, an abode of love and charity, forgiveness and faith. Let us pray to God to bless every couple with grace to fulfil God’s plan through their family life. Let us also pray for all those who are going through the pain of broken marriage and broken families that they will experience God’s blessings. Let us make our families more and more God-centered and joyful through real love. God bless you.