Husbands wives family and children

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite contemplation of the particular way in which our relationship with family, wives, and children can mark and be our consecration as members of the the Body of Christ open to guidance by the Holy Spirit to be conformed to the will of God.

Helpers

The passage from the Book of Genesis establishes the desirability that we have a helper suited to us for our role in life.

* [2:18] Helper suited to him: lit., “a helper in accord with him.” “Helper” need not imply subordination, for God is called a helper (Dt 33:7; Ps 46:2). The language suggests a profound affinity between the man and the woman and a relationship that is supportive and nurturing.

In Psalm 128, we are praising God for the fruit of a happy home.

* [Psalm 128] A statement that the ever-reliable God will bless the reverent (Ps 128:1). God’s blessing is concrete: satisfaction and prosperity, a fertile spouse and abundant children (Ps 128:2–4). The perspective is that of the adult male, ordinarily the ruler and representative of the household to the community. The last verses extend the blessing to all the people for generations to come (Ps 128:5–6).

The Letter to the Hebrews describes the path of Jesus in accord with the will of the Father to become our brother.

The reference to Jesus as leader (Heb 2:10) sounds the first note of an important leitmotif in Hebrews: the journey of the people of God to the sabbath rest (Heb 4:9), the heavenly sanctuary, following Jesus, their “forerunner” (Heb 6:20). It was fitting that God should make him perfect through suffering, consecrated by obedient suffering. Because he is perfected as high priest, Jesus is then able to consecrate his people (Heb 2:11); access to God is made possible by each of these two consecrations. If Jesus is able to help human beings, it is because he has become one of us; we are his “brothers.”

In the Gospel from Mark, Jesus contrasts the attitude of His contemporaries in Hebrew society to divorce with the idea that marriage is an opportunity to live in an eternal Covenant assisted by spiritual attitudes that Jesus identifies in children.

* [10:2–9] In the dialogue between Jesus and the Pharisees on the subject of divorce, Jesus declares that the law of Moses permitted divorce (Dt 24:1) only because of the hardness of your hearts (Mk 10:4–5). In citing Gn 1:27 and 2:24 Jesus proclaims permanence to be the divine intent from the beginning concerning human marriage (Mk 10:6–8). He reaffirms this with the declaration that what God has joined together, no human being must separate (Mk 10:9). See further the notes on Mt 5:31–32; 19:3–9.
* [10:15] Whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child: i.e., in total dependence upon and obedience to the gospel; cf. Mt 18:3–4.

Steve Scholer suggests that perhaps if couples spent more time conversing with each other and listening to what their spouse was concerned about or was feeling, the rate of divorce would not continue to climb.

As you do your daily exam of conscience today, think about how many times you had your cellphone in hand, and then ask yourself how necessary your use of it was. The next time you go out to eat with your spouse or even at the dinner table at home, do NOT bring your phone to the table. Engage your spouse in conversation much like Jesus would engage those around him in conversation and listen intently to what they have to say. Likewise, when you have a free moment, instead of trolling the internet for mindless stories, talk to God about your day, what you did right, who you helped, how you made his world a better place and how you can do better tomorrow.
Don’t let your spouse live alone, right next to you in the same home, and don’t let God live alone either. Talk to them. They are there ready to listen.

A Don Schwager quotes “Mutual servants, equally serving”, by Tertullian, 160-225 A.D.

"Where are we to find language adequately to express the happiness of that marriage which the church cements, the oblation confirms, the benediction signs and seals, the angels celebrate, and the Father holds as approved? For all around the earth young people do not rightly and lawfully wed without their parents' consent. What kind of yoke is that of two believers who share one hope, one desire, one discipline, one service (Ephesians 4:4)? They enjoy kinship in spirit and in flesh. They are mutual servants with no discrepancy of interests. Truly they are 'two in one flesh' (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5; Ephesians 5:31). Where the flesh is one, the spirit is one as well. Together they pray, together bow down, together perform their fasts, mutually teaching, mutually entreating, mutually upholding. In the church of God they hold an equal place (Romans 12:15; 15:6; Galatians 3:28; 1 Corinthians 12:12). They stand equally at the banquet of God, equally in crises, equally facing persecutions, and equally in refreshments. Neither hides anything from the other. Neither neglects the other. Neither is troublesome to the other (Philippians 1:27). (excerpt from TO HIS WIFE 2.8)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Genesis 2:18-24 states a fundamental eternal truth why men and women get married. It’s why they have children. It’s why we have neighborhoods, parishes, sports arenas, and restaurants. We need each other! God has given all of us the desire to give of ourselves to each other. And we need to receive other people into our lives in order to feel human.

God doesn’t want any of us to walk alone. Not only is he walking right beside you; he has sent people to walk with you as well. He loves you too much to abandon you.

Friar Jude Winkler, OFM Conv, reviews possible origins of the rib being formed as woman as he notes some matriarchal attributes in Jewish history. The author of Hebrews connects Jesus to the Jewish sense of perfect as ordination. The conditions for divorce cited by rabbis in the school of Hillel are corrected in Jesus call for a Covenant understanding of marriage.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, quotes Thomas Merton “For most of us, growth is a long process of being drawn “by brightness and the Holy Spirit.”

The reason why the true contemplative-in-action is still somewhat rare is that most of us, even and often in religion, are largely educated in dualistic thinking (quick, certain, and smug judgments). Judgmentalism and dismissiveness does not overcome distinctions but actually magnifies them. When we try to use this limited tool of differentiation and critique in prayer and relationships, we quickly see its limitations. The fatal mistake of ego “consciousness” is that it excludes and eliminates the unconscious (where both deep goodness and deep badness lie hidden)—which ironically means our common consciousness is actually not conscious at all! But the human ego prefers knowing and being certain over being honest. “Don’t bother me with the truth, I want to be in control,” it invariably says. Most people who think they are fully conscious or “smart” and in control, have a big iron manhole cover over their unconscious. It does give them a sense of being right and in charge, but it seldom yields compassion, community, or wisdom.

The condition noted by Fr Richard that he human ego prefers knowing and being certain over being honest is a roadblock to our living a Covenant relationship with spouse and others that is marked by patience, humility, compassion, mercy, and wisdom.

References

(n.d.). Helper suited to him. Retrieved October 6, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/bible/Genesis/2:18
(n.d.). Psalm128 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved October 6, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/bible/psalms/128:1
(n.d.). Hebrews, chapter 2 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved October 6, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/hebrews/2:20
(n.d.). Mark chapter 10 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved October 6, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/mark/10
(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved October 6, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved October 7, 2018, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
(n.d.). Mass Readings and Catholic .... Retrieved October 7, 2018, from https://wau.org/meditations/
(n.d.). Daily Meditations Archives - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved October 7, 2018, from https://cac.org/category/daily-meditations/