“the beginning and the end” (rv 22:13)
“The Lord God said: ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a suitable partner for him.’ ” —Genesis 2:18
The first spoken words in the Holy Bible from man are about the topic of marriage. Adam rejoices that he has been given his beloved wife Eve: “This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh” (Gn 2:23). The last time a human speaks in the Bible is likewise a word of rejoicing about a marriage: the Bride, that is, the Church, together with the Holy Spirit say, “Come!” (Rv 22:17) The bride rejoices that she and her spouse are united in marriage. The Scriptures between the beginning marriage and the ending marriage are all interconnected in the ardent love of God for mankind and the human longing for union with the Lord. The entire Bible is sandwiched between two shouts of married joy (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1602).
Human beings long for the fullness of love. Our human destiny is to be united with God forever, as God has created us to be. It is only with God that married love is full and complete, rather than restless. St. Augustine spoke of this, saying to God, “You have made us for Yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in You” (Catechism, 30). It takes three to experience the full joy of marriage: husband, wife, and God (Catechism, 1642). “A three-ply cord is not easily broken” (Eccl 4:12).
“God is Love” (1 Jn 4:8, 16). We humans are only able to fully love because God has first loved us (1 Jn 4:19). God wants us to have life to the full (Jn 10:10). Let the Lord love you fully and bring you into “the wedding feast of the Lamb” (Rv 19:9), the Holy Mass. Each Mass is the wedding between heaven and earth (Catechism, 1329). Attend Mass as often as possible, even daily, and be wrapped in the spousal embrace of the Lord.
Prayer: Father, You chose me to be “full of love” (Eph 1:4). I love You with my whole self (Lk 10:27-28).
Promise: “Happy are you who fear the Lord!” —Ps 128:1
Praise: Jesus healed Samantha of the desire to smoke.
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
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