Genesis and Marriage

Dearly Beloved,

God's word today from the book of Genesis is about marriage.  Ideally, marriage is when the couple are 'two but become one' so that they live not for themselves but for one another.  God wanted the married couple to be helpmates; to help one another to heaven.  As they live out their vocation, they encourage one another, keep each other out of trouble, lift up one another when the other feels down, pray together, etc. 

From the Church's point of view, marriage is not just a contract, but it has been elevated to the level of Sacrament.  So that married love may reflect God's love for humanity, and Christ's love for the Church.  God's original intention is that married couple is so closely linked and united together that nothing could separate them.  (God took a rib from Adam and formed Eve).  This is one of the most beautiful parables on marriage.  

Granted, statistics on the success of marriages looks grim (roughly 50%).  But it doesn't mean to avoid marriage completely.  Also, it doesn't mean that those who had their marriage annulled are seen as failures.  God's word today is not intended for those have lost their spouse.  

God's word emphasizes the dignity and the original intention of God when God created marriage.  In this last week, we have heard about how God created the heavens and the earth in six days.  God created every animate and inanimate object.  But sensing that Adam was unhappy despite having everything he needs, God is the source of marriage.  By taking a rib from Adam, he formed Eve.  They were to be one flesh.  So that their love may reflect God's love for humanity.  

Even the Gospel passage today can be seen in the lens of the Marriage.  Because Marriage is a covenant.  And the new covenant Christ established at the Last Supper was not to be exclusive to one nation but to include Gentiles in the fold.  Christ meets a Greek woman who seeks healing for her daughter.  Through a kind of banter, to test her faith, the Lord uses the word "dog".  Why take food from children and give it to the dogs.  We have to understand that the word dog was not referring to "wild dogs" but to puppies.  For puppies too are in the household.  And the Greek/syrophenecian woman had great faith and responded: Lord, even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the Master's table.  In other words, they also partake in the same food as the children and they eat simultaneously with the Children.  

As we prepare to eat from the Master's table, we are reminded of the image that the Church gives for the faithful that this is the marriage supper of the lamb.  Christ, the Bride Groom, said his marriage vow in the holy words of institution.  

Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?  It's an interesting tradition we have that we fast one hour before the Eucharist (traditionally people begin fasting at midnight).  And when Christ the bridegroom is present at the Eucharist, we break our fast or have our breakfast.  

They say Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  That's very true, most especially when we break our fast in the presence of the bridegroom.  Amen.