DAILY HOMILIES #faithfulness

In a culture where women were treated as property and a man could afford to “use and dump”, Jesus’ teaching on marriage aimed at restoring the dignity of women. However, to this day, many struggle to accept Jesus’ teaching on the indissolubility of marriage. For Jesus, if you do not intend to remain married for the rest of your life, don’t marry at all.

Sex is reserved only for marriage because it is an act of total self-giving, and you can only give yourself to someone you are married to. Adultery is theft; it is like removing the engine from a car and still claiming to have a car. Faithfulness to one’s spouse attracts God’s blessings. The book of Proverbs teaches us: “Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. So, you will find favour and good repute in the sight of God and people.” (Proverbs 3:3-4).

Carrying the cross entails embracing the difficult aspects of our Christian faith, such as: loving our enemies, forgiving hurts easily, and upholding strong moral values such as faithfulness to one’s marital vows, purity of heart, honesty, kindness, etc. In a world that further immerses itself in darkness, keeping God’s commandments faithfully is a huge cross. Nevertheless, this is our calling.

Take away faithfulness marriage/religious life becomes a caricature. An unfaithful spouse does great damage to his/her family just as an unfaithful celibate does great damage to their flock.