Responsibility of Spouses

Readings for Tuesday October 26, 2010

First Reading: Ephesians 5:21-33 or 5:2a, 25-32
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 128
Gospel: Luke 13:18-21


In the Sacrament of marriage, man and woman form the one flesh union. It is also in this Sacrament, that man and woman both have awesome responsibilities. Both husband and wife are called to live out this responsibility for Christ. It is not so that husband and wife are burdened or bothered with the other, but rather so that they can grow in love. Wives are meant to be subordinate to their husbands so that they can learn to love them better, so that they can grow in that marital love. Husbands are called to sacrifice for their wives so that they too can grow in their marital love. This is not to burden them, but rather to help the couple grow in a love that can only be found by following God's plan for marriage.

Today, reflect on Paul's words to the Ephesians about the responsibility of spouses. If you are married, ask yourself, how can I become the spouse that God created me to be? How can I live out these responsibilities better in my own marriage? IF you are not married, ask yourself, what things can I do to support marriages today?

Brothers and sisters: Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is head of his wife just as Christ is head of the Church, he himself the savior of the Body. As the Church is subordinate to Christ, so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the Church and handed himself over for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word, that he might present to himself the Church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. So also husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
For no one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ does the Church, because we are members of his Body.

For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. (Eph. 5:21-33)

This is a great mystery, but I speak in reference to Christ and the Church. In any case, each one of you should love his wife as himself, and the wife should respect her husband.



Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, we pray for marriages around the world, that spouses may seek to please you by living out their great responsibilities according to your will. Lord, you had aperfect plan for marriage from the beginning, help us to be the spouses that your created us to be. Help us to grow in this great love, and may the love of spouses affect many genereations to come. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.