one flesh, indivisible
“A man shall leave his father and mother and cling to his wife, and the two shall become as one.” —Matthew 19:5
This “is the case between man and wife” (Mt 19:10):
- A husband loves his wife sacrificially, as Jesus loves us (Eph 5:25). He must give up his life for his wife (Eph 5:25). In imitation of Jesus, he tells his wife: “This is my body to be given for you” (see Lk 22:19). Thus, he gives up his schedule, interests, and availability for the good of his wife. He is “occupied with pleasing his wife” (1 Cor 7:33).
- A wife recognizes her husband’s position as her head (Eph 5:23). She simply submits to his headship (that is, she orders her life under his) in imitation of Jesus in relation to His Father. In this posture of subordinating her life to his, God works through “the reverent purity of [her] way of life” not only to win over her husband (1 Pt 3:2), but even to highlight the way of submission for the whole Church (Eph 5:22-24).
- By visibly loving each other, a husband and wife can convince the world that Jesus loves the Church (Eph 5:32-33). How many people feel that God doesn’t care about them? One married couple living under the lordship of Jesus can open the hearts of these doubting people to God’s love. Love your spouse, give up your body and your life for your spouse, and lead the world to the love of Jesus.
Prayer: Father, may married couples love each other so much that many people come to realize that Jesus loves them.
Promise: “Let no man separate what God has joined.” —Mt 19:6
Praise: St. Hippolytus serves as an admirable patron of those who had left the Faith but later returned. He, himself, fell away but eventually returned to the Truth.
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
Rescript: "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from August 1, 2021 through September 30, 2021. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Vicar General, Chancellor, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio January 12, 2021"
The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.