Life has changed over these past 50, 60 70 and even in the past 25 years. Eli J. Finkel wrote a book recently titled The All-or-Nothing Marriage: How the Best Marriages Work. I don’t agree with his concept of marriage. But one point I found interesting is that since 1995 both fathers and mothers have begun spending more time looking after their children.
Technology, science, medicine, and society have also progressed and made lots of changes and improvements to our lives. There are apps for everything. There are even apps for marriage; how to do this, how to do that, how to understand, how to make your marriage happy, how to?, how to? This kind of knowledge and understanding can be a wonderful gift to married couples and couples considering marriage.
Technology can introduce changes into married life that can be helpful. Technology has provided the ways and means for human progress; but, it cannot be a substitute for humanity itself. Pope Francis reminds us that we must put down our phone and speak to one another or else we will lose the gift of conversation. He especially reminded us of family meals when children are playing or texting on their phones. Parents too can be absorbed in their phones. Pope Francis reminds us of God with this question: Are things created by technology, like phones etc.? Are they not part of God’s creation and should be used in reference to God the Creator? The fact that God is the Creator of life and the world reminds us that God has an intimate relationship with all of His creation. Faith and science are not opposed, but in harmony with the design of the Creator. We are also reminded that God‘s creation is to be used to bring forth goodness, beauty and truth. We must learn to use all of God’s creation for goodness, beauty and truth.
God speaks to us through His Word. In the first reading the prophet Jeremiah offered from God, “I will place my law within you and write it upon your heart; I will be your God and you will be my people.” God has a very special relationship with each one of us because He has written on our hearts. Love is one of those secrets He has written on your hearts. Marriage is a Sacrament; a Sacrament is a sign of the presence of God. God is love and the Sacrament of Marriage reveals that gift of God’s love.
Saint Paul tells us love is patient, love is kind, love is not jealous, love is sincere and hold on to what is good; love one another with mutual affection, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord, rejoice in hope, persevere in prayer. Saint Paul also tells us to offer yourselves, holy and pleasing to God, do not conform yourself to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind and heart that you may discern what is the will of God. What is good, what is beautiful, what is true.
St. James Cathedral, Orlando