The Power of the Sacrament of Marriage

You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery;' but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. 'It was also said, 'Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce,' but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery. 'Again you have heard that it was said to them of old time, 'You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,' but I tell you, don't swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God; nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can't make one hair white or black. But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes' and your 'No' be 'No.' Whatever is more than these is of the evil one. 'You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.'* But I tell you, don't resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and don't turn away him who desires to borrow from you. 'You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor,* and hate your enemy.*' But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven.

Christian Portal

Christian Resources

Vote!


	The Power of the Sacrament of Marriage

Author: Testimony,
Love One Another! 15/2010 → Family Life

After a serious crisis — a betrayal — our marriage is beginning to blossom forth with an extraordinary power of love and faith. My husband returned, and we are a happily married couple.

Without any reservation I can say that our love has grown in leaps and bounds. Indeed it is no longer what it used to be. It is like the wine at the wedding feast of Cana, for “where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more” (Rom 5: 20). But we need always to cooperate with this grace. The more we give of ourselves, the more God helps us.

Deserted by those close to me, having to rely on my own resources, I strove to save my marriage. But I always felt that grace and the powers of heaven sustained me. I fought for our marriage even when my husband told me he no longer loved me. I fought for the dignity of our sacrament even when people told me that it was not I who had broken my marriage vows. I had pledged in the presence of God to remain true to my spouse until “death do us part.” I took responsibility for our marriage and prayed for my husband’s conversion. (I wrote a letter to St. Joseph, prayed the Litany of the Holy Spirit and the Litany of Christ’s Precious Blood.)

God forces Himself on no one. It is we who often shut the door on Him. He is there and waits patiently until we stop kicking against ourselves and our lives. That is why we must make the first step toward God. In return, we receive peace of mind, strength, solace, and the light we need in order to go forward and act as required.

That is what I am trying to do and why I am sharing my experience of grace working in my life. Real love begins when we “have and hold” someone “for worse.” Adversity visited our marriage; and yet our love survived it. I understand now that to love is to forgive. It is then that the “miracle” comes; first one, then another, then many more. We have been showered with graces. In the end we have a “better wine.” Such is the power of the sacrament of marriage. All we have to do is confide everything to Jesus. It is always too soon to give up the struggle. Even in suffering you can be happy.

Miriam

Please e-subscribe

If you are interested to download entire issue in PDF format

Log in, if you already have e-subscribtion
Please e-subscribe, if you have not done it yet

The above article was published with permission from "Love One Another!" in June 2016.

Top

Recommend this page to your friend!