WORD in Other Words by Fr Jonathan Letada SVD (Manila)
Friday Week è Ordinary Time
Sir 5,5-17
Mark 10,1-12
Every time I officiate weddings, I am always fascinated by the love story of the couple getting married. One time, I asked: What is it in your relationship that made you decide to get married? The couple answered, “We became friends.”
The Gospel does not solely speak of divorce but of the sanctity of marriage and family life. The sanctity of marriage is founded on the power of God’s friendship with us. The sacredness of marriage and family life is the source of Amoris Laetitia, the apostolic exhortation by Pope Francis which reflects on the meaning of love in the day to day realities of the family.
Pope Francis invites all Christian families to value the gifts of marriage and family, to persevere in love strengthened by the virtues of generosity, commitment, fidelity and patience and to encourage every member of the family to be a sign of mercy and acceptance even if our families are imperfect.
Marriage contract does not guarantee that the couple will be together forever, it is but a piece of paper. It takes love, respect, trust, understanding, faith and friendship in the relationship for marriage to last.
