An Unfailing Prize

                 

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Deacon Tom Writes ©

"An Unfailing Prize"

Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

Today’s reading from the Book of Proverbs talks about the joy a man has in finding true riches in this life. Oddly enough, the sacred author does not take us on a search for silver or gold or for any material wealth for that matter. Rather he reminds us of the treasures we uncover when we find a worthy wife (or husband as the case may be)….We obtain an unfailing prize.

The marital contract is a sacred one. It is life giving and life sustaining. Like all living things, marriage is subject to the laws of nature that say “grow or die”. In order to grow, relationships must be mutually beneficial. It requires genuine love to make a marriage grow and prosper. It takes self-sacrifice, the ability to defer or abandon one’s own plans and desires, a willingness to be more concerned about the “other” than about “self”. It is a challenge to be successful in building a mutually supportive and lasting relationship. We are all aware, I’m sure, the high percentage of marriages today that end in divorce. Yet, all who are called to this vocation must be prepared for the work of a lifetime.

It is within this relationship of marriage that we participate in the creative work of God. In this sacramental union, we are God’s instruments working in harmony with His divine plan to bring forth new life, a visible sign of His love for us that allows us to participate in the very act of creation itself. This human family that we create is, in itself, a reflection of the divine love that exists within the Most Holy Trinity.

The Gospel today calls us to reflect on how we use the gifts we have received from God. The gift of our family deserves consideration here. Chances are we may have some room to grow in this area. That’s fine, because, no matter how successful we may be, our work in building good relationships with our family, spouses and children is never done. It’s like the ad for one of the airlines that said, “We earn our wings every day”. Being a good husband or wife, father or mother, son or daughter is something we must strive to do every day. Some days we may find ourselves doing better than others. Some days we are colossal failures. We call that the "real world". What’s important to remember is that we see in our husband or wife, in our children, and in our families, the unfailing prize that we are to each other because God’s love abides within.

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom