30th week in ordinary time, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2006

Scripture: Ephesians 5:21-33. Psalm 128. Luke 13:18-21.

I reflected on three themes from the readings for today: the sacredness of marriage; the joys of a good family, and the growth of the kingdom or rule of God within individuals and families. In the first reading, I was led to think about how many men worship their bodies with all sorts of training programs and exercise. This is a craze these days and big business for the exercise centers. I then mused whether many men take seriously Paul's reflection on the body in respect to how these men relate to their wives. Paul says, "Husbands should love their wives as they do their own bodies...and in any case one should love his wife as he loves himself." (Ephesians 5: 28-33). This is magnificent advice for those who are married. Paul then takes this to mean the symbolism of the union of Jesus Christ with his Church. Marriage is sacred; the Church is holy and sacred because of its being the very Body of Christ; we all are its members.

The Psalm shows what happens when a family stays together and when the husband and wife are united as one. The table symbolism is used in this Psalm and it is worth meditating upon. We can imagine the family of many Jewish and Christian peoples are like the description offered in this excellent Psalm of Ascents. It was sung while ascending the stairs of the Temple in Jerusalem. It fulfills what is said by Paul about marriage in our first reading.

I love these two simple parables given in Luke--the mustard seed and the leaven that a woman uses in baking bread. You and I can get the point quickly; it is a question of sure and steady growth till the results are seen and actualized in the mustard tree or bush and in the loaf of bread. What it means in the Gospel is that the kingdom or reign of God is here and is within each of us. We just need to let God's graces nurture our spiritual lives and we will grow into the image of God and God's likeness. For us Christians we are to grow into the very person of Christ. Paul tells us "for me to live is Christ."

I applied all three readings to the sacrament of matrimony since this is God's calling for ninety-nine percent of the human race. Amen.