A Christian response to marital disharmony

Abstract

God created Man in his own image and likeness, calling him to existence through love. God is Love and in himself, he lives a mystery of personal loving communion. God instilled in the hearts of men and women the need and the capacity and the responsibility of love and communion. According to Christian Revelation, there are two ways of expressing this love: - Marriage or Celibacy. By means of marriage, human beings are able to communicate and express their love to one another. Jesus surprised his followers by inviting them to a new kind of marital commitment: for better or for worse, until death. It was a bold promise of fidelity, free of all conditions or escape clauses. It asked for a more demanding love and a more secure trust. This sort of commitment is very difficult to live up to. It is the decision of a lifetime, and one has to look to past feelings of affection to find a deeper firmer ground to rest it on. The love of marriage should welcome sharers, particularly children. The planning of birth is a reasonable thing, but there should be in the heart of husbands and wives enough hunger and reverence for children. Opportunities for women in society are multiplying and our tradition needs to improve its understanding for how families grow when both parents or just the wife-mother, will be active in career. Cautionary things should be shared with those who are beginning their journey on the road, to avoid anger and a sense that marriage stifles freedom. The growth of marriage goes on and on. The adventures continues and so do the challenges. There are times to grow when children grow and when they leave home and when these have their own children and when one is widowed. One should always remember that one marries for better or for worse and so, one should do all in one's power to meet the challenges that arise in all stages of marriage.