“What is Marriage?” – Part 1 of 3

Today and over the next two days, I will feature a three-part series in response to the Supreme Court’s decision to legalize so-called, “same-sex” marriage. This will be a catechesis on marriage and homosexuality rooted in Sacred Scripture. The series will feature the following articles: 1). “What is Marriage?” (today’s article), 2). “What Does Our Church Teach About Homosexuality?”, and 3). “Five Practical Ways to Address Homosexuality and Marriage in the Church.” This is not meant to be an exhaustive attempt to explain Church teaching, but hopefully at the end, lead you to further thought and prayer and inform you of resources that may direct and inspire you to learn more. It is also meant to be thorough and challenging. Above all, it will be an opportunity to communicate the Church’s teaching on marriage with truth in love.

First, “what is marriage?” Our culture seems to be quite confused about answering this question right now. It’s as if a fog of fear and political correctness have crept over our world especially in our own country and nearly crippled it. Many are afraid to speak out. But we shouldn’t be, because of our faith in Jesus Christ, who is the Bridegroom, and who went all the way to the cross out of true love for us, his Bride, the Church. Marriage between a man and a woman wasn’t something that evolved, happened by chance or was man-made. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) states that marriage is not a purely human institution despite the many variations it may have undergone through the centuries in different cultures, social structures and spiritual attitudes” (CCC 1603). Marriage did not originate in the Church. Nor was it founded by the State. Rather and simply put, God has defined marriage. Why can’t marriage be “redefined” to include two men or two women? “The word ‘marriage’ isn’t simply a label that can be attached to different types of relationships. Instead, ‘marriage’ reflects a deep reality – the reality of the unique, fruitful, lifelong union that is only possible between a man and a woman. Just as oxygen and hydrogen are essential to water, sexual difference is essential to marriage. The attempt to ‘redefine’ marriage to include two persons of the same sex denies the reality of what marriage is. It is as impossible as trying to ‘redefine’ water to include oxygen and nitrogen” (usccb.org). Recently, I watched TV and heard Franklin Graham, a Christian minister and preacher who is also the son of the famous preacher, Billy Graham, get it right when he said that we can’t redefine what has already been defined by God.

Due to the Supreme Court’s legalization of “same-sex” marriage, it seems there has been a loss of meaning and value for marriage in our nation. The original sacredness of marriage between one man and one woman, the way God intended it, is under attack. Now the door has been opened through the decision of the Supreme Court to pave the way for a reckless and irresponsible freedom that allows the general public to make marriage whatever we want it to be and mean. What’s to prevent polygamy, marrying one’s family member, marrying one’s own pet or “who knows what else,” from happening next?

It was God’s incredible design from the beginning, God, who divinely instituted marriage in all its love, truth, goodness and beauty at the dawn of creation. The Catechism confirms this stating that “God is the author of marriage. The vocation to marriage is written in the very nature of man and woman as they came from the hand of the Creator” (CCC 1603). This is evident in the sexual complementarity of man and woman that is culminated in marriage through the natural union of the spouses. From the very beginning, we are taught that “it is not good that man should be alone” (Gen. 2:18), and thus man and woman were created and called to live as husband and wife in marriage. After the second story of creation when God took a rib from Adam’s side to create Eve, God said, “Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh” (Gen. 2:24, Eph. 5:31). These words are also echoed centuries later and fulfilled in Jesus’ own words. Jesus said, “What God has joined together, no human being must separate” (Mt. 19:5-6, Mk. 10:7-9). “In his preaching, Jesus unequivocally taught the original meaning of the union of man and woman as the Creator willed it from the beginning” (CCC 1613). As a result, “marriage will be an efficacious sign of Christ’s presence” (CCC 1614).

Many of you have responded generously to the call of marriage which includes openness to life. We know that the fruit of your marital love is the gift of children, something that isn’t easy but is far outweighed by the joys of being parents and eventually as grandparents. How you are blessed by God indeed! This message was given at the beginning of creation in which God stated, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it…” (Gen. 1:28). May we as adults and those of us who are blessed to be married be not so concerned about our own rights but selflessly put them after our children who have the right to married parents and a right to a mother and a father. The love of husband and wife and the family is a reflection of the love of the Most Holy Trinity in who we are all made in God’s image and likeness (Gen. 1:26-27). The Catechism goes on to say that marriage is “a covenant or partnership of life between a man and woman, which is ordered to the well-being of the spouses and to the procreation and upbringing of children. When validly contracted between two baptized people, marriage is a sacrament” (CCC 1601). Perhaps we may need to consider in our Church putting more emphasis and distinction on the teaching of the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony rather than just on marriage in general which has become grossly perverted and misinterpreted by the secular world.

Those who have same-sex attraction (SSA), and who are now legally able to contract civil unions,(through what is commonly termed as “same-sex” marriage), are not able to achieve union. Nor are they able to achieve procreation through union. This is unnatural and not God’s will which will be explained next week. However, “same-sex” couples are to be treated with love and compassion and are called to repent just like the rest of us when we fall from grace into sin. Those who have same-sex attraction are called to live a chaste life (faithful to one’s current vocation in life), something all of humanity is called to live out too, which should inspire hope in a spirit of solidarity.

We may already recognize that, like family life and life itself, marriage between a man and woman is a basic building block and foundation for a thriving society that is under attack by the evil one and lately much of our country and parts of the world. “Among the many blessings that God has showered upon us in Christ is the blessing of marriage, a gift bestowed by the Creator from the creation of the human race…It is a source of blessing to the couple, to their families, and to society and includes the wondrous gift of co-creating human life. Indeed, as St. Pope John Paul II never tired of reminding us, the future of humanity depends on marriage and the family.” (usccb.org)

The legalization of same-sex marriage is now a threat to our religious liberty and thus our first amendment right to practice our faith freely. May we listen to the words of Scripture: “Do not be afraid” (Is. 41:10) for “if God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31). Despite the statistics that show almost half of all marriages end in divorce, it is time for all Catholics, Christians and people of good will to celebrate marriage between man and woman with joy knowing this is is a tremendous gift from God. Let’s celebrate our marriages and our anniversaries. May we be witnesses to a fallen, confused and misguided world that searches from the heart for truth, love and answers. May we Catholics meet their needs and remember that the gift of marriage between man and woman, found in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony, comes from a loving God who has not abandoned us. Jesus assures us of this as he said, “I am with you always until the end of the age” (Mt. 28:20).
– by Fr. Jeff Allan
Resources:
– 14th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops – Oct. 4th-25th, 2015 – Rome
http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/marriage-and-family/2014-2015-synods-of-bishops-on-the-family.cfm
Archdiocese of Detroit – http://www.aod.org
Catechism of the Catholic Church on Marriage: Male and Female He Created Them (CCC 369-373 and CCC 2331-2336), The Sacrament of Matrimony (CCC 1601 – 1666), Nature of the Family & Family and Society (CCC 2201-2213), Chastity and Homosexuality (2357-2359), The Love of Husband and Wife (CCC 2360-2379)
For Your Marriage – http://www.foryourmarriage.org
“Marriage: Love and Life in The Divine Plan” (U.S. Bishops Pastoral Letter on Marriage)
http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/marriage-and-family/
Marriage: Unique for A Reason http://www.marriageuniqueforareason.org
Michigan Celebrates Marriage – http://www.michigancelebratesmarriage.com
National Marriage Week: Feb. 7th – 14th, 2015 – U.S.A http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/marriage-and-family/national-marriage-week-2015.cfm
Por Tu Matrimonio – http://www.portumatrimonio.org
Sacred Scripture: Gen. 1-3, Tob. 8:4-9, Prv. 31:10-31, Song of Songs/Solomon 8:6-7, Mt. 5:27-28, Mt. 19:3-15, Mt. 20:25-28, Mk. 10:7-12, Jn. 2:1-11, Jn. 15:13, 1 Cor. 7, 11; Eph. 5:21-33, Rev. 19:7-9
Theology of the Body for Beginners, by Christopher West (originally translated from Pope John Paul II)
USCCB – United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: – http://www.usccb.org
“Between Man and Woman: Questions and Answers About Marriage and Same-Sex Unions,”
“Church Teaching on Marriage” and “Frequently Asked Questions About The Defense of Marriage,”
“Promotion and Defense of Marriage” and “Q & A on Marriage and Religious Freedom.”
World Meeting of Families – http://www.worldmeeting2015.org – Sept. 22nd – 27th, 2015 – Philadelphia, PA