A Holy and Life-Long Commitment - Weekday Homily Video

After listening to Father Leo’s homily yesterday, I was inspired to seek ways to use our hands, feet, and eyes--our bodies, to do good and care for those in need.  

Father Leo, like Jesus, building upon the Ten Commandments with the positive actions of the Beatitudes, made me think about today’s readings in the positive, regarding honoring our commitments through holy perseverance.  

In the letter from Saint James, there are some verses that many of us have heard growing up; for example, someone “who has the patience of Job.” Or perhaps you’ve heard, “…let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No’…” 

Clearly, Saint James had a reason to appeal to these early Christians: to call them to stop judging one another and to be compassionate, merciful, and truthful with one another.  

These same instructions fit well with the Gospel reading from Mark about marriage. Now, let me ask you a question: Is a lifelong marriage easy? I’ve never been married, but I know the answer to that one: Of course not. But let’s go with Father Leo and Jesus’ approach. Let’s look at the positive when it comes to marriage.  

The Gifts of Marriage

First, it is a gift from God, as the verse says, “God made them male and female. For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” “So they are no longer two but one….” 

In this gospel, whether we are married, single, a religious, or a priest, we are reminded of God’s vocational call for many to marry. Likewise, we recognize the challenges to healthy and holy marriages and, sadly, the conclusion of some marriages in divorce.  

A Reflection of Love

The emphasis of this homily is inspired by my parents and countless other married couples I’ve met along the way. My Dad rarely gives me advice on my preaching. However, he does encourage me from time to time to extol the importance of marriage in our society. He can quote research statistics from a self-study he did on the benefits of marriage, from health to finance, but his most compelling argument comes from his own experience of what almost sixty years of marriage has meant to him.  

My Dad has always been a numbers guy, unlike me, someone who can calculate, analyze, project, and plan. Yet, on the topic of marriage, he talks more about love, adventure, faith, meaning, and gratitude to my Mom, her family, and God.  

Living a Christ Centric Marriage

In a time when it would be easy to give up on God-centered marriage, my Dad and people like our colleagues Craig and Amy Dyke, who lead couples in faith-based marriage programs, echo the Word of God today.   

My brothers and sisters, God knows that a lifelong commitment to a husband or a wife is not easy, but it is how God calls many to live and love, including bringing new life into this world. Let us pray for single men and women to be open to this beautiful lifelong commitment to love and let us also pray for those who are married for the grace to live this holy commitment to one another united by God. 

• Today’s Readings

• Father David's inspirational homily was recorded live during Mass at the Father Peyton Center this morning. Please view the video on our Facebook page. (You don't need a Facebook account to view.) 

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