Legend has it that when Napoleon Bonaparte conquered a new land and entered into battle, he ordered his troops to burn their ships. As far as Bonaparte was concerned, retreat, withdrawal or surrender was not an option on the table. They were there to conquer and stay.
History narrates that in 1519, Captain Hernán Cortés landed in Veracruz, in the Gulf of Mexico, to begin his great conquest. Upon arriving, he ordered his men to burn the ships. There was to be no possibility of turning back.
Whether these stories are legends or true, the message is powerful and crystal clear: Retreat is easy when you have the option. There is to be no plan B. There is no escape hatch. There is no “if this happens … then I can always go back” option. Advancing is impossible if the troops keep looking and thinking back. If there is a possibility of retreat, going forward is half-hearted. If there is a possibility of retreat, going forward and persevering is only a possibility when convenient.
Now consider the marriage vow “To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part." There is no option for a retreat or withdrawal.
I once heard someone say, “Why get married? It’s only a piece of paper.” If it’s true that marriage is just a piece of paper, then why are we afraid to commit? We know it’s not just a piece of paper but a lifetime commitment. And that’s what we’re afraid of. That’s why we want to keep our ships at bay, just in case.
The human heart is wired for forever. Listen to the songs we sing: “Now and Forever,” “Always and Forever,” “'Til the End of Time,” “'Til They Take My Heart Away,” “A Love to Last a Lifetime.” The list goes on. When the Church teaches that marriage is forever, is it an imposition on the part of the Church or rather an exposition of the deepest desires and longing of the human heart?
From the very beginning, as recorded in the Book of Genesis, God established marriage as a sacred union between a man and a woman. "Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh" (Genesis 2:24). This profound declaration reflects the deep intertwining of two souls, guided by a divine purpose to create a partnership that will last forever.
This miracle of turning water into wine at Cana at a wedding signified Christ's divine authority, but more so highlighted the joyous transformation that faithfulness can bring to marriage – turning ordinary moments into extraordinary blessings.
We pray for married couples as they navigate life's battles together; let the sacred bond of marriage offer a path to enduring love, where ordinary moments are transformed into extraordinary blessings through unwavering faithfulness.
Father Boby John, C.S.C., ordained a priest in the Congregation of Holy Cross in 2008, worked as a pastor and as an educator with tribal populations in Northeast India for thirteen years. Originally from Kerala, India, Father Boby grew up with three siblings. He is a dedicated and detailed educationist with experience in educational leadership. He is currently working as an executive assistant at the world headquarters of Holy Cross Family Ministries, North Easton, Massachusetts.
