Good morning. This morning we read about an issue that has plagued married couples since the beginning. As a marriage counselor it is one of my favorite biblical passages. We read this morning in the Third Chapter of Genesis of our first parents’ awareness of their nakedness. “The LORD God called to Adam and asked him, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden; but I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid myself.” Then he asked, “Who told you that you were naked?” (Gn 3:9-11). I have a particular fondness for this passage and its description of the first days of our relationship with God. This passage describes and offers an understanding for the struggle we all experience in our relationships, and in particular our marital relationships. We have here a clearly written understanding of the struggle of trust, control and individual boundaries that hinder our relationship with our spouse. If I understand this passage correctly, prior to Original Sin there would not have existed any lack of clarity, any uncertainties, or any reservations or fears between a married couple; but because of original sin the connectedness and understanding that previously existed ceased to exist. Original sin introduced selfishness and control and a reluctance to trust. Where before there was an unbounded sense of openness, sin introduced the perpetual struggle married couples experience with unity. It is here in the telling of the story of Eden that we have an understanding of the struggle all married couples experience with trust. This original experience of shame offers us a clearer understanding of our ongoing struggle with insecurity and our struggle with going from ‘me’ to the ‘we’. There seems to be an ever increasing trend amongst married couples in struggling with issue of selfishness. As a marriage counselor I truly believe that our Faith and the lives of the Saints have much to offer us toward experiencing more successful marriages. May we come to embrace the example of the Holy Family in living out a marital relationship of mutual self-giving. As we prepare to celebrate National Marriage Week and the Feast of Saint Valentine I would encourage you to read an article by Catholic Psychiatrist Richard Fitzgibbons on Healing Marriages of Control and Trust Issues and information offered on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website. My prayers for all married couples this Valentines Day is that they may better come to know the joy that comes with having God in their marriage. Make a great day!
Today we recall the good life, gifts and works of Blessed George Haydock and the 84 Martyred Companions.
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