Feast of Saint Edward the Confessor

Good morning. In today’s reading Jesus cannot win for losing. As is always the case when people speak the truth their message is either welcomed or not. Those who speak the truth offer consolation to those who choose to listen, yet for others it is upsetting because the message is not consistent with what they wish to believe. It is upsetting to the Pharisee’s in today’s Gospel because for them to accept the message Jesus offers requires them to respond with humility and justice, virtues which were not their strong suits. Likewise for us as married couples, or for any of us, to respond to Jesus’ message we need to respond with humility and justice. Justice requires of us to respond to our partner with compassion and mercy, to give to them in ways that we would want them to give to us—the “golden rule.” The message which the Pharisees struggle with is that of mercy and compassion. Ways of living which they were not accustomed to embracing. We too find ourselves struggling with the same message. We too are asked to live lives of mercy and compassion, virtues our Saint for today, Edward the Confessor, was noted to embrace. To be merciful and compassionate is no easy order. Our inclination toward selfishness consistently gets in the way. To be merciful and compassionate in our marital relationship demands of us to be forgiving, not because our partner necessarily deserves it, but out of love and because forgiveness is necessary for any marriage to be successful. Humility is the key to it all, to forever keep in mind that without God in our marriage, without God in our lives we are nothing. For our marriage to be successful we need to remind ourselves that we are and all we have to give is due to God’s presence in our lives. His love is the source of the love we have to give to one another. So, in the words of the prophet Micah we need to act justly, be merciful, and walk humbly in our marital journey. Where are you walking to today? Make a great day!

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and works of Saint Edward the Confessor.