Friday of the
Ninth Week in Ordinary Time
(Tobit 11:5-17; Mark 12:35-37)
The Rite of Marriage used to mention the difficulties of
married life. It advised the couple
standing before the priest that love alone could make the marriage work and
perfect love could make the marriage a joy.
Those difficulties surely include being thrown into a living situation
with a person from another household with its own customs. Then, of course, there is the instant sharing
of a bed, a room, and just about everything else. Love supplies the balm that allows the couple
to value each other’s differences.
Parents of the couple have a part to play in the adjustment
process. The first reading today
provides a model for parents of the bridal couple.
Tobit goes out of his way to welcome his new
daughter-in-law Sarah. He not only
blesses her but also relates how she is a blessing to his son. He shows no reservation in calling her “daughter”
so that she may feel completely at home.
We, friends of the bridal couple, also have a role in the
process. We should pray that the couple’s
relationship be loving and faithful. We
should not let old relationships with either the bride or groom remain old
relationships but should become friends to both. Finally, we want to encourage both to live up
to their marriage vows especially when the road turns uphill and becomes rocky.
