To the Ends of the Earth. Mark C. McCann
our lives so that every thought, every word, and every action is a sign of God’s will for his holy Bride, the Church? Remember our roles as husbands, leaders, and men are linked to the roles of Christ and his Church.
Questions for reflection
Where do you see signs that the original dignity of marriage has been marred by sin?
Husbands, how can you become more in tune with your role as husband and partner to your wife?
Single men, what can you do this week to live more in submission to your divinely assigned role?
Praying with Scripture
“And God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it’” (Gen 1:28a).
Tuesday
Headship Is about Deliverance, Not Domination
And from the throne came a voice crying,
“Praise our God, all you his servants,
you who fear him, small and great.”
Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunder peals, crying,
“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready;
it was granted her to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure” —
for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
Revelation 19:5–8
Many men have abdicated their responsibility to love their wives in a sinful quest for dominance over them. Tragically, too many pastors have done the same with their congregations. Headship, however, was never supposed to be about being “in charge;” rather, it was about sharing our lives with those in our care in such a way that we raise them up in beauty and self-worth. Wives are a gift to their husbands, and congregations are a gift to their pastors. Our call is not to benefit from what we can receive, but to deliver our wives or our congregations back to Christ in the perfection of his grace.
Jesus died to restore the original intent of marriage and to reestablish the roles of men and women as they were meant to be. He formed the Church as his Bride and is bringing her to perfection so that he can present her as spotless and pure when he returns in glory. Marriage is a reflection of that purification. As husbands, we are to love our wives and to allow them to help shape our lives as we grow in grace to become all that God has called us to be. Pastors and ministers too, are called to love those in their care and to allow those daily interactions to shape them as men and help them to grow as leaders. As Catholic men, we need to take seriously our call to love others to the full, and to grow in grace so that together, husbands and wives, pastors and congregations, can become the sign of Christ’s pure and powerful love bestowed upon the world.
Questions for reflection
Husbands, how does your sinful, selfish side show itself in your marriage? Have you ever sought to dominate your wife rather than love her?
Pastors and leaders, how can you reflect more fully the character of Christ in your ministry?
What is one important thing you can do this week to help other men honor their wives?
Praying with Scripture
“For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called” (Is 54:5).
Wednesday
Our Love Should Be Sacrificial, Not Selfish
Then La’ban said to Jacob, “Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?” Now La’ban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful and lovely. Jacob loved Rachel; and he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” La’ban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me.” So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.
Genesis 29:15–20
Catholic husbands are called to love our wives as Christ loves the Church (cf. Eph 5:25). Christ gave everything for his Bride and is leading the Church toward perfection as the day approaches when he will come again in glory. The sacrificial nature of that love cannot be overstated. If we are to mirror that same love for our wives, we must be willing to put our wives before our own needs. This does not mean we never pursue our dreams or take time to enjoy our lives; but it does mean that we decide when and where to place those dreams on hold and put our own pleasures aside in ministering to the needs of our wives.
For all men, married or single, this kind of sacrificial love must encompass the whole of our relationships. Men are willing to protect women, but do we show them the affection, comfort, and respect they deserve? Being the head of a household does not exclude us from helping to care for our homes and our children. True sacrificial love manifests itself in the smallest concerns as well as the largest. When we give ourselves to our wives fully, our labors become light indeed because of the love we share. Like Jacob, we should see our labors as nothing compared with the joy we find in pleasing our spouses and walking alongside them on the journey of salvation. This kind of love is a powerful example that all men, single or married, can live out in the larger arena of the Church and the world.
Questions for reflection
Husbands, what is the most delightful thing about being married to your wife? In what areas of your marriage can you adopt a more sacrificial attitude? Can you share this with her?
Single men, how does the powerful witness of a godly marriage mirror the way you should love the world?
How can you help other men to live out a greater witness of a godly and sacrificial marriage?
Praying with Scripture
“He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord” (Prv 18:22).
Thursday
“Cherish” Is the Watchword of a Man’s Every Action
You are all fair, my love;
there is no flaw in you.
Come with me from Lebanon, my bride;
come with me from Lebanon….
You have ravished my heart, my sister, my bride,
you have ravished my heart with a glance of your eyes,
with one jewel of your necklace.
How sweet is your love, my sister, my bride!
how much better is your love than wine,
and the fragrance of your oils than any spice!
Your lips distil nectar, my bride;
honey and milk are under your tongue;
the scent of your garments is like the scent of Lebanon.
Song