In today’s Gospel reading from Luke 13, Jesus tells two short parables about the Kingdom of God. The first compares the Kingdom to a mustard seed, the other to yeast. Our first reading today from Ephesians 5 is one of the most misunderstood passages in all of the New Testament.
“Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is head of his wife just as Christ is head of the Church, he himself savior of the Body. As the Church is subordinate to Christ, so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything.”
This reading equates the union of husband and wife to that of Christ and the Church. It alludes to the total, self-donating, self-giving love that husbands and wives must have for one another. It does not imply anything demeaning or degrading at all! When we have a greater understanding what St. Paul really means here, then we should have no fear of proclaiming this from the housetops!
Father, bless marriages. Help husbands and wives be subject to one another, as the Church is to Christ, and He to His bride. Amen.
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It was never misunderstood when Fr. Flynn was around.
My wife and I served in Pre-Cana for over 20 years. At the opening meeting, Fr. Flynn would use this reading as part of his talk. He would always ask the women to be patient and for the guys to “enjoy it while it lasts.”
After allowing the guys some time to nudge their fiancés and laugh, Father would turn and point to the Crucifix and let them know “and that is your role.”
Got them every time!