"THEREFORE A MAN LEAVES HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND CLEAVES TO HIS WIFE, AND THEY BECOME ONE FLESH".
MARRIAGE IS NOT JUST A LEGAL CONTRACT. IT IS MUCH MORE THAN THAT. MARRIAGE IS A SACRAMENT. IT IS A COVENANT AND A HOLY VOW UNDERTAKEN BEFORE GOD. IN THIS COVENANT BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN, THEY PROMISE EACH OTHER THAT THEY WILL LOVE EACH OTHER IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH, FOR RICH OR FOR POOR, FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE TILL DEATH DO THEM PART.
IN OUR GENERATION WE HAVE LOST THIS SACRED SENSE OF MARRIAGE. MARRIAGE SEEMS TO HAVE BECOME SOMETHING SUPERFICIAL. SOME PEOPLE DON'T EVEN BOTHER TO GET MARRIED. INSTEAD THEY JUST CO-HABIT OR LIVE TOGETHER IN SO CALLED 'COMMON LAW RELATIONSHIPS'. OTHERS GET MARRIED BUT ARE UNFAITHFUL TO THEIR SACRED PROMISE OF LIFELONG LOVE AND COMMITMENT TO EACH OTHER. DIVORCE IS FREQUENT IN OUR MODERN CULTURE. IN FACT IT IS REPORTED THAT ONE OUT OF EVERY TWO MARRIAGES IN NORTH AMERICA ENDS UP IN DIVORCE. THIS LEADS TO BROKEN FAMILIES, SUFFERING AND BITTERNESS. CHILDREN OFTEN GROW UP WITHOUT THE LOVE AND CARE OF THEIR FATHERS. THIS HAS A TERRIBLE IMPACT FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS WHO OFTEN FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THEIR PARENTS. CHILDREN OF DIVORCED PARENTS OFTEN HAVE PROBLEMS IN THEIR LIVES. THEY MAY TAKE UP DRUGS AND OTHER ANTISOCIAL AND IMMORAL BEHAVIOR. ALL THESE PROBLEMS ARE CAUSED WHEN PEOPLE DO NOT TAKE SERIOUSLY THE HOLY SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY.
NOW YET ANOTHER GRAVE SIN AGAINST HOLY MATRIMONY IS TAKING PLACE - SAME SEX MARRIAGE. PEOPLE ARE MOCKING THE LORD'S COMMANDMENTS WHEN HE HAS SANCTIONED MARRIAGE AS A HOLY UNION BETWEEN ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN. HOW FAR WILL THIS DESCECRATION GO? HOW LONG MUST THIS CONTINUE? GOD WILL NOT TURN A BLIND EYE TO SUCH CORRUPTION IN OUR SOCIETY. HE WILL SURELY CHASTISE US LIKE HE DID TO THE CITIES OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH.
THE CHURCH IS THEREFORE CALLING US TO REPENT AND HONOUR THE HOLY SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE. FOR IF WE ARE TO BE GOD'S CHILDREN WE MUST FOLLOW IN THE WAYS OF HOLINESS AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS.