I’m sure most women know it before I even identify it….Ephesians 5:22, “wives should be subordinate to their husbands”. Currently doing the “Bible in a Year”, I read and pray through several verses every day. Today was this one, surrounded by several others, which really put it into context.
As I’ve indicated on several occasions, I’m not a Scripture scholar nor theologian. So, although I’m sure that there is biblical rationale to the above verse, I’m not arguing that here, but making a broader point. Ephesians 5:21 precedes verse 22, stating “be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Here St. Paul indicates that husbands and wives need to rely on one another, as peers and partners.
Please stick with me here. I’m making some points, but need to site some more Scripture to do so.
My favorite verse from Ephesians is 5:25, “husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her”. Here’s the thing…Jesus was crucified on the Cross, the most torturous death he could have experienced, for the Church, for us. St. Paul is saying that a husband must be willing to die for his bride. I don’t know about you, but I think it’s pretty special when anyone is willing to die for me. Most husbands I know, as protectors and providers, are literally willing to die for their wives and their children. I know it was true of my Dad and it’s true of me.
Ephesians 30-33 read, “…because we are members of his body”. For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak in reference to Christ and the church. In any case, each one of you should love his wife as himself, and the wife should respect her husband.
To me, the above means that we’re a team…wives and husbands. One flesh, inseparable, unlike any other relationship that exists, incredibly unique and very special. As husband and wife, we are always to be there for one another, loving and supporting each other.
With the divorce rate today, no different among Catholics and other Christians as compared to others, we don’t live this truth. I was guilty of this, having been divorced from my first wife. Fortunate to receive an annulment and now married to my best friend for the past 11 years, here’s the big difference. We don’t see divorce as an option. Like any couple, we have our issues. Everything isn’t perfect…just ask my wife. But there’s no “out”. Understanding what St. Paul states above, trying to live it, actively pursuing our faith together and being blessed by God’s grace, we know we’ll survive…and most of the time we thrive.
My wife is my #1 priority. Like our parents before us, we do everything together. We joke that “we’re all we got”. Although we have others in our lives, our Mothers, our kids, other family and friends, there’s a certain reality to that statement. Whether here in Pittsburgh or Nevada and Arizona, where we love spending time, we’re all we need, knowing each other’s love and knowing the love of Christ.
Society is built on the family. Strong families are a result of solid marriages. Although we may not agree with every word of every verse, I think we can take some lessons from St. Paul in Ephesians 5:21-33.
As always, please feel free to contact to me at [email protected], with questions, comments, concerns, or challenges. I’ll even take prayer requests.
God Bless you on your Path to Peace, Joy, and Fulfillment!!!
Mark Joseph