Lasting Gifts

I don’t remember too many of the gifts we received on our wedding day some 34 years ago, but other than our dinnerware and a bedroom suite that’s a little worse for wear, most of what we received has long since worn out. There is, however, one gift we gave each other that is still working after all these years, and that’s the gift of fidelity.

Fidelity was not only a gift we gave, but one received from both sides of our families for as far back as we can trace. When our ancestors said “I do” they meant it. Sadly, such is not the case for many couples in Canada, as the divorce rate hovers around 40%.

In today’s reading from Malachi, we find the problem of divorce is not a new one. The prophet doesn’t mince words in chastising the nation of Judah for her infidelity. In choosing spouses from outside the faith, the people have adopted the mores of those foreign nations, and have become unfaithful to God and each other in the process.

God calls Judah and us to live faithfully with God and our spouses. May we hear these words afresh today.

Lord, help us to be faithful to one another?and to you. Amen. — ACS