The Two Becoming One Body
Have you ever noticed that some old married couples begin to look like each other? Sometimes people will comment that they look like brother and sister. Often they will be referred to as one co-joined name with an ‘and’ in between like Adam and Eve. Recently the wife of one of our couple friends became seriously ill and as she started her treatment, I noticed that the husband seemed to be impacted with the side effects as well.
As I read this week’s Gospel Mark 10:2-16 ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall come one body’, I thought of these phenomena. It is a mystery how the two can remain two yet become one body. I thought of the mystery of the Trinity, three persons yet one God.
Today these type of marriage relationships are in the minority. Yet they can be for us a role-model, an aspiration, a sign of the kingdom of God among us. I tell those married couples, that achieve this capacity of two being one body, that they must make themselves visible. They should let their light shine so as to give us hope.
This type of relationship is an ideal of the nature of all human relationships, a self-giving to others. I believe that Jesus grew to this understanding as he observed the relationship between his parents, Joseph and Mary. What love and self-giving he must have witnessed as he grew to adulthood in Nazareth!
We can take the example of the Kingdom of God nature of human relationships and strive to live this in our daily lives. All human relationships are meant to be marked by self-giving, whether or not they are bound by marriage. It is the degree of self-giving, the willingness to sacrifice, serve, and love others without reservation, that reflects the divine nature of true human connection.
Whether in friendships, family bonds, or communities, this kind of selfless love can transform the way we relate to one another, embodying the presence of God in every encounter and making visible the Kingdom here on earth.
Recently, a lady friend of mine took it upon herself to care for her ex-husband who was now diagnosed with a severe illness, even though in their younger days he treated her badly. Despite the pain of their past, she put aside her hurt and chose to care for him in his time of need.
This selfless act of love and compassion reminded me of the power of forgiveness and the true meaning of Christian love — a love that goes beyond feelings, beyond past wrongs, and seeks the good of the other. Her actions were a living example of grace, showing how love, when it is rooted in the heart of Christ, can move beyond wounds and transcend even the deepest divides.
Friends, we are each called to this self-giving in our relationships. Probably today we are being called to be more self-giving in a particular relationship that is challenging us, perhaps with a family member, a friend, or even a colleague. It may require patience, forgiveness, or simply showing up in love despite past hurts or difficulties.
Let us remember that every act of self-giving brings us closer to the Kingdom of God and transforms not only the other person but ourselves as well. As we go through this week, may we be open to the opportunities to love more deeply and give of ourselves more freely, trusting that God’s grace will guide us in every step.
Let your light shine brightly in every relationship you touch, for it is through our love for one another that the world will come to know God’s love.
Friends, I invite you to visit the link below to my upcoming online retreat on Navigating Life Transitions. I believe it is ideal for those dealing with significant change in their lives, guiding us to a closer relationship with Jesus. Navigating Life Transitions Retreat
Also, I invite you to check out my new ebook, an inspiring short story of A Life Transforming Homecoming at the link My Life Transforming Short Story