Marriage, Sexuality and Our Sacramental World: Part 1Ephesians 5:25-32

NUMBER OF COHABITING, UNMARRIED ADULT COUPLES OF THE OPPOSITE SEX, BY YEAR, UNITED STATES

“Can marriage be saved?.. For now the decline in marriage is our most ignored national crisis.”

Time MagazineRich Lowry, March, 2012

1. Marriage (+ Singleness) as Sacraments

“For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery – but I am talking about Christ and the church. Eph. 5:32

4 Qualities of God’s Love

• Free

• Total

• Faithful

• Fruitful

“For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery – but I am talking about Christ and the church. Eph. 5:32

Jesus replied: “Not everyone can accept this word, but only to those to whom it has been given. For some are eunuchs because they were born that way, others were made that way by men and others have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this, should accept this.” (Matt. 19:11-12)

The heavens declare the glory of God… Day after day they pour forth speech. Ps. 19:1

“The world is charged with the glory of God” Gerald Manley Hopkins

Sacraments – with a small “s”

Sacraments –with a big “S” Points and Participates

2. The Great Spiritual Battle is to Love and not Use Others or Be Used.

Relationship Attachment Model

Relationship Attachment Model

Almighty God, my heavenly Father, I have sinned against you through my own fault:

In thoughtIn wordIn deed

In what I have doneIn what I have left undone

For the sake of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, forgive me all my offenses; and grant that I may serve

you in newness of life, to the glory of your Name. Amen