In our politically correct society, today’s second reading
comes as a great challenge. This is because we often
read Sacred Scripture from a standpoint of pride and
focus on a particular line or phrase to the exclusion of the
surrounding verses, which make up the context and
meaning of the passage in its entirety. In particular the
passage beginning, “Wives should be submissive to the
husbands…” tends to be read out of context and be
completely misunderstood.
In this passage our Lord is only nominally speaking of
marriage. If we approach this passage in a spirit of
humility we may just come to realize that Christ is
speaking of His relationship with us and ours with Him.
We – the Church – should be submissive to Christ.
This is not all that easy, as it entails putting aside all ego
and pride. However, by submitting to Christ, we allow
Him to render us “holy and immaculate.” Christ offers
Himself not simply to us, but also for us. He loves us to
the point of dying for us, but does not force this love upon
us.
In so far as this passage does speak of marriage, it
speaks more to the husband than to the wife: “Husbands
love your wives as Christ loves the Church…” There is
in fact equality that is implied here: “For this reason a
man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cling to
his wife, and the two shall be made one.” Marriage, when
properly practiced is then the “great foreshadowing… it
refers to Christ and His Church.” As husband and wife
become one in marriage, so too are we united to Christ
when we keep His commandments and receive His Body
and Blood as our Gospel so tells us.