Gospel
‘For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.’
John 5:17-30
At that time: Jesus answered the Jews, ‘My Father is working even now, and I am working.’ This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
So Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgement to the Son, that all may honour the Son, just as they honour the Father. Whoever does not honour the Son does not honour the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word, and believes him who sent me, has eternal life. He does not come into judgement, but has passed from death to life.
‘Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgement, because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for the hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgement.
‘I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgement is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.’
The communion between spouses reflects the communion within the Holy Trinity. We have much to learn from this Gospel: The Father shows the Son everything He does, because He loves Him. The Son does everything the Father shows Him, and the Father entrusts all judgment to the Son, but the Son judges according to what He hears from the Father because the Son does nothing by Himself.
Obviously, there are actions here that don’t apply to spouses, such as judging. However, attitudes of trust, submission, and ultimately communion between the Father and the Son can teach us a great deal.
Applied to Married Life:
Caroline: Our solicitor certainly emphasised caution when we signed power of attorney for each other.
Michael: That’s his job—to ensure we fully understand that we’re placing our lives into each other’s hands regarding earthly matters. What he doesn’t realise is we’ve extended this trust spiritually, as much as we’re able.
Caroline: Exactly, like last Saturday when someone said to me: “Since you seem to make the decisions, we’ll ask you.”
Michael: And what did you say?
Caroline: That even though it might seem that way because I have a more decisive nature, I don’t make any decision without praying about it with you first. We both seek God’s will and trust each other completely.
Michael: Absolutely. I don’t understand why people find this surprising since we’re one. If married couples fully realised this unity, things would certainly be different.
Mother,
We belong to each other and desire to dwell in each other. Do whatever is necessary in our hearts to make this a reality. Amen.