PUTTING GOD IN THE CENTER OF MARRIAGE

"Put God in the center of your Marriage." 

This, I think, is one of the most popular wedding greetings that I've ever heard and seen. In fact, when I got married to my wife almost 2 years ago, almost all the greeting cards attached to our gifts contain the said phrase.

But the big question, I guess, for most married couples, is: "how do we put God in the center of our Marriage?" I'm no expert, but I have few suggestions for this to be realized:

First and foremost, if the couple is really sincere in having God in their midst, they should present their Marriage vows before the Altar of the Lord. In short, get a CHURCH WEDDING. It need not to be extravagant because the important point is: to have their Marriage blessed by God thru the Minister of the Church. This way, couples are like the wise man "who built (their) homes upon the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock (Matthew 7:24-25)."  In addition, couples must understand that receiving the Sacrament of Matrimony is a direct encounter with the Lord, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church (1642) perfectly describes this:

"Christ is the source of this grace. "Just as of old God encountered his people with a covenant of love and fidelity, so our Savior, the spouse of the Church, now encounters Christian spouses through the sacrament of Matrimony. Christ dwells with them, gives them the strength to take up their crosses and so follow him, to rise again after they have fallen, to forgive one another, to bear one another's burdens, to "be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ," and to love one another with supernatural, tender, and fruitful love."

Since the Married Life does not stop after the wedding day, the second suggestion I would like to give for married couples, in order for them to maintain the presence of God, is for them to spend time praying together, reading the Scriptures and going to Church every Sunday and Days of Obligation. Making these things a habit will surely strengthen not just the matrimonial bond, but most of all, their intimacy with the Lord. As it is written, "for where two or three are gathered together in My NAME, there am I in the midst of them (Matthew 18:20)"

And Finally, I suggest that married couples should also find time and make ways or activities that will increase their love for one another. Because where love is abundant, there is God, since GOD IS LOVE! 

To the Husbands and Wives who are reading this, please help one another in pursuit of eternal life; because more than anything else, you are stewards of each others' soul. Make Heaven your one and ultimate goal, and you will never go wrong. And please remember this, your journey to Heaven is only possible if you have Jesus Christ, the Spouse of the Church, working in your midst.