He Created Them Male and Female:
Defending Marriage for the Sake of Children and the Gospel
And calling to Him a child, Jesus put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 18:4). Jesus loves children. He is their Shepherd, they His dear little lambs. He gently guides them. He knows their needs and well provides them. He knows and calls them by name. For children the Son of God became a Child. He lived for them. He died for them. He rose for them. He bestows upon them saving faith in the waters of Holy Baptism and grants them His kingdom.
And still wet from their Baptismal rebirth, redeemed by His Name, He hands them back into the arms of their father and mother. In this way Jesus loves children: He gives them parents. A mom and a dad. He uses them to provide for His little ones. He uses parents to feed and clothe, protect and nourish His dear lambs. Jesus uses a child’s mother and father as His servants to care for His precious children. A father and mother, a husband and wife, are Jesus’ gift to His beloved children.
This is one reason why Jesus also loves marriage, because He loves children. Just before His example with the child, Jesus said, From the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate (Mk 10:6, 9). Natural, biological procreation is the prerogative of a man and a woman. No other coupling can procreate. All children have a mother and a father. This is how God designed it. How He created it. This is how He orders and prefers it.
Jesus affirms this. Biological mothers and fathers raising their biological children in a loving, monogamous relationship is the safest, best environment for those children whom Jesus loves. Even better when dad and mom raise the little ones Jesus gives them in the fear and admonition of the Lord (Eph 6:4, JJV); when they catechize them, teaching them the Ten Commandments, Creed, and Lord’s Prayer; bringing them to Church to hear of their Father’s love for them in Jesus their Good Shepherd. Marriage safeguards and protects this familial relationship, nourishes it, and sustains all life. Single parents can do an excellent job, too. But Jesus prefers marriage, the life-long monogamous union of one man and one woman raising their biological children.
This sacred gift of marriage is under attack; some seek to “redefine” marriage: no longer is marriage about the procreation and protection of children, but about selfish lust and personal pleasure disguised as love. This harms children. Jesus loves children. He had some harsh words for those who would lead them astray: Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great milestone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea (Mt 18:6). Jesus is not advocating violence against those who seek to reject and “redefine” marriage. He is emphasizing the seriousness of harming children. Redefined marriage harms children.
Recently a senate bill was signed into law in our state protecting the conscience of those who seek to defend man-woman marriage as Jesus defines it for the sake of children. Some have issued a public outcry that such a law is discriminatory. These allegations are false. Such a law protects the religious conscience of those who defend marriage. It protects marriage as created and ordered by God and defined by Jesus. It protects children for whom marriage is a gift. We love children because Jesus loves them. To receive them in His Name is to receive Jesus. They are to us an example of faith and trust in Jesus their Good Shepherd. Defending man-woman marriage defends them.
Defending man-woman marriage also defends the Gospel for the sake of children, neighbors, co-workers, friends and enemies. Defending the Gospel is essential for life, true life in Jesus who is Life; I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me (Jn 14:6). Marriage is a gift. To children. To husbands and wives. To the world. It is a beautiful example, an icon of the holy relationship between Christ and the Church (Eph 5:22-33). No other coupling procreates. No other union than that between Christ and His Church creates children of the heavenly Father. Every Christian has a Father in heaven who loves them and a mother in the Church who gives them life and nourishment and protection. This is how Jesus designed and created and ordered and prefers it.
The mystery of marriage is profound and it is essential. It reflects Christ and the Church, the Good Shepherd and His little flock of lambs and sheep. If for no other reason, marriage must than be defended for the sake of children, whom Jesus loves, and for the sake of the Gospel, which the power of God unto salvation, the proclamation of the full remission of sins in the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep.
Your unworthy servant,
Pr Mierow
Wednesday of Jubilate
Defending Marriage for the Sake of Children and the Gospel
And calling to Him a child, Jesus put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 18:4). Jesus loves children. He is their Shepherd, they His dear little lambs. He gently guides them. He knows their needs and well provides them. He knows and calls them by name. For children the Son of God became a Child. He lived for them. He died for them. He rose for them. He bestows upon them saving faith in the waters of Holy Baptism and grants them His kingdom.
And still wet from their Baptismal rebirth, redeemed by His Name, He hands them back into the arms of their father and mother. In this way Jesus loves children: He gives them parents. A mom and a dad. He uses them to provide for His little ones. He uses parents to feed and clothe, protect and nourish His dear lambs. Jesus uses a child’s mother and father as His servants to care for His precious children. A father and mother, a husband and wife, are Jesus’ gift to His beloved children.
This is one reason why Jesus also loves marriage, because He loves children. Just before His example with the child, Jesus said, From the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate (Mk 10:6, 9). Natural, biological procreation is the prerogative of a man and a woman. No other coupling can procreate. All children have a mother and a father. This is how God designed it. How He created it. This is how He orders and prefers it.
Jesus affirms this. Biological mothers and fathers raising their biological children in a loving, monogamous relationship is the safest, best environment for those children whom Jesus loves. Even better when dad and mom raise the little ones Jesus gives them in the fear and admonition of the Lord (Eph 6:4, JJV); when they catechize them, teaching them the Ten Commandments, Creed, and Lord’s Prayer; bringing them to Church to hear of their Father’s love for them in Jesus their Good Shepherd. Marriage safeguards and protects this familial relationship, nourishes it, and sustains all life. Single parents can do an excellent job, too. But Jesus prefers marriage, the life-long monogamous union of one man and one woman raising their biological children.
This sacred gift of marriage is under attack; some seek to “redefine” marriage: no longer is marriage about the procreation and protection of children, but about selfish lust and personal pleasure disguised as love. This harms children. Jesus loves children. He had some harsh words for those who would lead them astray: Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great milestone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea (Mt 18:6). Jesus is not advocating violence against those who seek to reject and “redefine” marriage. He is emphasizing the seriousness of harming children. Redefined marriage harms children.
Recently a senate bill was signed into law in our state protecting the conscience of those who seek to defend man-woman marriage as Jesus defines it for the sake of children. Some have issued a public outcry that such a law is discriminatory. These allegations are false. Such a law protects the religious conscience of those who defend marriage. It protects marriage as created and ordered by God and defined by Jesus. It protects children for whom marriage is a gift. We love children because Jesus loves them. To receive them in His Name is to receive Jesus. They are to us an example of faith and trust in Jesus their Good Shepherd. Defending man-woman marriage defends them.
Defending man-woman marriage also defends the Gospel for the sake of children, neighbors, co-workers, friends and enemies. Defending the Gospel is essential for life, true life in Jesus who is Life; I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me (Jn 14:6). Marriage is a gift. To children. To husbands and wives. To the world. It is a beautiful example, an icon of the holy relationship between Christ and the Church (Eph 5:22-33). No other coupling procreates. No other union than that between Christ and His Church creates children of the heavenly Father. Every Christian has a Father in heaven who loves them and a mother in the Church who gives them life and nourishment and protection. This is how Jesus designed and created and ordered and prefers it.
The mystery of marriage is profound and it is essential. It reflects Christ and the Church, the Good Shepherd and His little flock of lambs and sheep. If for no other reason, marriage must than be defended for the sake of children, whom Jesus loves, and for the sake of the Gospel, which the power of God unto salvation, the proclamation of the full remission of sins in the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep.
Your unworthy servant,
Pr Mierow
Wednesday of Jubilate
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