Readings: Ephesians 5:21-33; Luke 13:18-21
“Wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything.”
That statement from St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians
is not a sentiment that goes down too well
with most people in our modern egalitarian society.
Many quite rightly recognize that such scriptures
have been used, at times, to persuade women
to stay in abusive situations,
or to coerce obedience to those
who will not honor their full sharing
in the image of God.
Such statements seem,
at best, culturally out-of-step
and, at worst, downright harmful.
That statement from St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians
is not a sentiment that goes down too well
with most people in our modern egalitarian society.
Many quite rightly recognize that such scriptures
have been used, at times, to persuade women
to stay in abusive situations,
or to coerce obedience to those
who will not honor their full sharing
in the image of God.
Such statements seem,
at best, culturally out-of-step
and, at worst, downright harmful.
St. John Paul II, writing in 1988,
noted that Paul’s statement
is “profoundly rooted in the customs
and religious tradition of the times.”
No one in the late ancient world
would be at all surprised at the idea
that women ought to be subordinate to men;
this was nothing new.
But, St. John Paul notes,
this statement is prefaced,
by something that is truly innovative:
“Be subordinate to one another
out of reverence for Christ.”
Notice: this is not addressed just to wives,
but to husbands as well.
As Christians, husband and wife are both called
to put the needs of the other ahead of their own,
and to do so to honor the example shown by Christ.
This is a call for all Christians
to serve each other out of love for Jesus;
this is the truly radical
and counter-cultural message of the Gospel.
St. John Paul writes,
“This is a call which from that time onwards,
does not cease to challenge succeeding generations;
it is a call which people have to accept ever anew.”
To love and serve others rather than oneself
is as counter-cultural today as it was in the first century.
It is a way of living that rejects the worldview
that says you should look out for number one
and seek always to bend others to your will.
noted that Paul’s statement
is “profoundly rooted in the customs
and religious tradition of the times.”
No one in the late ancient world
would be at all surprised at the idea
that women ought to be subordinate to men;
this was nothing new.
But, St. John Paul notes,
this statement is prefaced,
by something that is truly innovative:
“Be subordinate to one another
out of reverence for Christ.”
Notice: this is not addressed just to wives,
but to husbands as well.
As Christians, husband and wife are both called
to put the needs of the other ahead of their own,
and to do so to honor the example shown by Christ.
This is a call for all Christians
to serve each other out of love for Jesus;
this is the truly radical
and counter-cultural message of the Gospel.
St. John Paul writes,
“This is a call which from that time onwards,
does not cease to challenge succeeding generations;
it is a call which people have to accept ever anew.”
To love and serve others rather than oneself
is as counter-cultural today as it was in the first century.
It is a way of living that rejects the worldview
that says you should look out for number one
and seek always to bend others to your will.
“Be subordinate to one another
out of reverence for Christ.”
This brief statement, these ten words,
are like the mustard seed from which
the Kingdom of God can grow;
it is the yeast that can leaven
the loaf of our world.
out of reverence for Christ.”
This brief statement, these ten words,
are like the mustard seed from which
the Kingdom of God can grow;
it is the yeast that can leaven
the loaf of our world.
“Be subordinate to one another
out of reverence for Christ.”
If we plant these words in our marriages,
if we knead them into our friendships,
our workplaces,
our churches,
our politics,
then even now
the reality of God’s reign
will begin to show itself
in our midst.
out of reverence for Christ.”
If we plant these words in our marriages,
if we knead them into our friendships,
our workplaces,
our churches,
our politics,
then even now
the reality of God’s reign
will begin to show itself
in our midst.
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