8. Marriage as Covenant.pdf

Marriage as a Covenant: Ends

Marriage as a Covenant: Ends • Marriage is not just a contract but also a covenant. – The focus is on the agreed matters by the parties making the contract. – It is more than an agreement – Centering on persons entering into marriage motivated by Love – It is a love-covenant underlining the biblical aspect of marriage

Marriage as a Covenant: Ends • A covenant refers to relationship between God and man (Gen. 17:1) – God’s initiative to reach out to his people to build the bond – He made a promise out of love and remained faithful to them. – He fulfilled his promise by establishing a new covenant brought by Christ – Enriching the love-relationship between Jesus and His Church – Quality of covenant: Love, Sacrifice, Forgiveness, and Faithfulness.

Marriage as a Covenant: Ends • In Jewish tradition Covenant is: – An agreement entered by people themselves. – Shapes a relationship that is equal in binding to that of blood connection – Relationship does not end even if covenant is abandoned by either of the spouse – A relationship that binds forever

Marriage as a Covenant: Ends • A Covenant is: – Entered by persons based on a special friendship – Lively partnership and open-minded commitment – A kind of relationship that endures – Found in man and woman joined in matrimony – Because there are three (3) persons involved: husband, wife, God

Marriage as a Covenant: Ends • The traditional goods and properties of marriage have a richer context. – Traditional primary end is procreation and education of children; – Secondary end is the good of spouses and good of children.

Marriage as a Covenant: Ends • Ends is fully achieved only if marriage has the ff: – Properties of unity and indissolubility – Requirements of fidelity and openness to fertility of the spouses • These values can be called as: – Lastingness – Faithfulness and – Fruitfulness

Ends of Marriage • The Good of the Spouses • Love-uniting element that brings two person together • Love that manifests an unselfish giving of self to another • Conjugal love involves totality of all the elements John Paul II (FC, 13) – Love is not only a prerequisite for marriage but the soul of marriage

Ends of Marriage • The Good of the Children • Naturally, marriage is ordained towards procreation and education – Nature to propagate – Need to perpetuate race and culture • From Covenantal dimension, then the children are considered as the fruits of conjugal love – Extension of lasting pact, and witnesses of a couple unwavering fidelity to each other

Ends of Marriage • The Good of the Children (cont.) •Since God is always present in the covenant, the task of procreation is considered as a generous way of cooperating in God’s work of creation. •Children are not considered as burdens but as gifts and the crowning glory of marriage and married love

Ends of Marriage • The Good of the Children (cont.) •Spouses should take their duties as parents with greater responsibility •Having to provide them with proper nurturing – Fullness of life – Become responsible

Marriage as a Covenant: Ends • Accordingly, Marriage as a contract has been elevated to the level of a covenant • The values of lastingness, faithfulness and fruitfulness reinforce a couple’s mutual love relationship in God that brings beneficial effects to the husband, wife and their children.

End of Lesson