Holy Martyr Hyacinth.
1 Corinthians 7:12-24. Matthew 14:35-15:11.
Read 1 Corinthians 7:12-24
St. Paul encounters some real practical challenges in his community in Corinth. What happens when a person comes to faith in Christ, but his or her spouse does not? For us, twenty years ago this was not so much of an issue, but with the way society has moved away from Christ many people are hearing the Gospel for the first time in North America, so we are facing this pastoral challenge again. Does the believing spouse need to leave the unbelieving spouse? St. Paul makes it clear that our relationship with God is most important and that it is not overcome or defiled by unbelievers; in fact, faith consecrates the unbelieving spouse. He is not encouraging believers to contract marriages with unbelievers, but he is encouraging new believers not to give up on their marriages after they come to faith. Believers should seek to marry in the Lord—that is find a believing spouse. The only exception he gives is if the unbelieving spouse will not live with the believing spouse because they have become Christian. In other words, Christ must be first in our life even before our spouse. This is the basic principle every believer must keep: “He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:37-39). For when we love the Lord above all things and people His love abides in me, saves, transforms, strengthens and makes me a better human being and this in turn strengthens my love for others beyond my capacity to do so on my own. Let us love the Lord above all other things and people.