Passage
BEFORE WE START THE JOURNEY...
During the first five days of Agape40, we will explore five essential pillars that every marriage should learn and embrace.
Then, on the sixth day, we will begin following the footsteps of love, diving into the mysteries of the Passion of our Lord and reflecting Jesus’ sacrifice in your own marriage.
You must never forget that you are to embark on this Lenten journey with your spouse. We advise couples to make time in their schedules to meditate together on the daily reflections and to sincerely share your responses to the reflection questions. In fact, this dedicated time of AGAPE40 will increase one of the best forms of intimacy in our marriage: vulnerability.
“The LORD God said: It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suited to him.
So the LORD God formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the air, and he brought them to the man to see what he would call them; whatever the man called each living creature was then its name.
The man gave names to all the tame animals, all the birds of the air, and all the wild animals; but none proved to be a helper suited to the man.
So the LORD God cast a deep sleep on the man, and while he was asleep, he took out one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh.
The LORD God then built the rib that he had taken from the man into a woman. When he brought her to the man, the man said: “This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; This one shall be called ‘woman,’ for out of man this one has been taken.
We are so excited to have you both embarking on Agape40
Genesis 2: 18-23
Today's Meditation
Why did God wait to create Eve? Solitude was necessary.
God allowed Adam to be alone. Then, he created the animals and entrusted Adam with the authority to name each one of them. Here we can see how God, from the very beginning of creation, gave Adam authority over nature and the call to be a leader. After that, God said that Adam needed a helper suited for him, and so he created Eve from Adam’s rib. God knew from the beginning that he would create the woman out of the man’s rib, but he did that intentionally because he wanted the man to acknowledge that there is no other creature on earth that can complement his life but the woman.
When Adam says “bones of my bones,” we cannot truly appreciate everything that could have gone through his mind and heart at the moment that he saw Eve for the first time. If we could go back to that moment, we could imagine seeing Adam's body language filled with awe as he beheld Eve, his heart beating faster than ever. It was not a moment of lust but rather a recognition of the other being who completed his purest desire and to whom he sought to give himself fully.
The first thing that Adam does is see Eve
Can you imagine how amazed Adam was by Eve’s beauty? God does not make mistakes. The woman is a reflection of God’s beauty. God intentionally created men with the desire to see and recognize beauty through their eyes. This shows the important essence of men. Men were made with the inclination to be attracted to beauty. In this manner, to love God deeper in his beauty, Now, can you imagine how amazed Eve was at Adam’s words? “This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.” God intentionally created the women with the essence of recognizing love through their hearing.
As God said, "a helper suited to the man”
The complementation of the man and woman is beautiful and unique. God created man to be more appealing to reason and woman to be more appealing to emotions. The perfect balance, isn't it? The woman by nature is more caring and sensible. She is able to be the heart of the family. On the other hand, man, by nature, is more rational and is guided more by what he knows and can understand. A man can easily hunt without much remorse and, at the same time, love a woman with full reason.
Understanding the natural differences that God intended in men and women helps us have a better understanding of marriage. When confronting a problem, for example, the husband tends to be less emotional, while the woman is inclined toward her feelings. This simple understanding can set your marriage free! When we truly understand the nature of our spouse, we can stop the constant judging of our partner’s reactions to problems and situations. To truly live this Lenten journey, it is necessary to learn to truly understand your spouse.
Here are some tools for husbands to better understand their wives:
Just listen: Learn to listen to your wife without having the urge to offer solutions.
Understand: the hormonal changes in your wife. But don't assume it's all because of it.
Your wife likes to help you: she is not trying to command you. Accept her help with gratitude.
Here are some tools for wives to better understand their husbands:
Remember that God created men to be leaders. Allow yourself to be led by your man.
Understand that men usually need time to process and express their feelings.
Don't expect your husband to magically know what you want. Be direct, and simply tell him.
We hope that today’s reflection can settle the ground for this Lenten season. So, you can allow your marriage to embrace with respect and love the differences that God intended from the beginning. May this lent be a time for you to discover how your spouse truly is in the eyes of God.
Today's Questions
Understanding God's creation and his intentionality in creating man and woman with their unique qualities, aiming for a perfect balance between reason and emotion, how can you appreciate and embrace these differences in your marriage?
How can you cultivate a more loving and understanding attitude toward your spouse when dealing with issues or misunderstandings, keeping in mind that women are typically more pragmatic and men are more practical?
Today's Challenge
Create a list of the unique and amazing qualities that you appreciate from your spouse. Share your list to your spouse with gratitude.
Don't Forget
Pray together the HOLY ROSARY every day (sorrowful mysteries only)
Pray OVER EACH other every day
Let's Pray
Thank you, almighty God, for the gift of the sacrament of marriage. From the very beginning, you gave us the ability to complement each other. Help us to embrace our differences and learn to love each other with patience and compassion. May we learn to truly give ourselves as gifts, and may our marriage be a reflection of your love.
Dedicate to Jesus one HOLY HOUR of Adoration per week
