In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus uses the image of a marriage to speak about the Kingdom of God. Just as marriage is a gift from God, so is the kingdom of God. We have a permanent connection with God. 
    
Marriage is one of ways that humans celebrate God’s connection with us.  What God has joined together, let no one separate. The love of God has been poured into our hearts. It is through God’s love that we encounter God being present with us at every moment of our lives.  This is the meaning of experiencing the Kingdom of God.
  
St. Paul also uses the image of marriage to speak about Christ and his Church. Just as Christ cannot be separated from the Church, we cannot separate ourselves from Christ. 

“What can separate us from the love of God that comes to us through Jesus Christ?” St. Paul reminds us that there is nothing. Life nor death, the past nor the future, worry nor distress can be used as reasons to separate ourselves from God. Jesus affirms that God will never let us go. As we give to the poor, as we welcome the stranger, and as we care for the earth, we celebrate God’s connection with us.

We know that there are some commitments that are easier to keep than others. Nevertheless, with God’s help we are given the strength we need to nurture our relationships.

In our life-long commitment with God, we are all called to act with compassion and love towards all people. Our relationship with God should be a source of encouragement and a model for all our relationships. As we pray, we ask for God’s help in living out our commitment to love and care for ourselves and others.