I attended a wedding last weekend, and the readings were taken from the book of Ecclesiasticus and St. Paul’s letter to the Colossians.
Ecclesiasticus 26:1-4, 13-16
Happy the husband of a really good wife
The number of his days will be doubled.
A perfect wife is the joy of her husband,
He will live out the years of his life in peace.
A good wife is the best of portions,
Reserved for those who fear the Lord;
Rich or poor, they will be glad of heart,
Cheerful of face, whatever the season.
The grace of a wife will charm her husband,
Her accomplishment will make him the stronger.
A silent wife is a gift from the Lord,
No price can be put on a well-trained character.
A modest wife is a boon twice over,
A chaste character cannot be weighted on scales.
Like the sun rising over the mountains of the Lord
Is the beauty of a good wife in a well-kept house.
I was particularly struck by the line: “Her accomplishment will make him the stronger.” The reason for this is that a lot of men do not understand that the accomplishments of their wives should be appreciated, praised and supported instead of making them feel insecure and inferior. If a man is comfortable in his own skin, he will be proud of his wife’s achievements instead of being resentful. The accomplishment of a man’s wife should really make him the stronger.
The letter of St. Paul to the Colossians concerns the relationship between partners.
Colossians 3:12-14
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
In doing so, one’s marriage is filled with joy and great bliss.