Generous Love

Bishop of London Richard Chartres

Did you watch the Royal Wedding?  I finally did and was inspired by the sermon given by the Bishop of London, Richard Chartres.  The Bishop gave one of the best and most concise theologies on the purpose of marriage I have heard.  Many books in the Christian field have been written explaining this, but he did an overview in 7 minutes.  

What is the mission of marriage?  

"In marriage we are seeking to bring one another into fuller life", Bishop Chartres charged.

"A spiritual life grows as love find its center beyond ourselves.  Faithful and committed relationships offer a door into the mystery of spiritual life in which we discover this; the more we give of self, the richer we become in soul; the more we go beyond ourselves in love, the more we become our true selves and our spiritual beauty is more fully revealed."

How is this accomplished?  

Through bestowing on each other "generous love" that goes beyond the situations, circumstances, and busyness of our days.  Steven Covey of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People said it this way, "Act on your values, not on your circumstances."  Life and humans present all kinds of difficulties that makes loving one another HARD, but it's your commitment to love generously that makes the difference.

The Bishop continued, "It is of course, very hard to warn ourselves away from self-centeredness."

"Marriage should transform as husband and wife make one other their work of art.  It is possible to transform so long as we don't harm our ambitions to REFORM our partners.  There must be no coercion if the spirit is to flow.  Each must give the other space and freedom.  Then quoting Chaucer he continued "when mastery cometh, the god of love anon beateth his wings and farewell he is gone."

My challenge to you is to get together with your partner and watch this nugget of gold together.  

Enjoy!