Man, the initiator of love and forgiveness

When there is crisis in the family, it is the husband who must take the lead to forgive and reconcile no matter who is at fault. This is because husbands share the role of Christ the initiator of love and forgiveness. Husbands are called to love their spouses just as Christ loves the Church [Eph 5:25].

The bibles says "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" [Rom 5:8]. Christ initiated love and offered his forgiveness unconditionally to the erring mankind, his beloved spouse. St. Paul in his epistle to the Ephesians states "He washed her clean by his own blood and presented her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless [5:27].

In our fallenness, men have falsely assumed themselves to be invincible and superior to woman. He seeks to earn respect and authority by virtue of his maleness and strength and not by his character. Let him do so by being meek, patient and understanding as Christ was even unto the cross. Wives being good, bad, poor average is not be considered, for Christ does not demand a "change" from us before he offers himself to us. It is our Christ-like love that will transform our spouses, yet it is not our goal. Their transformation is something we must leave to God to be accomplished in His time.

Greatness of a husband as the head of the family is to be established not by force but being selfless and sacrificial. Let the words of blessed Pope John Paul echo in ears "Be not afraid to meet the demands of love".

Indeed, mans worth is to be found in Christ-like love alone.