Sabath Sense Saturday

First Reading for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time 
Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31

When one finds a worthy wife,
her value is far beyond pearls.
Her husband, entrusting his heart to her,
has an unfailing prize.
She brings him good, and not evil,
all the days of her life.
She obtains wool and flax
and works with loving hands.
She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her fingers ply the spindle.
She reaches out her hands to the poor,
and extends her arms to the needy.
Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting;
the woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Give her a reward for her labors,
and let her works praise her at the city gates.

The above reading is tomorrows first reading and it truly is a beautiful reading, but also extremely humbling for wives and women.

When I was engaged to Mr. T, I reflected more than once on the bible passage. Praying that I would be the wife that this passage describes. A wife that would be more precious than pearls, that prize beyond all telling, beyond all other prizes.

This passage overall describes all the characteristics of good and holy wife, but, also reiterates the role of the wife in a marriage to bring her spouse closer to Christ and ultimately to heaven. May this passage not bring us despair but may it bring us strength and courage to continue that beautiful role of wife of laying down our lives for our beloved.

We pray to Mary our Blessed Mother that she may guide us to be more precious than pearls and a great prize.

Blessings,
Joy