To the Ends of the Earth: Witness – Week 1, Day 2 – Headship is about Deliverance, Not Domination

And from the throne came a voice crying, 

   “Praise our God, all you his servants,

   you who fear him, small and great.”

Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunder peals, crying, 

   “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.

   Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory,

   for the marriage of the Lamb has come,

   and his Bride has made herself ready;

   it was granted her to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure” —

   for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

Revelation 19:5–8

Many men have abdicated their responsibility to love their wives in a sinful quest for dominance over them. Tragically, too many pastors have done the same with their congregations. Headship, however, was never supposed to be about being “in charge”; rather, it was about sharing our lives with those in our care in such a way that we raise them up in beauty and self-worth. Wives are a gift to their husbands, and congregations are a gift to their shepherds. Our call is not to benefit from what we can receive, but to deliver our wives or our flock back to Christ in the perfection of his grace.

Jesus died to restore the original intent of marriage and to reestablish the roles of men and women as they were meant to be. He formed the Church as his Bride and is bringing her to perfection so that he can present her as spotless and pure when he returns in glory. Marriage is a reflection of that purification. Husbands are to love their wives and to allow them to help shape their lives as they grow in grace to become all that God has called us to be. Shepherds and ministers too, are called to love those in their care and to allow those daily interactions to shape them as men and help them to grow as leaders. As Catholic men, we need to take seriously our call to love others to the full, and to grow in grace so that together, husbands and wives, shepherds and flocks, can become the sign of Christ’s pure and powerful love bestowed upon the world.

Questions for reflection

Husbands, how does your sinful, selfish side show itself in your marriage? Have you ever sought to dominate your wife rather than love her?

Shepherds and leaders, how can you reflect more fully the character of Christ in your ministry?

What is one important thing you can do this week to help other men honor their wives?

Praying with Scripture

For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called. (Is 54:5)

You can learn more about the To the Ends of the Earth Series HERE

You can watch and listen to this devotion HERE