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A marriage made in heaven
Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 | 8th Sunday after Pentecost
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New illustrations for 2008
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Wayne
Brouwer |
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In 1967, a psychologist named Kinch reported a rather bizarre experiment conducted by
university psychology graduate students. These males were part of what they considered
to be the "in" crowd on campus. They moved in the right circles, dressed the right way,
and went to the right places for nightlife parties.
But they all knew a particular young woman who wasn't in that circle. She was an
"outsider," a "nobody," a person who didn't count, at least to them and their kind.
Knowing the effects of behavior modification, they planned together to see how she
would change if they treated her, for a time, as if she were part of their "in" crowd. They
made an agreement that whenever they saw her they would compliment her and show an
interest in her. Furthermore, they would take turns asking her out on dates.
The experiment took a strange turn. Under other circumstances they did not like her.
They would not have talked to her prior to this, but only about her, and
in condescending and cynical ways. Yet, as the challenge progressed, each of the men
gradually found the young woman more likable, less foreign, and less alien. The first
fellow's date with her went okay, even though he had to keep telling himself she was
more beautiful and better company than he truly felt.
By the time the third fellow asked her out, she had actually become part of their circle of
friends. They thought it was kind of fun being with her. She wasn't so bad after all!
The fifth fellow never did get to date her, because the fourth fellow in line asked her to be
his wife! What started as a rather cruel experiment ended up as an amazing testimony to
the power of love.
Our romantic ideas of love nudge us into believing that there is a unique and wonderful
"marriage made in heaven" for all who follow the divine signs and the heart's leading.
While historical and sociological evidence doesn't seem to confirm our romantic
prejudices, we are still children of faith who believe that God has a wonderful plan for
our lives. This, ultimately, gives us confidence to seek a path into an unknown future.
Abraham did it, expecting that his servant would find an appropriate wife for Isaac. Paul
claimed that promise, believing that his fickle heart would eventually be tamed by Jesus.
And our Lord himself declared the secret mystery of God's love that split the "Day of the
Lord" in two, bringing hope and love to the distressed in our world. It is a good day,
indeed, to believe in certain forms of marriage made in heaven.
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