Marriage In Mission

Objectives

At the end of the session, the participants are expected to:

1. Understand that marriage is not just a vocation, but also a mission;

2. Embrace that their daily married life is their primary mission; and

3. Commit their lives as missionary couples defending faith, family and life.

Expanded Outline

I. Introduction

In MFC, one of the things we boldly proclaim is: “Defend Faith, Family, and Life.” This is more than a slogan; it is a call to action. It reminds us that we are responsible for caring for, protecting, and nurturing the gift of life and the sacred bond of marriage. This February is Pro-life month, and our focus on this teaching is on the vocation of marriage. God calls each of us personally, inviting us to live as missionary couples who are united with Him in defending and strengthening our marriage and family life. To answer this call, we must be rooted and secure in God’s plan for love, life, and family, allowing His grace to guide every choice we make as spouses and parents.

II. Our Mission As Couples

God blesses us with our spouses not only for companionship, but also to answer a greater call, a mission together as husband and wife. Marriage is not simply about personal happiness or convenience; it is a vocation, a sacred partnership designed by God to reflect His love and to build His kingdom.

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9)

Our marriage is also our mission. Here, God calls us to love sacrificially, serve faithfully, and witness boldly. Our love for one another is meant to mirror Christ’s love for the Church, faithful, enduring, and life-giving. Every decision we make as couples, from parenting to daily responsibilities, becomes part of our mission to defend faith, family, and life.

III. Families and Marriage are Under Attack

The enemy knows that if our families are weakened, faith and life will also be weakened. Today, the vocation of couples is being tested, and these challenges are becoming more visible and pressing than ever.

1. Changing Family Structure

Family dynamics are changing because of the challenges many households face. Some families struggle with single parenthood due to separation or abandonment. Others experience same-sex parenting, which distorts God’s design for family life. The migration of parents for work often leads to physical and emotional absence. Many families are also under economic strain, which can create tension and instability.

2. Addiction and Infidelity 

Marriage and family life are deeply wounded by addiction and infidelity. Substance abuse, such as alcohol, drugs, gambling, or pornography, can destroy trust and intimacy. Extra-marital affairs or emotional infidelity break the bonds between spouses. These issues often leave children growing up without a secure and nurturing environment, deeply affecting their sense of love and belonging.

3. Parenting and Child Issues 

Other challenges arise in parenting, where children are affected by absentee parents, either due to work, other priorities, or broken relationships. Some children experience abuse or emotional neglect, while others struggle with rebellion, confusion, or neglect. These patterns make it harder for families to remain strong and for faith to be passed on effectively.

In short, families and marriages are under attack from many directions, but God calls us as missionary couples to stand firm, defend, and protect what is sacred.

IV. Rooted in Christ as Married Couples

God does not abandon families; rather, He redeems and strengthens them through Christ. Through the Sacrament of Matrimony, we receive His grace to forgive, heal, and grow together, even in the midst of challenges. Our marriage is not only for us, it is a visible sign of Christ’s love for His Church. This love, reflected in our unity, is exclusive, permanent, and life-giving.

Let us also remember that Missionary Families of Christ is a gift from God. Through our community, we are blessed with formation, support, accountability, and accompaniment. Teachings like these guide us in living out our vocation as couples, helping us uphold and defend faith, family, and life in our homes and in the world. When couples are rooted in Christ, marriages are strengthened, families flourish, and the love of God is made visible to all.

A stable marriage, with Christ at the center, is the foundation for a stable family. - Frank Padilla

1. Choose Christ as husband and wife

Living as Christ did means denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and following Him daily. As spouses, this calls us to choose love, forgiveness, and faithfulness, even when it is difficult. Trials, misunderstandings, or temptations will come, but choosing Christ means choosing to fight for our marriage, to stay united, and to allow God’s grace to transform our hearts. A marriage rooted in Christ does not depend on feelings alone, it depends on daily choices to love as He loves.

2. Pray and discern together

Putting God first is the foundation of every strong marriage. Couples who pray together and discern together invite Christ into their decisions, struggles, and dreams. Prayer strengthens intimacy, aligns priorities with God’s will, and helps couples navigate challenges with wisdom and unity. Couples who pray together are spiritually fortified and aligned in their mission.

3. Serve together

“As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)

Serving as a couple is the natural fruit of living Christ-centered lives. God calls married couples to extend love beyond the home, serving the Church, the community, and those in need. Together, husbands and wives become partners in mission, not only protecting faith, family, and life but actively sharing them with others.

V. Conclusion

Serving together deepens intimacy, strengthens family bonds, and transforms homes into missionary households, places where Christ is not only known but seen in every action and witness. Choosing a mission means choosing, every day, to live Christ fully, to pray and discern together, and to serve side by side. In doing so, our marriage becomes more than a covenant of love; it becomes a partnership in God’s work, a living testimony of faith, family, and life.

Discussion Questions

1. Name two challenges that you find hard to face as a couple.

2. How can you help one another to be a missionary couple rooted in Christ?