Attention Husbands! Now Read This!

Who hasn't wondered at St. Paul's words in Ephesians (5:22), "Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord."? I used to think "Really? Who, me? But he doesn't know my husband" (just kidding, Bill, I promise!)!
But seriously--I never could really 'get' that verse. I figured it was so First Century.

It wasn't until I understood the Catholic teaching on this chapter and verse (and it's critical to consider the whole chapter, of course) that I began to understand. And, like most of those seemingly mysogynistic Church teachings, it turns out to actually be good news for women! :)

I just read a great summary of this in Christopher West's book, "Good News about Sex & Marriage." In case you don't have a copy handy, I'll share...

"While we must admit that some men throughout history have pointed to this Scripture verse to justify their fallen desire to dominate women, St. Paul is in no way justifying such an attitude. He knows it to be a result of sin (see Gal 3:16), which is why in this passage he's actually restoring God's original plan before sin. He does so by pointing out what marriage was all about in the first place. It was meant to foreshadow the marriage of Christ and the Church. ...

"He starts by calling both husbands and wives to be subject to one another "out of reverence for Christ" (v.21)... In the analogy, the husband represents Christ, and the wife represents the Church. So, he says as the Church is subject to Christ, so should wives also be subject to their husbands (v.24)."

As in all Biblical interpretations, the crux of the understanding comes in the translation between languages. Here, consider submission:

"Sub" means "under, and "mission" means 'to be sent forth with the authority to perform a specific service.' Wives, then, are called to put themselves "under" the "mission" of their husbands.

"What's the mission of the husbands? "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her" (v.25). How did Christ love the Church? He died for her. Christ said he came "not to be served but to serve," and to lay down his life for his Bride (Mt. 20:28).

"What, then, does it mean for a wife to 'submit' to her husband? It means let your husband serve you. Put yourself under his mission to love you as Christ loved the church.".

I don't know about you, but I'm not feeling too oppressed by this kind of submission. It sounds pretty good to me!
(And Bill, would you please pick me up some Diet Coke on your way home?)