THEOSISJohn Chrysostom
Observe the intricate web of affection that God has designed. Within this framework lies the inherent promise of harmony. Indeed, the unity of nature naturally begets such connection, for ‘every beast loves its own kind’ (Sir. 13:19)—the bond of a wife to her husband and the kinship of children to both parents. Consequently, we experience various forms of love: we cherish one as a father, another as a grandfather; we honor one as a mother, yet another as a caregiver. We love one as a son, grandson, or great-grandson, while we hold dear a daughter or granddaughter, a brother, or a nephew, and likewise a sister or a niece. But why limit the categorization of relationships?
Read more (169 words)
God has introduced an additional means for fostering love: by prohibiting marriages among close kin, He has directed us toward those who are strangers, thereby creating a bond with them. Though they may not be connected to us by blood, He unites us through the sacred bond of matrimony. This connection brings entire households together through one wife and merges families through her new alliances. Do not take as your wife, God commanded, your sister, nor your father's sister, nor any other maiden related to you in a way that prevents marriage, naming the specific relationships affected. The only basis for your love towards them should be that you share a common womb or other ties of kinship. Therefore, why should the scope of love be confined? Instead, why not broaden the capacities for affection, as choosing a spouse from among strangers opens the door to an entire network of relations—parents, siblings, and neighbors? Can you see the multitude of ways in which God has woven our lives together?