Gen
2:18-24; Hb 2:9-11; Mk 10:2-16
“My son, pay attention to my words. Listen carefully to what I say” (Divine Office)
For
the past three Sundays, we have been hearing Mark’s reports of conversations
between Jesus and his disciples. In today’s Gospel reading, we heard the
pharisees putting Jesus to test about the lawfulness of divorce. Under specific
conditions, the Law of Moses allowed divorce (Dt 24:1-5). This law permits a
husband to divorce his wife and not a wife divorces her husband. Jesus quoting
the Book of Genesis brings the purpose and meaning in God’s original intention
in establishing system of marriages. Jesus’ teaching is more restrictive
distinguishing from the cultural norms of his time emphasizing the importance
of family.
God
intended women and men to be joined together in marriage. The purpose of
marriage is raising of children. It is one of some purposes. How does the CCC
define the sacrament of marriage? It defines as “a lifelong covenant between a
man and a woman that is ordered toward the good of the couple and the
procreation and education of children” (A.no.1601). By welcoming children and
fostering their relationship with God, parents become co-creators. Marriage is
a sacrament. A sacrament is a sign and real presence of God as we believe in
the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and other sacraments. In the sacrament
of marriage, Jesus is present uniting his love to the love of the husband and
wife when they live sacrificially. It requires a constant effort of goodwill
cooperating with the grace of God. Living in married love with another means
dying to self in many little ways, because love is a kind of laying down a life
for one’s friend. They bear witness to the Kingdom of God.
The Hebrew word
“ish-shah” means woman in English, the better
meaning ‘indispensable partner’. The term suggests
that the woman is to stand alongside the man as his equal in all the aspects of
life. It affirms the Biblical saying ‘bone of my bones’, ‘flesh of my flesh.’ Jesus
sets the high ideal of the married state as well as state of celibate life for
the sake of the kingdom of heaven (Mt 19:11-12). Both the sacraments of marriage
and celibacy are a call from God to live a holy life. Our lives are not our
own, but they belong to God. The Second Vatican Council reminds us: “This
sacred bond, with a view to the good of both the spouses and their offspring,
and of society, does not depend on human will. God himself is the author of
marriage, who has endowed it with various goods and ends, all of which are of
enormous importance for the continuity of the human race” (Gaudium et Spes, n.
48).
Yahweh says, “In three things I was beautified and stood up beautiful both before God and men: the unity of brethren, the love of neighbors, a man and a wife that agree together” (Sir 25:1). We ask God’s blessing today upon all who celebrate the sacrament of matrimony. May you have the courage and strength to give witness to the presence of God in the union of husband and wife.
“The Lord
keeps safe all who love him” (Divine Office).
No comments:
Post a Comment