TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME OCTOBER 3, 2021

MASS READINGS

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mk 10:2-16 or 10:2-12

The Pharisees approached Jesus and asked, "Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?" They were testing him. He said to them in reply, "What did Moses command you?" They replied, "Moses permitted a husband to write a bill of divorce and dismiss her." But Jesus told them, "Because of the hardness of your hearts he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate." In the house the disciples again questioned Jesus about this. He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery." And people were bringing children to him that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, "Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it." Then he embraced them and blessed them, placing his hands on them.

REFLECTION

For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.

One of my favorite couples were Mr and Mrs M who had been wedded 60 years. Twelve children, thirty-four grandchildren and three great grandchildren later they were happy to report what kept them together and their secret to happiness. Their marriage was built on a foundation of faith and love and they always made time for each other and God. Love was a constant action in their lives, always wanting the best for that person, and that person wanting the best for you. Though they made each other angry at times, they remained respectful and never carried out their desire to throw the other person out the window.

In the days of Moses, the word hardheartedness is used a lot. It was a stubborn refusal to yield to God and His ways. So in response to the situation, Moses relented and allowed divorce. However, from the beginning of Creation, God intended for sacred marriage to be one union with one male and one female and never to be separated.

The disciples asked Jesus the same question after they were away from the crowd as Jesus was speaking different from the law. But in His answer, Jesus gave marriage not only the dignity it should be afforded but also the sacrifice, denial, service and humility that goes with a marriage.

Jesus is the groom and His Church is the bride. And as in the above discussion on marriage, the union of man and woman in the sacrament of marriage is similar to the love and fidelity of Jesus and His Church. He will never leave His Church, will protect it, guide it and care for it.

God Bless You