FRIDAY OF THE NINETEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME AUGUST 12, 2022

MASS READINGS

A reading of the holy Gospel according to MT 19:3-12

Some Pharisees approached Jesus, and tested him, saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?” He said in reply, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female and said, 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, man must not separate.” They said to him, “Then why did Moses command that the man give the woman a bill of divorce and dismiss her?” He said to them, “Because of the hardness of your hearts Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) and marries another commits adultery.” His disciples said to him, “If that is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” He answered, “Not all can accept this word, but only those to whom that is granted. Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it.”

REFLECTION

"Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female."

Whenever in doubt about anything, find the answer in the Bible. Yes, God, the Creator, made them male and female.

An article written in Medical News Today stated that gender is different from sex. It stated: Although genetic factors typically define a person’s sex, gender refers to how they identify on the inside. Only the person themselves can determine what their gender identity is. Therefore, a person's sex and gender identity do not have to be the same.

Another article stated that there are over 15 genders identified and six types of sexes. I am not familiar with the journal nor do I have an idea when these identities and definitions began. I can say that this was not what was taught in medical school back in the 70's. Gender was always an alternative to the word sex. And now...???

God is the authority, He is the creator. Stand up and defend what is right, don't give in to this movement, and do not let hardness of some people's hearts allow you to redefine and therefore take on the role of god. Speak up!!

God Bless You