FRIDAY OF THE SEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, MAY 24, 2024

MASS READINGS:

Gospel

Mk 10:1-12

Jesus came into the district of Judea and across the Jordan.

Again crowds gathered around him and, as was his custom,

he again taught them.

The Pharisees approached him 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."

REFLECTION

"Therefore what God has joined together,

no human being must separate."

In today's reading, James writes, "the Lord is compassionate and merciful". And in light of this truth, the Gospel can be understood with more clarity. The Pharisees knew that in the Mosaic law divorce was acceptable: that a man could dismiss his wife by writing her a bill of divorce. There was no corresponding law for the woman to divorce her husband. Because of their stubborn refusal to yield to God and His ways, Moses made this provision of the law.

So, why would they ask Jesus this question regarding divorce? Had He spoken of this before? Why bring it up now? I am not sure.....

From the beginning in Genesis, God's command was for one male and one female, sexual union of husband and wife, becoming one flesh: personal union, one heart and one soul. This communion of love was God's ultimate purpose in creating humanity in His image. It was His original plan for human love, for creation. This fact was bent and reformatted by humans.

In a marriage, self denial, humility and obedience must be present. Unfortunately, physical abuse, unfaithfulness, drugs and alcohol can make living with someone impossible and even dangerous. With this in mind, there are situations where civil divorce is necessary for safety and legal reasons, However, the spouses never cease to be husband and wife before God and a new union cannot be recognized. (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1650).

God Bless You