In today’s Gospel from Matthew, we hear Jesus say: “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.”
This passage helps us stop and think about the institution of marriage and its sanctity, as well as the complexities of human relationships and societal norms. At its core, the passage addresses a question posed by the Pharisees regarding the legality of divorce. Jesus responds by invoking the divine intention behind marriage, quoting the Genesis narrative where God establishes the unity and indissolubility of the marital bond. He emphasizes the sacredness of marriage, declaring that what God has joined together should not be separated by humans.
However, the Pharisees counter with the Mosaic allowance for divorce. While acknowledging this concession, Jesus reiterates the original intention of marriage as a lifelong commitment between a man and a woman. He reinforces the gravity of divorce, stating that remarriage after divorce constitutes adultery, except in cases of marital unlawfulness.
Jesus speaks passionately about the sacredness of marriage throughout these verses and whether you are about to become married, have been married for 5 years, or have been married for 20 years it is very important to look back and remember the sacred commitment made to your spouse through God. In today’s culture, it can sometimes be hard to step away from what society says about marriage and divorce and remember what God’s expectations are. This passage from Matthew can help couples remember the sacredness of that commitment.
Ultimately, this passage calls us to embrace God’s vision for marriage and human relationships, rooted in love, fidelity, and selflessness. It reminds us that our choices in matters of marriage and celibacy should be guided by faithfulness to God’s will and a deep reverence for the sacred bond of matrimony.
Daily Reading
Saturday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Reading 1 1 Cor 1:26-31 Consider your own calling, brothers and sisters.Not many of you were wise by human standards,not many were powerful,not many were of noble birth.Rather, God chose…
Saint of the Day
Saint Raymond Nonnatus
Saint Raymond Nonnatus, delivered by cesarean after his mother’s death, is the patron saint of expectant mothers and midwives.
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