First Reading: Gen 2:18-24
Second Reading: Heb 2:9-11
The theme of this
twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time is Marriage. In the creation we notice
that God has made everything in pairs. All the creatures have got partners,
rather complementary creatures. This design in creation itself reveals that the
union between two creatures of opposite sex of the same species is natural. This
union is desired by God for the continuity of creation. On Trinity Sunday we
recall the nature of our God as family. Thus, God who is a family in nature
cannot create a world that is devoid of familyness.
In the gospel, the pharisees
come and test Jesus with the question about the legality of divorce. Their motivation
is to get Jesus wrong in teachings connected to marriage. They don’t ask why
God intended the concept of marriage for the creatures. They are only
interested in finding out the best way and the legal way to exercise divorce. The
deviated persons seek legality for their deviations! Jesus replies to them by
pointing out the original plan of God in creation. The plan of God in creation
is to keep man and woman united forever. The divorce granted by Moses in the later
part of the history was an exception for particular cases. Yes, it was only a
concession for particular situations, not a universal provision. The availability
of medicine does not imply that all should get sick. It is also unnatural for
anyone to seek sickness willingly just because medicine is available handily. The
pharisees’ question shows that they want to get into illness in marriage
because the medicine of divorce is readily available. And so, they ask Jesus
how fairly they could utilize the medicine of divorce in the time of illness in
marriage.
Do anyone desire sickness? No.
Leading a healthy life is the desire of all. We only look for provisions to
lead a healthy life despite consuming unhealthy food stuffs. This should be the
case in the aspect of marriage too. One’s motivation in marriage should be of
leading a good family life. When problems arise, the normal intention of the couples
should be of looking for remedies that would restore health of the family, the
marriage covenant. Only a deviated person would seek further deviations in the
problem. In the first reading we notice that man could not get satisfied with
anything until he could receive woman, the bone of his bones and flesh of his
flesh (Gen 2:23). Man was in loneliness until he could discover his perfect companionship
with the woman. This is the underlying principle for feeling despair and
despondent when problem arises within marriage. Not getting the complementary
affection and support from the spouse makes one dejected. Restoration to
companionship is the best remedy. Any other solutions that are not oriented to
companionship is false and deception. Asking for divorce in the name of seeking
better companionship is itself a proof that one only seeks companionship, not committed
to be a companion. Today, many seek better companionship but rarely think or
commit oneself being a best companion.
One’s spouse is not a one
among many friends that s/he has. One’s spouse is the only companion who despite
knowing the inner most and ugliest part of his/her life, not ashamed of being
his/her companion. Spouse is a shield who veils one’s ugliness and restores
dignity. Who would not long to cling to such a person? No wonder why Mary
Magdalene wanted to cling to the risen Christ! To cling to such a companionship,
one must leave all that distracts him/her. In doing so, one is becoming part of
the other – one flesh. Leaving, cleaving and becoming are the watch words to
check how one is excelling in the married life. Remember Jesus LEAVING His
place in heaven, CLEAVING to Mother Mary (Holy Family) to enter this world and BECOMING
one of us in flesh. Spouses are ought to follow the model set by Jesus in the covenant
of marriage.
In the second part of the gospel,
parents bring children to get blessing from Jesus. This is the duty of parents.
Children are God’s gift in marriage. The role of parents is to bring that gift
to the giver of the gift. Raising up children in Christian faith and imparting them
with divine wisdom is crucial responsibility of the parents. Finally, Jesus
tells the disciples to receive the kingdom of God like a child (Mk 10:15). The nature
of child is total dependency on the parents. Similarly, the couples must depend
on God for their success and faithfulness in marriage. Depending on God would help
one to become better companion and restore marriage. On the other hand, depending
on human intelligence would lead one to choose a better partner and keep the
one as mere gift seeker, not a gift giver.
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