LEAVING, CLEAVING AND BECOMING


First Reading: Gen 2:18-24
Second Reading: Heb 2:9-11
Gospel: Mk 10:2-16

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.    

Comments