Sunday 6 October 2024 –XXVII Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)- Rev. Dr. Patrick Mathias SDB
Mass Readings: Gen
2:18-24 Ps 128 Heb 2:9-11 Mk 10:2-16
Key Verse to Meditate: A man shall
leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife (Mk 10:7).
My Dear Brothers and Sisters
in the Lord,
The First Reading: "It
Is Not Good for Man to Be Alone"
The first reading from the book of Genesis narrates the creation of woman and highlights the significance of marriage and companionship, which lies at the heart of every marital union. In Genesis 2:18, we read: “The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for man to be alone.’” God, in His wisdom, recognized that just as all creatures require companionship, so too does man. Though God declared the heavens and earth to be good, He noted that something was incomplete in the creation of man alone. Just as He spoke in the first chapter, saying, “Let us make man” (Gen 1:26), He now declares, “Let me make him a helper suited to him.” The creation of woman emphasizes the importance of companionship for man and God's understanding of the human need to overcome loneliness. As animals came before man in pairs for naming, man remained without a companion, prompting God to provide for him, just as parents seek the right partner for their children in marriage.
Genesis 2:18-20 underscores the essential role of companionship in man’s life. God, in His goodness, saw that man needed a "helper suited to him" (Gen 2:18, 20). The Hebrew noun neged (נֶגֶד) literally means “in front of,” “in sight of,” or “opposite to.” Woman is described as being "in front of" man, "in sight of" man, and "opposite to" man. In its fuller sense, the word conveys the idea of being "like him yet opposite to him." God's plan for marriage between a man and woman emphasizes complementarity rather than identical sameness. Woman, created from the rib of man, is to be "like him," for after her creation, man proclaims, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh” (Gen 2:23). She is to be his helper, not merely in daily tasks or the procreation of children, but in providing companionship for his soul.
In Genesis 2:22, we read that woman was created from the rib of man: “And the LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man and brought her to the man.” It is the Lord who built the rib of man into a woman. When man awoke, it was God who had crafted her from his rib and then presented her to him. Every woman destined to be a wife is brought to her husband by the Lord Himself. As the man declares in Genesis 2:23: "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man"(cf. Gen 2:23; cf. Gen 29:14; Judg 9:2; 2 Sam 5:1; 19:13-14). This passage calls us to reflect on the union of man and woman in marriage, a bond created and sanctified by God. In today’s Gospel, Jesus affirms this sacred bond with a gentle yet firm reminder: “What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate” (Mark 10:9).
The act of creating woman
from the rib of man profoundly highlights the relationship between husband and
wife. As the scripture scholar Cassuto notes, “Just as the rib is found at the
side of the man and is attached to him, even so the good wife, the rib of her
husband, stands at his side to be his helper-counterpart, and her soul is bound
up with his.” Another commentator, Matthew Henry, beautifully expands on this,
saying that woman was not made from the head of man to rule over him, nor from
his feet to be trampled by him, but from his side to be equal with him, under
his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be loved.
The sanctity of marriage is
deeply rooted in the very act of creation. In Genesis 1:27-28, we read: “So God
created humankind in His image, in the image of God He created them; male and
female He created them. God blessed them and said, ‘Be fruitful and multiply,
and fill the earth and subdue it.’” What is crucial to remember is that man and
woman are made in the image and likeness of God Himself. As such, marriage is
not merely a human institution but a holy covenant, one that should not be
broken for trivial reasons. Every married couple has a responsibility to uphold
the sanctity of their union, to care for one another, and to honor the marital
covenant. This is the path of holiness for the married, a call to reflect the
image of God in their relationship and to remain faithful to the vows they have
made.
The second reading from the Letter to the Hebrews speaks of both
the humiliation and the glory of the Son of Man. The author emphasizes the
sanctity of Christ’s suffering for the salvation of the world. Jesus, who
endured death to bring life to others, is now crowned with glory and honor (Heb
2:9). Through His sufferings, Jesus becomes the author of salvation. It is God
the Father, the creator of heaven and earth, who perfects His Son through
suffering, as it was fitting for Him, through whom all things exist, to bring
many children to glory by making the author of their salvation perfect through
sufferings (Heb 2:10).
The passage also highlights that it is God the Father who is the
source of holiness. He sanctifies both His Son, who gives life to the world,
and the people for whom the Son sacrificed His blood on the cross (Heb
2:10-11). Through Christ’s obedience to the Father’s will (Phil 2:6-9), we have
been sanctified and redeemed once and for all (cf. Heb 10:10). By His death,
Jesus has consecrated us, making us His holy people set apart for God’s
worship. As disciples of Christ, now sanctified by His blood, we must always
remember that we are called to live a holy life, set apart as sons and
daughters of God—brothers and sisters in the Lord.
Gospel Reading: The Indissolubility
of Marriage-No to Divorce
Today’s Gospel reading touches on an especially important theme in
the context of modern society: the indissolubility of marriage. Jesus, while in
the region of Judea, surrounded by a large gathering, delivers His teaching on
marriage. His focus is on the universal principle of the permanence of
marriage. Unlike the rabbis, Jesus does not engage in the debates over the laws
of divorce. Instead, He firmly upholds God’s original intent for marriage: Whoever
divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her; and
if she herself divorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing
adultery."(Mk 10:11-12). In Matthew 5:31, Jesus is referring to the
allowance for divorce found in Deuteronomy 24:1-4. In contrast to Deuteronomy
24:1, Jesus introduces two key texts that highlight God's original intention
for marriage at creation: Genesis 1:27 and Genesis 2:24, to address the issue
of divorce.
This prohibition is made even clearer with the conditional clause in
Matthew: “And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for unchastity,
and marries another commits adultery” (Mt 19:9). The prohibition of divorce in
Matthew 19:9, along with the exception clause "except for sexual
immorality," parallels the phrase in Matthew 5:32, "except on the
ground of sexual immorality." Hagner interprets this prohibition as
absolute, arguing that the phrase does not suggest an exception but is better
understood as "not even in the case of." In this verse, Jesus
reiterates the absolute prohibition of divorce.
In the time of Jesus, a divorced woman, without the support of a
husband, often faced dire circumstances, including resorting to prostitution
for survival. Furthermore, under the prevailing Jewish customs, it was nearly
impossible for a woman to initiate a divorce (as noted in Mark 10:12). If she
were divorced unlawfully, she would be forced to remarry, thus being made into
an adulteress. Moreover, any man who married such a divorced woman would also
be guilty of adultery, as he would be taking the wife of another man. By
divorcing and remarrying, the man himself becomes guilty of adultery against
his first wife. This viewpoint underscores the permanence of the marriage bond.
God's Presence in Every Marriage
In every marriage, God’s presence is ever present, making the union
sacred. A man and woman do not come together merely for carnal pleasure; God's
purpose for marriage is much greater. Marriage is a covenant of dignified
conjugal love that bears witness to God’s greater love. The creation of man and
woman also underscores the complementary nature of life within marriage. Woman,
made from the side of man, receives her name from this relationship of equality
and shared responsibility. As Genesis recounts: “This at last is bone of my
bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called Woman, for out of Man
this one was taken.” Therefore, “a man leaves his father and mother and clings
to his wife, and they become one flesh” (Gen 2:23-24).
This is why St. Mark refers back to Genesis in today’s Gospel to
counter the hardened hearts of the Pharisees. Jesus is clear that from the
beginning of creation, God’s plan for marriage was one of permanence: 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, let no one separate” (Mk 10:6-9). In saying this, Jesus explains and clarifies
the Creator’s will for marriage.
Marriage in Today’s Context
In today’s society, holy matrimony can often be seen as a burden,
while divorce is viewed as liberation. However, Jesus calls on spouses, who
have freely chosen the path of marriage, to remain committed to this journey of
holiness. This path sanctifies them when it is lived with a full understanding
of their responsibilities as a couple. The equal dignity of man and woman is
essential in marriage. Once they recognize that it is possible to live in true
communion and experience genuine love, they can walk the path of married life
with a sense of unity and holiness, blessed and consecrated by God. Marriage,
when embraced with this awareness, is not a burden but a path to
sanctification.
Marriage: Responding to God's Call
The origin of a new family and the establishment of marriage is
fundamentally a response to God's plan and His call. Marriage, therefore,
becomes one of the most profound vocations a couple can experience on this
earth. While other vocations often have a more individual focus, the call to
marriage is a shared one, addressed to both spouses, who are called to live in
fidelity and communion for life. In this light, it becomes difficult to
understand why anyone would want to break the sacred bond of marriage through
separation or divorce.
When the disciples asked Jesus privately about His teaching on
divorce, He reinforced the moral implications: “Whoever divorces his wife and
marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband
and marries another, she commits adultery” (Mk 10:11-12). The sin of adultery
is a serious offense in Christian morality, underscored by one of the Ten
Commandments: "Thou shalt not commit adultery." Jesus' words remind
us of the gravity of breaking the marriage covenant, which is a bond not only
between husband and wife but also before God.
"Let the Little Children Come
to Me"
The second part of today's Gospel highlights a beautiful moment
when children were brought to Jesus to receive His blessing. The apostles were
upset, thinking the children were bothering Him, but Jesus responded: "Let
the little children come to me; do not stop them, for it is to such as these
that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the
kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it" (Mk 10:14-15). This
message reminds us of the importance of simplicity, humility, and openness in
our relationship with God. Like children, we are called to trust fully in God's
love and protection, approaching Him with a heart free of pride and filled with
faith.
Children in the Kingdom of God : The liturgy in
recent weeks has emphasized the theme of children and their significance in the
kingdom of God. These passages illustrate the care and concern Jesus has for
children and how we, too, must protect, nurture, and honour them.
On the 25th Sunday, we heard Jesus say: "Whoever
welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me
welcomes not me but the one who sent me" (Mk 9:36-37).
On the 26th Sunday, He warned: "If any of you put a stumbling
block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for
you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into
the sea" (Mk 9:42).
Jesus’ Attitude Towards Children
Jesus’ attitude toward children in today’s Gospel reveals the trust
and openness with which we should approach God, our Father. Children represent
innocence and dependence, qualities that are essential in our spiritual
relationship with God. Jesus welcomed children lovingly, showing that they hold
a special place in God's heart, despite their low status in society at that
time. He took them in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them (Mk
10:16), showing His deep affection for them.
This loving attitude of Jesus is mirrored in the actions of Pope
Francis, who often stops during public audiences to bless children, reflecting
the same warmth and openness Jesus displayed. In Mark 9:36, we read: “Jesus
took a little child and put it among them and took it in His arms.” Today, in
Mark 10:16, we see this love expressed once again as “Jesus took them up in His
arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.”
Parents, Bring Your Children to
Christ
Parents play a vital role in guiding their children to Christ, and one way they can do this is by bringing them to priests for blessings, especially after Sunday Mass. These
blessings help children grow in grace and the fear of God. They also foster a
deep attachment to the Church and its spiritual leaders, encouraging children
to feel comfortable in the presence of priests, rather than shying away. We
should never hinder our youth from approaching Jesus. Instead, we must welcome
them to receive His blessings and those given through His ministers. It is our
responsibility to present Christ to children and youth in a way that is
attractive, loving, and inviting.
Points for Personal Reflection
Any meaningful human relationship must have its origin in God;
otherwise, it risks devolving into the pursuit of fleeting pleasures, leaving
those involved feeling increasingly lonely and unfulfilled. God is love (1 Jn
4:8), and it is His love that brings direction, depth, completeness, and
purpose to our human connections. When love fails to acknowledge its divine
source, it becomes unsustainable, often leading to brokenness and confusion.
Only Jesus can teach us the true essence of love. When human love
is detached from God, it becomes fragmented and incomplete. Often, love is
sought as a remedy for loneliness, but without recognizing God's presence and
His purpose in that relationship, it may lead to deeper isolation and pain. Marital
love, fidelity, and a profound bond between spouses may seem challenging, but
they are not impossible; for with God’s constant, accompanying grace, all
things are possible (Mt 19:26).
God created man and woman to live in communion, not in isolation.
He saw that it was not good for man to be alone and therefore provided a
partner for love and the sharing of life. Reflecting this divine plan, God sent
His Son, so that humanity might have life, and life in abundance (Jn 10:10). As
we reflect on today’s readings, let us be reminded of the sacredness of
marriage as a divine vocation and of the childlike trust and openness that
Jesus calls us to embody in our relationship with God. Marriage is a lifelong
journey of fidelity and communion, and like children, we are invited to trust
fully in God’s love and plan for us. Let us cherish these sacred bonds and
strive to live out our vocations in love and holiness.
The Ten Commandments, or the Decalogue, explicitly forbid any
violation of the marital covenant through adultery, stating, "You shall
not commit adultery" (Ex 20:14; Deut 5:18). St. Paul reinforces this,
strongly warning that marital fidelity must remain inviolate (Heb 13:4).What is
my attitude towards the current situation of marriage and divorce in the world?
Do I uphold the sacredness of marriage in my own life and in the
way I counsel others?
Am I committed to promoting the union of married couples,
recognizing that God's presence is fully within the sacrament of marriage?
Do I maintain the moral standards of marital fidelity?
How do I present Jesus to children and youth?
Do I welcome Jesus by welcoming the children with love, respect,
and dignity?
How can I help the younger generation see Jesus as a source of love
and guidance in their lives?
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