Reading 1 Jas 5:9-12
that you may not be judged.
Behold, the Judge is standing before the gates.
Take as an example of hardship and patience, brothers and sisters,
the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
Indeed we call blessed those who have persevered.
You have heard of the perseverance of Job,
and you have seen the purpose of the Lord,
because the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
But above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear,
either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath,
but let your “Yes” mean “Yes” and your “No” mean “No,”
that you may not incur condemnation.
Responsorial Psalm PS 103:1-2, 3-4, 8-9, 11-12
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
He pardons all your iniquities,
he heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
he crowns you with kindness and compassion.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
He will not always chide,
nor does he keep his wrath forever.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
Alleluia See Jn 17:17b, 17a
Your word, O Lord, is truth;
consecrate us in the truth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
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.”
SAVING MARRIAGE
"They are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore let no man separate what God has joined." –Mark 10:8-9
The name Jesus means: "Yahweh saves." We need Jesus to save us not only from sin and death but also from the impossible dilemmas of marriage. For example, human beings are social and sexual. Therefore, we want to be with others and are attracted to have sexual relations with some of these people. Human beings also want to be loved deeply and forever. We do not want to be used, "dumped," and rejected. Therefore, we are made to seek a permanent commitment of love, which is often expressed in marriage. However, because of our stubborn, fallen human nature (see Mk 10:5), we aren't able to be close to people for a long time without hurting them badly and being hurt by them. Consequently, our nature has deep-seated needs which can't be fulfilled. We are doomed. Marriage is doomed. Therefore, Moses permitted divorce in an attempt to limit the bad effects of being married in our human condition.
Jesus announced that divorce was no longer necessary. He is God and is able to change our human nature so that we can fulfill our legitimate needs. Baptized into Jesus, we can love deeply and forever. The life and marriage we want are now possible. Christ's salvation and our Baptism into Him makes divorce obsolete and matrimony holy, not harmful. Accept Jesus as the Savior of your marriage and your life.
| PRAYER: | Father, I will live my new marriage and my new life in Jesus. |
| PROMISE: | "Let it be 'yes' if you mean yes and 'no' if you mean no. In this way you will not incur condemnation." –Jas 5:12 |
| PRAISE: | St. Bernardine was called "The Apostle of Italy." He served plague victims before becoming a priest. |
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