Daily Gospel Reflection
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August 16, 2019
Some Pharisees approached Jesus, and tested him, saying,
“Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?”
He said in reply, “Have you not read that from the beginning
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.”
They said to him, “Then why did Moses command
that the man give the woman a bill of divorce and dismiss her?”
He said to them, “Because of the hardness of your hearts
Moses allowed you to divorce your wives,
but from the beginning it was not so.
I say to you, whoever divorces his wife
(unless the marriage is unlawful)
and marries another commits adultery.”
His disciples said to him,
“If that is the case of a man with his wife,
it is better not to marry.”
He answered, “Not all can accept this word,
but only those to whom that is granted.
Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so;
some, because they were made so by others;
some, because they have renounced marriage
for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven.
Whoever can accept this ought to accept it.
All of today’s readings point to God’s abundant mercy and steadfastness–though perhaps surprisingly in the Gospel passage. Especially clear is the responsorial psalm which encourages us to proclaim, “His mercy endures forever.” However, in the Gospel, Jesus offers a rather stringent interpretation of the law and a challenging teaching about divorce.
Christ tells the Pharisees and his disciples, “It was because you were so hard-hearted that Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.” Yet are not the hearts of the people still hard? Would not such an allowance remain necessary?
In thinking on this reading, I found that today’s Gospel acclamation–typically sung or read before the Gospel reading–presents a fitting lens through which we might view this passage: “Receive the word of God, not as the word of men, but, as it truly is, the word of God.” Christ’s words are difficult for us to accept–perhaps they even seem unkind here–yet because Christ is the Word of God, because his words are those of God, these admonitory words guide us in becoming Christlike individuals. They are our way to the Father and, therefore, are merciful gifts that far exceed the value of any temporal good.
Adhering to a law instituted because of the hardness of our hearts will certainly not soften them; doing so promotes mediocrity at best, and, at worst, it offers a backdoor through which we cannot help but escape when love becomes difficult. Indeed, this word of Christ the eternal Word may be difficult to accept, yet such is the case only because we are asked to receive it “not as the word of men, but, as it truly is, the word of God,” an eternal gift lovingly and abundantly given and intended to be received gratefully.
Prayer
Lord, you teach us to hold the covenant of marriage in the highest dignity. Bless all husbands and wives in their promises of love and fidelity to one another. Help all couples experiencing difficulties. Assist all members of your Church to support and encourage one another in our vocations. Amen.
Saint of the Day
St. Stephen was crowned the first king of Hungary in 1001 and united that nation under Christianity.
He literally established the Church there—erecting churches and recommending bishops to lead in different regions. He commanded tithes to be paid to support new monasteries and parishes, and suppressed pagan beliefs.
He stayed close to the poor. Anyone could tell him their story and find a ready ear, but he made himself especially available to poor people. In one story, he disguised himself to distribute money and goods to the poor himself. A crowd gathered around him, and a small number roughed him up and took for themselves what he had intended to give to many. He laughed it off, happy to suffer for Christ, and resolved to never refuse support to any poor person who asked him.
His son, Blessed Emeric of Hungary was to be heir to the throne, but died in a hunting accident. Stephen was grief-stricken, and spent the rest of his life amidst bitter disputes about his succession.
He died from a painful illness in 1038. On his deathbed, he raised his right hand and asked the Virgin Mary to be Queen of Hungarians. His right hand remained incorrupt after his death and is kept intact as a relic. Known simply as the Holy Right, it is kept in Budapest to this day as a sign that Mary accepted his offer.
Shortly after his death, healings took place at the tomb of St. Stephen. He was canonized as the first confessor king—a new category of saint—and his relics are on display in the Basilica.
St. Stephen of Hungary, you cared most for those in need—pray for us!
Image Credit: Image by Notre Dame alumnus Matthew Alderman, who holds exclusive rights to the further distribution and publication of his art. Used here with permission.