Daily Gospel Reflection
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May 24, 2024
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.”
Marriage in the Catholic church is a beautiful sacrament. In the presence of God, the two promise to stay together as one for better or worse, richer or poorer, health or sickness, and all the other good and bad things that life can throw at them.
It is easy for couples to make this commitment on the wedding day. Feelings of love are strong, and the event is shared with family and friends, followed by happy celebrations and festivities. But as I reminded my youngest daughter and her new husband at their wedding a few years ago, you may sometimes not like your partner to the point where all you have keeping you together is the vow you made in the presence of God.
Sure, this is not exactly the cheery kind of thought you generally share at a wedding, but I wanted them to understand the power of the commitment they just made to keep an open heart—if they both commit to it—to get them through any tough times they may encounter.
Jesus told the Pharisees that Moses permitted divorce because of the “hardness of their hearts.” He was telling them that they divorced because of their unwillingness to seek continuous conversion and reconciliation and to sacrifice and compromise for the betterment of each other.
That’s the hard part of marriage: giving to the other when your hard heart says, “No!” But, if both people fight this temptation to say no with a yes, it can also be the most rewarding! Over time, your marriage grows into the most satisfying, comforting, and loving relationship.
I am in no way a marriage expert. Just ask my wife. We’ve had our share of health issues, financial worries, children’s challenges, and many ups and downs. But we have stayed committed to each other for 43 beautiful years, three children, and nine (soon to be eleven) grandchildren. I know that the grace of the sacrament can carry us through so many storms, particularly the ones inside our hearts.
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.