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Catholic Caucus: Sunday Mass Readings, 10-04-15, Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
USCCB.org/RNAB ^
| 10-04-15
| Revised New American Bible
Posted on 10/03/2015 9:09:28 PM PDT by Salvation
October 4, 2015
Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
The LORD God said: "It is not good for the man to be alone.
I will make a suitable partner for him."
So the LORD God formed out of the ground
various wild animals and various birds of the air,
and he brought them to the man to see what he would call them;
whatever the man called each of them would be its name.
The man gave names to all the cattle,
all the birds of the air, and all wild animals;
but none proved to be the suitable partner for the man.
So the LORD God cast a deep sleep on the man,
and while he was asleep,
he took out one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh.
The LORD God then built up into a woman the rib
that he had taken from the man.
When he brought her to the man, the man said:
"This one, at last, is bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
this one shall be called 'woman, '
for out of 'her man this one has been taken."
That is why a man leaves his father and mother
and clings to his wife,
and the two of them become one flesh.
R. (cf. 5) May the Lord bless us all the days of our lives.
Blessed are you who fear the LORD,
who walk in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
blessed shall you be, and favored.
R. May the Lord bless us all the days of our lives.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
in the recesses of your home;
your children like olive plants
around your table.
R. May the Lord bless us all the days of our lives.
Behold, thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.
The LORD bless you from Zion:
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
R. May the Lord bless us all the days of our lives.
May you see your children's children.
Peace be upon Israel!
R. May the Lord bless us all the days of our lives.
Brothers and sisters:
He "for a little while" was made "lower than the angels, "
that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
For it was fitting that he,
for whom and through whom all things exist,
in bringing many children to glory,
should make the leader to their salvation perfect through suffering.
He who consecrates and those who are being consecrated
all have one origin.
Therefore, he is not ashamed to call them brothers.
R.
Alleluia, alleluia.If we love one another, God remains in us
and his love is brought to perfection in us.
R.
Alleluia, alleluia.
The Pharisees approached Jesus 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."
And people were bringing children to him that he might touch them,
but the disciples rebuked them.
When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them,
"Let the children come to me;
do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to
such as these.
Amen, I say to you,
whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child
will not enter it."
Then he embraced them and blessed them,
placing his hands on them.
The Pharisees approached Jesus 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."
TOPICS: Catholic; General Discusssion; Prayer; Worship
KEYWORDS: catholic; mk10; ordinarytime; prayer
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To: All
October, 2015
Popes Intentions
Universal: Human trafficking, That human trafficking, the modern form of slavery, may be eradicated.
Evangelization: Mission in Asia. That with a missionary spirit the Christian communities of Asia may announce the Gospel to those who are still awaiting it.
21
posted on
10/04/2015 7:45:18 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Daily Gospel Commentary
Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year B
Commentary of the day Saint John-Paul II, Pope from 1978 to 2005
Homily for 12 October 1980"They are no longer two but one flesh"
« What God has joined together, man should not separate. » This expression sums up the essential greatness of marriage and, at the same time, the moral intensity of family life. Today we wish the same greatness and dignity for all married couples of the world; we wish the same sacramental intensity and moral integrity for all families. And we ask this for the good of humankind! For the good of each person. The human person has no other way towards humanity except through the family. And the family itself should be at the very basis of every effort so that our human world might become ever more human. No one can run away from this concern: no society, no people, no system; neither the State nor the Church nor even the individual.
The love that unites a man and a woman both as married couple and as parents is both gift and commandment
: You shall love... (Mt 22:37-39). To obey the love commandment means to accomplish every obligation of a christian family. At the end of the day, everything is reduced to this: marital fidelity and probity, responsible fatherhood and education. The little church the domestic Church refers to a family living in the spirit of the love commandment: its interior truth, daily effort, spiritual beauty and strength
If God is loved before all other things then the person is loving and is loved with all available plenitude of love. If this inseparable structure, of which Christs commandment speaks, is destroyed then our love will be detached from its deepest roots, it will lose its roots of plenitude and truth essential to it. We pray for all christian families, all families in the world, that this plenitude and truth of love may be granted to them as Christs commandment indicates.
22
posted on
10/04/2015 7:47:41 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
The Work of God - 27th Sunday in ordinary time
Divorce - What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder.
Mark 10:2-16 2 And the Pharisees coming to him asked him: Is it lawful for a man to repudiate his wife? tempting him.
3 But he answering, said to them: What did Moses command you?
4 Who said: Moses permitted to write a bill of divorce, and to put repudiated her.
5 To whom Jesus answering, said: Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you that precept.
6 But from the beginning of the creation, God made them male and female.
7 For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother; and shall cleave to his wife.
8 And they two shall be in one flesh. Therefore now they are not two, but one flesh.
9 What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder.
10 And in the house again his disciples asked him concerning the same thing.
11 And he said to them: Whoever repudiates his wife and marries another, commits adultery against her.
12 And if the wife repudiates her husband, and marries another, she commits adultery.
13 And they brought to him young children, that he might touch them. And the disciples rebuked those that brought them.
14 Whom when Jesus saw, he was much displeased, and said to them: Let the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God.
15 Amen I say to you, whoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, shall not enter into it.
16 And embracing them, and laying his hands upon them, he blessed them.Inspiration of the Holy Spirit - From the Sacred Heart of Jesus
27th Sunday in ordinary time - Divorce - What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder."> The Pharisees of my time were very educated persons who had deep knowledge of the Holy Scriptures and outdid others with their piety and religiosity. However, the same as with the theologians and bible Christians of these times, they misinterpreted the Holy Scriptures many a time because they leaned much on human reason instead of accepting the Word of God with faith.
God is immutable, equally is His Word. In every human family, there is a parallel with the first human family that God created with His own hands. In the divine plan, man is united to a woman so that they become one special entity, which is strengthened by the blessing of God. God wants his children to proceed from the love of a family, which has been formed in a holy manner.
Unfortunately the human idea is very different to the desire of God. Adultery or forbidden sex outside marriage is the cause of the destruction of the moral principles of these times. Even more perverse is homosexuality. Human beings live their lives searching for pleasure and they despise the divine laws. Devastating consequences of this sexual permissiveness are the destruction of life before being born in the wombs of the mothers, an aversion to marriage, and children who grow without the maternal and paternal love found in perfect homes.
The man and the woman of these times dont want to assume the matrimonial responsibility that involves fidelity until death. The future husband and wife must elect carefully their partners; they must not do it just for the physical attraction, but in response to the love of God who wanted man to have a companion for life. Many marriages break up because they dont accept the matrimonial covenant that is made before God for life. A man and a woman get together to become one single flesh, a new fountain of life that will generate children for God.
I hate divorce (Malachi 2:16.) In the same way as spouses betray one another, I am betrayed by all those who abandon me for the pleasures of the world, adulterating our relationship in that manner.
The first matrimonial event occurred in Paradise; there it received the blessing of my Father for all times. When I began my ministry among men, I performed my first miracle at the Wedding of Cana, in order to sanctify again the Sacrament of Matrimony. After final judgment, there will be the wedding of the Lamb with His Church, (Apocalypse 22:9) This union between God and his people will be eternal and faithful, just as God expects from the union between a man and a woman.
Let the little children come to me, do not stop them in the womb. Those who welcome a little child as my gift, welcome the Kingdom of Heaven.
Author: Joseph of Jesus and Mary
23
posted on
10/04/2015 8:01:22 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Archdiocese of Washington
Both todays first reading and the gospel speak to us of the miracle of marriage. If your marriage is working even reasonably well, it is a miracle! We live in an age that is poisonous to marriage. Many people look for marriage to be ideal, and if there is any ordeal, they want a new deal. Our culture says, if it doesnt work out, bail out. Thus, successful marriages today are a miracle. But marriages are also a miracle because they are, ultimately, a work of God.
Todays readings bring before us some fundamental teachings on marriage. The following homily is not short. But many problems beset Holy Matrimony today and the vision of God must be set forth clearly and thoroughly. Lets look at todays gospel in five stages.
I. Rejection – The gospel opens with the Pharisees approaching Jesus and asking, somewhat rhetorically, Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife? Jesus, aware of their hypocrisy (they do not really want an answer from Him on which to base their lives), asks them in return, What did Moses command you? They gleefully respond, in essence, that Moses permitted a husband to divorce his wife as long as he filled out the paperwork.
But Jesus will have none of it, telling them that Moses only permitted this very regrettable thing called divorce because of their hardened hearts.
Among the rabbis of Jesus time, there was the belief that this seemingly lax provision permitting divorce resulted because Moses had reasoned that if he were to say to the men of his day that marriage was until death then some of them might very well have arranged for the death of their wives. So, in order to prevent homicide, Moses permitted the lesser evil of divorce. But it was still an evil and still something deeply regrettable. God Himself says in the book of Malachi,
And this again you do. You cover the Lords altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards the offering
You ask, Why does he not? Because the Lord is witness to the covenant between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. Has not the one God made and sustained for us the spirit of life? And what does he desire? Godly offspring. So take heed to yourselves, and let none be faithless to the wife of his youth. For I hate divorce, says the Lord, the God of Israel, and covering ones garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. Yes
take heed to yourselves, and do not be faithless (Malachi 2:1316).
Thus, in the opening lines of todays gospel, Jesus spends time highlighting how the Pharisees and many other men of His time have rejected Gods fundamental teaching on marriage. Jesus is about to reiterate that teaching. For now, though, just note the rejection evidenced in the question of the Pharisees, a rejection that Jesus ascribes to hearts that have become hardened by sin, lack of forgiveness, and rejection of Gods plan.
God hates divorce not only because it intrinsically rejects what He has set forth, but also because it is symptomatic of human hardness and sinfulness.
II. Restoration – Jesus, having encountered their hardened hearts, announces a restoration, a return to Gods original plan for marriage. The Lord quotes the Book of Genesis, saying,
But from the beginning of creation God made them male and female. And 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.
Note that Jesus begins with the phrase, but from the beginning of creation. In other words, anything that may have happened in the aftermath of Original Sin, any compromises or arrangements that have emerged during the reign of sin, are now to be done away with in the reign of grace that will come as the result of Jesus saving death and resurrection.
On account of the grace that will be bestowed, we are now able, and expected, to return to Gods original plan for marriage: one man and one woman in a lifelong, stable relationship that is fruitful, bringing forth godly children for God and His kingdom. This is Gods plan, a plan that has no room for divorce, contraception, or anything other than fruitful, faithful, stable love.
In todays Western culture there have been many attempts to redefine Gods original and perfect plan for marriage, substituting something erroneous, something humanly defined. And while current endeavors to redefine marriage to include same-sex unions are a particularly egregious example, they are not the first or only way in which Gods plan for marriage has been attacked:
The first attempts happened in the 1950s, when divorce began to occur among celebrities in Hollywood (e.g., Ingrid Bergman, followed by many others). Many Americans, who seem to love and admire their Hollywood stars, began to justify divorce. Dont people deserve to be happy? became the refrain. And thus marriage, which up to that point had as its essential focus what was best for children, began, subtly but clearly, to be centered on what was best for adults. The happiness of the adults, rather than the well-being of the children, began to take precedence in most peoples thinking about marriage.
During the 1950s and 1960s pressure began to build to make divorce easier. Until the late 1960s, divorces had been legally difficult to obtain in America; wealthier people often went to Mexico in order to secure them. In 1969, California Governor Ronald Reagan signed the first no-fault divorce law, making divorce a fairly easy thing to obtain. Within ten years, most of the fifty states had similar laws. As a result, divorce rates skyrocketed.
This was the first redefinition of marriage. No longer was a man to leave his father and mother and cling to his wife. Now, at the first sign of trouble, men and women could just sever their marriage vows. But this is in direct contradiction to Gods plan, which tells them to cling to each other. Thus we engaged in what amounts to a redefinition of marriage.
The second redefinition of marriage occurred when the contraceptive mentality seized America. It began in the late 1950s and continues to this day. Though God said to the first couple, Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth
(Genesis 1:28), children have become more of a way of accessorizing a marriage rather than an integral part and an expected fruit. Children are no longer seen as an essential purpose of marriage, but only an optional outcome based on the wishes of the adults. This, too, is a redefinition of marriage; it is in direct contradiction to Gods instruction to be fruitful and multiply. The happiness and will of the adults is now preeminent; children, rather than being an essential fruit, are only a possible outcome.
The third redefinition of marriage, the current rage, is the attempt to extend it to include same-sex unions. The absurdity of this proposal flows from the sinful conclusions of the first two redefinitions, which in effect state that marriage is simply about two adults being happy and doing whatever pleases them.
And if that is the case, there seems little basis in most peoples mind to protest same-sex couples getting married, or, frankly, any number of adults in any combination of sexes, getting married. (Polygamy and/or polyandry are surely coming next.)
We in the heterosexual community have misbehaved for over fifty year now, redefining essential aspects of marriage. And the latest absurdityand it is an absurdityof gay marriage flows from this flawed and sinful redefinition. We have sown the wind; now we are reaping the whirlwind.
In the end, Jesus will have none of this. He rejects the attempts of the men of His time to redefine marriage. And He, through His Church, His living voice in the world today, also rejects the sinful and absurd redefinitions that we in our culture propose, be it divorce, contraception, or homosexual marriage.
God has set forth that a man should leave his father and mother and cling to his wife, and that the two of them become one flesh. In making a suitable partner for Adam, God created Eve, not Steve. And hence homosexual unions are excluded. A man is not a suitable partner for a man; a woman is not a suitable partner for a woman. Further, in making a suitable partner for Adam, God did not make Eve and Ellen and Jane and Sue and Beth. Hence, polygamy, though mentioned and tolerated for a time in the Bible (but always a source of trouble) is also not part of Gods plan.
God intends one man, for one woman, in a relationship of clinging; that is, in a stable relationship that bears the fruit of godly offspring.
This is the Lords plan; the Lord Jesus does not entertain any notion from the people of His day that will alter or compromise His original design for marriage. He thus announces a restoration of Gods original plan for marriage, as set forth in the book of Genesis.
III. Reality – As is true today, Jesus reassertion of traditional, biblical marriage was met with controversy. In Matthews account, many of the disciples react with disdain, saying, If that is a case of a man and his wife, it is better never to marry! (Matt 19:10)
In todays gospel we see that the disciples are somewhat troubled by what Jesus says and ask Him about it again later. But Jesus does not back down; He even intensifies His language, saying, Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.
There will be no apology from Jesus: divorce and remarriage is adultery. There may have been some in Jesus time (and today) who would hold up their divorce papers and say that they have a divorce decree. Jesus implies that He is not impressed with some papers signed by a human judge and is not bound by the decision of some secular authority. What God has joined together, no man must separate. In other words, Jesus once again establishes that once God has in fact joined a couple in Holy Matrimony, the bond which God has effected is to be respected by all, including the couple.
Marriage has a reality beyond what mere humans bring to it or say of it. Marriage is a work of God; it has a reality and an existence that flows from Gods work, not mans. All of our attempts to redefine, obfuscate, or alter marriage as God has set it forth is sinful and is something that God does not recognize as a reality.
IV. Reemphasis – Now comes an interesting twist, which includes a reminder of one of the most essential purposes of marriage. The gospel text says,
And people were bringing their little children to Jesus that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he became indignant and said to them, Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
This is not a new element to the story, neither have we gone into a separate pericope. Rather, Jesus remarks about children remind us of the essential reason why marriage is structured the way it is. Why should marriage be between two heterosexuals? Why should it be stable? Why should it include a father and a mother rather than two fathers, or two mothers, or just a mother, or just a father?
The fundamental answer is that the essential work of marriage is to procreate and then raise those children! Since children remain marriages most fundamental fruit, it makes sense that marriage should be structured based on what is best for them. And the fact is, children are best raised in a stable, lasting environment in which their parents have committed to one another in mutual support and partnership in raising them. Further, it makes sense psychologically that a child should be receiving influence from both father and mother, the male parent and the female parent. There are things that a father can teach a child that a mother cannot; there are things that a mother can teach a child that a father cannot. Psycho-social development is best achieved in the environment that God and nature have set forth: every child growing up with both a father and a mother; a male and a female influence.
Anything else amounts to something that is less than ideal. To the degree that we intentionally impose the less-than-ideal on children, we are guilty of doing them an injustice. Bringing children into the world prior to marriage or apart from it, such that they will be raised in a single-parent home, is an injustice. It is an even greater injustice that children conceived under these promiscuous circumstances are far more likely to be aborted. To kill a child through abortion is a horrific injustice; it is also an injustice to raise a child apart from a marriage situation.
This preference for stable, lasting, heterosexual unions clearly excludes homosexual ones. Same-sex parents are far from ideal for a child. To raise a child in such circumstances intentionally is an injustice, for it is to subject the child to that which is unnatural and far from ideal.
Catholics have every obligation both to uphold and insist upon traditional marriage as what is right and just, not only because it is Gods plan, but because it is clearly what is best for children. And marriage is fundamentally about children. It is not simply religious sensibility that should lead us to this position; it is a position deeply rooted in natural law, common sense, and what is best for children.
Traditional marriage should be encouraged in every way. Becoming more fuzzy about what marriage is, or defining it down does not help our culture to esteem traditional marriage. Traditional marriage has pride of place because it is focused on raising the next generation and is critical to the essential functioning of our society.
There is much talk today about the rights of people to do as they please. So-called gay marriage is presented within this framework. But, sadly, many who discuss rights only refer to the rights of adults; they seem to care less about what is really best for children. What is good and right for children needs to have a much higher priority in our culture today than it currently does.
Jesus reemphasizes the teaching on marriage by pointing to the young children before them and telling the disciples not to hinder the children. One of the clearest ways we hinder children from finding their way to God and to His kingdom is with our own bad behavior: promiscuous sexual acts (endangering children through abortion or single-parent households), divorce (placing children in divided situations and saddling them with confused loyalties), and insistence on adult rights over what is best for children. To emphasize all of this bad behavior, Jesus points out the young children to us and says, Do not hinder them. Our bad behavior does hinder them.
IV. Reassurance – To be sure, this teaching about marriage is to some degree heavy weather. Indeed, many in our culture have tried, and failed, to attain to the vision of marriage that the Lord teaches. There are complicated reasons, too many to note here, why so many people struggle to live this teaching today.
But whatever our own failures have been, we need to go to the Lord with a childlike trust, a trust that cries out for help. Thus, Jesus says at the conclusion of todays gospel, Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.
Children often feel overwhelmed, but in the midst of that, they run to their parents and seek help. It is in this spirit that the Lord asked us to receive this teaching. Indeed, many may well have to run to God and say Abba, God, I dont know how to live this teaching. My marriage is in ruins, and I dont know how to save it. Ive tried, but my spouse is unwilling. I cant go back and undo what I did years ago.
But note how the Lord embraces the child in this gospel. He is willing to embrace us as well, in our failures and our difficulties. If we have failed, we should be like a young child and run to the Father. What we should most avoid is being relentlessly adult-like, digging in our heels and saying, God is unreasonable; the Gospel is unreasonable!
In the end, only God can accomplish strong marriages and strong families for us. We must run to Him as a Father and seek His help. If we have failed, we must not fail to tell the next generation what God teaches, even if we have not been able to live it perfectly.
Gods plan still remains His plan for everyone, whatever our personal failings. We have every obligation to run to Him, trust Him, and ask for His help. But even in the midst of our own personal failures, we can and must announce and celebrate the truth to others. In the end, God does not give us His teaching in order to burden us, or to accuse us, but rather to bless us. Our assurance must be in His mercy and His ability to write straight, even with the crooked lines of our lives.
If we in this generation have failed, and many of us have failed, we must still announce Gods plan for marriage to the next generation. We must not cease to hand on Gods perfect plan.
24
posted on
10/04/2015 8:05:20 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
It would be considered a theft on our part if we didn't give to someone in greater need than we are. St. Francis of Assisi
25
posted on
10/04/2015 8:15:17 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
The Angelus
|
The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary: And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.
Hail Mary . . .
And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary . . .
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray:
Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord.
Amen.
"Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you" (Lk 1:28) "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb" (Lk 1:42). |
26
posted on
10/04/2015 8:16:22 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: Salvation
Sunday Gospel Reflections27th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Reading I: Genesis 2:18-24 II: Hebrews 2:9-11
Gospel Mark 10:2-16
2 And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?"
3 He answered them, "What did Moses command you?"
4 They said, "Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to put her away."
5 But Jesus said to them, "For your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.
6 But from the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female.'
7 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife,
8 and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two but one flesh.
9 What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder."
10 And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter.
11 And he said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another, commits adultery against her;
12 and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."
13 And they were bringing children to him, that he might touch them; and the disciples rebuked them.
14 But when Jesus saw it he was indignant, and said to them, "Let the children come to me, do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God.
15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it."
16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands upon them.
Interesting Details
- (v.4) Jesus explains the intention of the law on divorce. Accepting that divorce was a common custom, Moses' law sought to protect the wife from abuse. The 'certificate of dismissal' was a public proof that the wife was free from obligations to her husband, and could remarry.
- (vv.6-9) Jesus goes beyond Moses and uses the Genesis passage "in the beginning of creation" to explain God's original intention. In creating male and female, God intended marriage to be for one man and one woman, an indissoluble union ("the two become one body"). This union is also unbreakable because God is the author (v. 9). In these few verses, Jesus challenges spouses to live faithfully and united until death.
- (v.11) In Jewish law, a man could only commit adultery against another man, i.e., if he has relations with the other man's wife. He could not commit adultery against his own wife. Jesus, revolutionary for his times, is explicit that a sin is committed "against her" when a man divorces his wife. He elevates the woman to the real equality of the man.
- (vv.13-14) Mark describes a lively scene here. Children are brought to Jesus, "to have him touch them," an act of blessing. The disciples argue against this, probably reflecting the ancient view of children as unimportant. Jesus, in turn, rebuffs his disciples. This passage points out how the disciples continue to misunderstand Jesus.
- (vv.14-15) In asking us to receive his teaching like a child, Jesus invites us to look within and realize our own human helplessness. Like a child, we must recognize our lack of power, and thus with open hearts, receive God's teachings as a gift. Children accept the gift of the kingdom in a way adults do not--they receive with total trust.
One Main Point God, who is Love, defines for us--created in His image--what love is. It is the giving up of one's self, as in a marriage, "so they are no longer two but one body." It is the trust and hope present in every child's heart.
Reflections
- What teachings of Christ am I struggling with right now? Can I trust Him enough to follow His way, even if , currently, I lack understanding?
- Reflecting on my childhood, how happily dependent I was on my parents, and how I eagerly awaited their gifts, I ask God to restore that attitude to me. So that with open heart, I trust His teachings; I trust that they will lead me to my true and everlasting happiness.
27
posted on
10/04/2015 8:19:23 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Saint Francis of Assisi
Saint Francis of Assisi
Memorial
October 4th
Apotheosis of the Franciscan Order
1707, Fresco
Basilica Santi XII Apostoli, Rome
by BACICCIO
History | Readings | Recipe | Peace Prayer
St. Francis of Assisi was the founder of the Franciscan Order, born at Assisi in Umbria, in 1181 or 1182 -- the exact year is uncertain; died there, October 3, 1226.
His father, Pietro Bernardone, was a wealthy Assisian cloth merchant. Of his mother, Pica, little is known, but she is said to have belonged to a noble family of Provence. Francis was one of several children. The legend that he was born in a stable dates from the fifteenth century only, and appears to have originated in the desire of certain writers to make his life resemble that of Christ. At baptism the saint received the name of Giovanni, which his father afterwards altered to Francesco, through fondness it would seem for France, where business had led him at the time of his son's birth. In any case, since the child was renamed in infancy, the change can hardly have had anything to do with his aptitude for learning French, as some have thought.
Francis received some elementary instruction from the priests of St. George's at Assisi, though he learned more perhaps in the school of the Troubadours, who were just then making for refinement in Italy. However this may be, he was not very studious, and his literary education remained incomplete. Although associated with his father in trade, he showed little liking for a merchant's career, and his parents seemed to have indulged his every whim. Thomas of Celano, his first biographer, speaks in very severe terms of Francis's youth. Certain it is that the saint's early life gave no presage of the golden years that were to come. No one loved pleasure more than Francis; he had a ready wit, sang merrily, delighted in fine clothes and showy display. Handsome, gallant, and courteous, he soon became the prime favorite among the young nobles of Assisi, the foremost in every feat of arms, the leader of the civil revels, the very king of frolic. But even at this time Francis showed an instinctive sympathy with the poor, and though he spent money lavishly, it still flowed in such channels as to attest a princely magnanimity of spirit.
When about twenty, Francis went out with the townsmen to fight the Perugians in one of the petty skirmishes so frequent at that time between the rival cities. The Assisians were defeated on this occasion, and Francis, being among those taken prisoners, was held captive for more than a year in Perugia. A low fever which he there contracted appears to have turned his thoughts to the things of eternity; at least the emptiness of the life he had been leading came to him during that long illness. With returning health, however, Francis's eagerness after glory reawakened and his fancy wandered in search of victories; at length he resolved to embrace a military career, and circumstances seemed to favor his aspirations. A knight of Assisi was about to join "the gentle count", Walter of Brienne, who was then in arms in the Neapolitan States against the emperor, and Francis arranged to accompany him. His biographers tell us that the night before Francis set forth he had a strange dream, in which he saw a vast hall hung with armor all marked with the Cross. "These", said a voice, "are for you and your soldiers." "I know I shall be a great prince", exclaimed Francis exultingly, as he started for Apulia. But a second illness arrested his course at Spoleto. There, we are told, Francis had another dream in which the same voice bade him turn back to Assisi. He did so at once. This was in 1205.
Although Francis still joined at times in the noisy revels of his former comrades, his changed demeanor plainly showed that his heart was no longer with them; a yearning for the life of the spirit had already possessed it. His companions twitted Francis on his absent-mindedness and asked if he were minded to be married. "Yes", he replied, "I am about to take a wife of surpassing fairness." She was no other than Lady Poverty whom Dante and Giotto have wedded to his name, and whom even now he had begun to love. After a short period of uncertainty he began to seek in prayer and solitude the answer to his call; he had already given up his lavish attire and wasteful ways. One day, while crossing the Umbrian plain on horseback, Francis unexpectedly drew near a poor leper. The sudden appearance of this repulsive object filled him with disgust and he instinctively retreated, but presently controlling his natural aversion he dismounted, embraced the unfortunate man, and gave him all the money he had. About the same time Francis made a pilgrimage to Rome. Pained at the miserly offerings he saw at the tomb of St. Peter, he emptied his purse thereon. Then, as if to put his fastidious nature to the test, he exchanged clothes with a tattered mendicant and stood for the rest of the day fasting among the horde of beggars at the door of the basilica.
Not long after his return to Assisi, while Francis was praying before an ancient crucifix in the forsaken wayside chapel of St. Damian's below the town, he heard a voice saying: "Go, Francis, and repair my house, which as you see is falling into ruin." Taking this behest literally, as referring to the ruinous church wherein he knelt, Francis went to his father's shop, impulsively bundled together a load of colored drapery, and mounting his horse hastened to Foligno, then a mart of some importance, and there sold both horse and stuff to procure the money needful for the restoration of St. Damian's. When, however, the poor priest who officiated there refused to receive the gold thus gotten, Francis flung it from him disdainfully. The elder Bernardone, a most niggardly man, was incensed beyond measure at his son's conduct, and Francis, to avert his father's wrath, hid himself in a cave near St. Damian's for a whole month. When he emerged from this place of concealment and returned to the town, emaciated with hunger and squalid with dirt, Francis was followed by a hooting rabble, pelted with mud and stones, and otherwise mocked as a madman. Finally, he was dragged home by his father, beaten, bound, and locked in a dark closet.
Freed by his mother during Bernardone's absence, Francis returned at once to St. Damian's, where he found a shelter with the officiating priest, but he was soon cited before the city consuls by his father. The latter, not content with having recovered the scattered gold from St. Damian's, sought also to force his son to forego his inheritance. This Francis was only too eager to do; he declared, however, that since he had entered the service of God he was no longer under civil jurisdiction. Having therefore been taken before the bishop, Francis stripped himself of the very clothes he wore, and gave them to his father, saying: "Hitherto I have called you my father on earth; henceforth I desire to say only 'Our Father who art in Heaven.'" Then and there, as Dante sings, were solemnized Francis's nuptials with his beloved spouse, the Lady Poverty, under which name, in the mystical language afterwards so familiar to him, he comprehended the total surrender of all worldly goods, honors, and privileges. And now Francis wandered forth into the hills behind Assisi, improvising hymns of praise as he went. "I am the herald of the great King", he declared in answer to some robbers, who thereupon despoiled him of all he had and threw him scornfully in a snow drift. Naked and half frozen, Francis crawled to a neighboring monastery and there worked for a time as a scullion. At Gubbio, where he went next, Francis obtained from a friend the cloak, girdle, and staff of a pilgrim as an alms. Returning to Assisi, he traversed the city begging stones for the restoration of St. Damian's. These he carried to the old chapel, set in place himself, and so at length rebuilt it. In the same way Francis afterwards restored two other deserted chapels, St. Peter's, some distance from the city, and St. Mary of the Angels, in the plain below it, at a spot called the Porziuncola. Meantime he redoubled his zeal in works of charity, more especially in nursing the lepers.
On a certain morning in 1208, probably February 24, Francis was hearing Mass in the chapel of St. Mary of the Angels, near which he had then built himself a hut; the Gospel of the day told how the disciples of Christ were to possess neither gold nor silver, nor scrip for their journey, nor two coats, nor shoes, nor a staff, and that they were to exhort sinners to repentance and announce the Kingdom of God. Francis took these words as if spoken directly to himself, and so soon as Mass was over threw away the poor fragment left him of the world's goods, his shoes, cloak, pilgrim staff, and empty wallet. At last he had found his vocation. Having obtained a coarse woolen tunic of "beast color", the dress then worn by the poorest Umbrian peasants, and tied it round him with a knotted rope, Francis went forth at once exhorting the people of the country-side to penance, brotherly love, and peace. The Assisians had already ceased to scoff at Francis; they now paused in wonderment; his example even drew others to him. Bernard of Quintavalle, a magnate of the town, was the first to join Francis, and he was soon followed by Peter of Cattaneo, a well-known canon of the cathedral. In true spirit of religious enthusiasm, Francis repaired to the church of St. Nicholas and sought to learn God's will in their regard by thrice opening at random the book of the Gospels on the altar. Each time it opened at passages where Christ told His disciples to leave all things and follow Him. "This shall be our rule of life", exclaimed Francis, and led his companions to the public square, where they forthwith gave away all their belongings to the poor. After this they procured rough habits like that of Francis, and built themselves small huts near his at the Porziuncola. A few days later Giles, afterwards the great ecstatic and sayer of "good words", became the third follower of Francis. The little band divided and went about, two and two, making such an impression by their words and behavior that before long several other disciples grouped themselves round Francis eager to share his poverty, among them being Sabatinus, vir bonus et justus, Moricus, who had belonged to the Crucigeri, John of Capella, who afterwards fell away, Philip "the Long", and four others of whom we know only the names. When the number of his companions had increased to eleven, Francis found it expedient to draw up a written rule for them. This first rule,as it is called, of the Friars Minor has not come down to us in its original form, but it appears to have been very short and simple, a mere adaptation of the Gospel precepts already selected by Francis for the guidance of his first companions, and which he desired to practice in all their perfection. When this rule was ready the Penitents of Assisi, as Francis and his followers styled themselves, set out for Rome to seek the approval of the Holy See, although as yet no such approbation was obligatory. There are differing accounts of Francis's reception by Innocent III. It seems, however, that Guido, Bishop of Assisi, who was then in Rome, commended Francis to Cardinal John of St. Paul, and that at the instance of the latter, the pope recalled the saint whose first overtures he had, as it appears, somewhat rudely rejected. Moreover, in site of the sinister predictions of others in the Sacred College, who regarded the mode of life proposed by Francis as unsafe and impracticable, Innocent, moved it is said by a dream in which he beheld the Poor Man of Assisi upholding the tottering Lateran, gave a verbal sanction to the rule submitted by Francis and granted the saint and his companions leave to preach repentance everywhere. Before leaving Rome they all received the ecclesiastical tonsure, Francis himself being ordained deacon later on.
After their return to Assisi, the Friars Minor -- for thus Francis had names his brethren, either after the minores, or lower classes, as some think, or as others believe, with reference to the Gospel (Matthew 25:40-45), and as a perpetual reminder of their humility -- found shelter in a deserted hut at Rivo Torto in the plain below the city, but were forced to abandon this poor abode by a rough peasant who drove in his ass upon them. About 1211 they obtained a permanent foothold near Assisi, through the generosity of the Benedictines of Monte Subasio, who gave them the little chapel of St. Mary of the Angels or the Porziuncola. Adjoining this humble sanctuary, already dear to Francis, the first Franciscan convent was formed by the erection of a few small huts or cells of wattle, straw, and mud, and enclosed by a hedge. From this settlement, which became the cradle of the Franciscan Order (Caput et Mater Ordinis) and the central spot in the life of St. Francis, the Friars Minor went forth two by two exhorting the people of the surrounding country. Like children "careless of the day", they wandered from place to place singing in their joy, and calling themselves the Lord's minstrels. The wide world was their cloister; sleeping in haylofts, grottos, or church porches, they toiled with the laborers in the fields, and when none gave them work they would beg. In a short while Francis and his companions gained an immense influence, and men of different grades of life and ways of thought flocked to the order. Among the new recruits made about this time, by Francis were the famous Three Companions, who afterwards wrote his life, namely: Angelus Tancredi, a noble cavalier; Leo, the saint's secretary and confessor; and Rufinus, a cousin of St. Clare; besides Juniper, "the renowned jester of the Lord".
During the Lent of 1212, a new joy, great as it was unexpected, came to Francis. Clare, a young heiress of Assisi, moved by the saint's preaching at the church of St. George, sought him out, and begged to be allowed to embrace the new manner of life he had founded. By his advice, Clare, who was then but eighteen, secretly left her father's house on the night following Palm Sunday, and with two companions went to the Porziuncola, where the friars met her in procession, carrying lighted torches. Then Francis, having cut off her hair, clothed her in the Minorite habit and thus received her to a life of poverty, penance, and seclusion. Clare stayed provisionally with some Benedictine nuns near Assisi, until Francis could provide a suitable retreat for her, and for St. Agnes, her sister, and the other pious maidens who had joined her. He eventually established them at St. Damian's, in a dwelling adjoining the chapel he had rebuilt with his own hands, which was now given to the saint by the Benedictines as domicile for his spiritual daughters, and which thus became the first monastery of the Second Franciscan Order of Poor Ladies, now known as Poor Clares.
It was during Christmastide of this year (1223) that the saint conceived the idea of celebrating the Nativity "in a new manner", by reproducing in a church at Greccio the praesepio of Bethlehem, and he has thus come to be regarded as having inaugurated the population devotion of the Crib. Christmas appears indeed to have been the favourite feast of Francis, and he wished to persuade the emperor to make a special law that men should then provide well for the birds and the beasts, as well as for the poor, so that all might have occasion to rejoice in the Lord.
(Principal source - Catholic Encyclopedia - 1913 edition )
Readings
Collect:
O God, by whose gift Saint Francis
was conformed to Christ in poverty and humility,
grant that, by walking in Francis' footsteps,
we may follow your Son,
and, through joyful charity,
come to be united with you.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. +Amen.
First Reading: Galatians 6: 14-18
But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God. Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 11:25-30
At that time Jesus declared, "I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yea, Father, for such was thy gracious will. All things have been delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Recipe
Mostaccioli - An Italian almond pastry
1 pound blanched almonds
1/2 cup honey
1 teaspoon cinnamon, or 1 teaspoon vanilla
2 egg whites, lightly beaten
Approximately 1 cup of flour
Chop the almonds very fine or coarsely grind in a blender
In a bowl combine the nuts, honey, cinnamon, and egg whites. Mix thoroughly. Gradually stir in enough flour to form a thick paste.
On a lightly floured surface, knead the paste until smooth and stiff. Roll out to about 1/4 inch. Cut into diamond shapes, about 2 1/2 inches long. Place the diamonds on a lightly buttered and floured baking sheet. Let dry for 1 to 2 hours.
Bake in a preheated 250°F oven for 20-30 minutes or until set. Do not let brown.
Yield: about 3 dozen
from A Continual Feast by Evelyn Birge Vitz, originally published by Harper & Row in 1995, now available in paperback from Ignatius Press.
Peace Prayer*
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen
*Although this popular “peace prayer” is attributed to St. Francis, it was not composed by him. According to the Franciscan Archive, it first appeared in 1912, as an anonymous prayer in a French devotional magazine. Its first appearance in English was in 1936, in a book written by Kirby Page, a Disciples of Christ minister and pacifist, who attributed the prayer to the 12th century saint. During and after WWII, the prayer, and its attribution to St. Francis, was popularized by Cardinal Francis Spellman’s books. (See http://www.franciscan-archive.org/franciscana/peace.html)
28
posted on
10/04/2015 8:28:01 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
St. Francis, Christian Love, and the Biotechnological FutureFinding St. Francis (we don't hear much about the saint who submitted to Church authority)St. Francis of Assisi {ecumenical}Francis of Assisi: Pattern for Lay HolinessThe Real St. Francis of Assisi Was Not a Garden Gnome...Chesterton and Saint FrancisSaint Francis of Assisi, 'giant of holiness,' honored Oct. 4Franciscan Brothers Follow in St. Francis' Bare Footsteps
St. Francis of Assisi (and) St. Clare of Assisi [Catholic Caucus]
On Francis of Assisi
Franciscans ready to celebrate 800th anniversary of order's founding
'Stone-for-stone' Porziuncola reproduction erected in San Francisco
Portiuncula Indulgence can be obtained this Sunday
Away in a Manger [St. Francis of Assisi and the first Nativity scene]
The Stigmata of St. Francis of Assisi
St. Francis of Assisi -- The Wounds of Christ
St. Clare's Advice Defended Assisi Against An Attack By the Mohammedans (My Title)
The Way of the Cross, with Prayerful Meditations authored by Saint Francis of Assisi
Friar Assails "Lies" Against Franciscans of Assisi In Wake of Pope's Program
color=#e00040>Cimabue's Assisi Fresco Reconstructed
Friars Minor Support Pope's Measures for Assisi
St. Francis of Assisi and Eucharistic Adoration
Saint Francis of Assisis Letter to the Clergy
World Needs the Spirit of St. Francis, Says John Paul II
Saint Francis of Assisi, Founder of the Friars Minor, Confessor 1181-1226>
Assisi frescoes rise from the rubble
Christ's words to St. Francis, "repair my Church," appropriate for today says Archbishop Chaput
Prayer of Saint Francis of Assissi
Lord, make me am instrument of your peace
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
and where there is saddness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
Saint Francis was born in Assisi, Italy in 1182. He lived and preached a life of poverty and love of God to all men. He founded the religious Order of the Franciscans; with St. Clare, he founded the Order of the Poor Clares; and the Third Order for lay people. He died in 1226.
29
posted on
10/04/2015 8:33:44 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Information:
St. Francis of Assisi;Feast Day: October 4
Born: 1181 or 1182 at Assisi, Umbria, Italy
Died: 3 October 1226 at Assisi, Italy
Canonized: 16 July 1228 by Pope Gregory IX
Major Shrine: Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi, Assisi, Italy
Patron of: against dying alone, against fire, animal welfare societies, animals, Assisi, Italy, birds, Catholic Action, ecologists, ecology, environment, families, Franciscan Order, lacemakers, merchants, needle workers, peace, tapestry workers, zoos
30
posted on
10/04/2015 8:38:48 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
St. Francis of Assisi
Feast Day: October 4 Born: (around) 1181 :: Died: 1226
St. Francis was born around 1181 in Assisi, in Italy. As a young man he loved parties and good times. He was handsome and rich, so he bought himself the finest clothes and spent money freely. Francis had no wish to study or to learn his father's business, as he was having too much fun. One day he refused to give alms to a poor beggar but as the man was leaving, he felt sorry for what he had done and ran after him with some money. After he fell ill twice, Francis realized that he was wasting precious time. He realized that he should be serving Jesus and began praying more and making sacrifices to grow strong in spirit. While riding his horse one day he saw a leper and quickly turned his horse to ride away. Then he thought to himself, if Jesus saw a leper he would not turn the other way. So he kissed the horrible-looking leper, and gave him money. Often he gave his clothes and money to the poor. He served the sick in hospitals. Still he felt he must do more. He fasted and began to go around in rags to humble himself. It is not hard to imagine how his rich friends must have looked at him now! His father was so angry that he beat him and locked him up at home. Francis bore all this suffering for love of Jesus. When his father took everything from him in disgust, Francis put all his trust in his Father in heaven. He said that he was married to "Lady Poverty" and he began to live as a beggar. He had no shelter. His food was what kind people gave him. Everywhere he went, he begged people to stop sinning and return to God. Many men began to see how close to God this poor man really was, and they became his followers. Francis followed the example of Jesus closely by living a life of simplicity and teaching the Gospel message with great joy. That is how the great Franciscan order of priests and brothers began. They helped the poor and sick and preached everywhere. Even after the order had spread all over Italy, Francis insisted that they should not own anything. He wanted his priests to love poverty as he did. St. Francis had the power of working miracles. He loved all creatures and the birds and animals happily obeyed his commands! As a reward for his great love, Jesus gave him his own wounds. Two in his hands, two in his feet and one in his side but the humble Francis tried to hide them from people. Toward the end of his life, he became very sick. He was told he would live only a few more weeks and he exclaimed, "Welcome, Sister Death!" He asked to be laid on the ground and covered with an old habit. He advised his brothers to love God, to love being poor, and to obey the Gospel. "I have done my part," he said. "May Jesus teach you to do yours." Francis died on October 3, 1226. |
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31
posted on
10/04/2015 8:43:12 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
CATHOLIC ALMANACSunday, October 4
Liturgical Color: White
Today is the Memorial of St. Francis of Assisi.
He was born in 1182, into a wealthy
family, leading a carefree life through his
youth. Following a conversion, he renounced
his wealth preferring poverty as he
preached the Gospel.
32
posted on
10/04/2015 8:46:14 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Day 277 - Jesus Is Rejected by the Jews (Part II)
Today’s Reading: John 10:31-42
31 The Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of these do you stone me?” 33 The Jews answered him, “We stone you for no good work but for blasphemy; because you, being a man, make yourself God.” 34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, I said, you are gods’? 35 If he called them gods to whom the word of God came (and Scripture cannot be nullified), 36 do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, You are blaspheming,’ because I said, I am the Son of God’? 37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; 38 but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”
39 Again they tried to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands. 40 He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John at first baptized, and there he remained. 41 And many came to him; and they said, “John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.” 42 And many believed in him there.
Today’s Commentary:
Scripture cannot be nullified: Three implications can be drawn from this statement. (1) Scripture cannot be set aside, since its teaching is as trustworthy and true as God himself (17:17). (2) The OT, represented in this context by a psalm, has permanent authority even under the New Covenant (Mt 5:17). (3) The authority of Scripture extends even to individual words, as in this context where Jesus’ whole argument rests on the import of a single word (”gods”) from Ps 82:6
33
posted on
10/04/2015 8:51:00 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Catholic Culture
Ordinary Time: October 4th
Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Daily Readings for: October 04, 2015
(Readings on USCCB website)
Collect: Almighty ever-living God, who in the abundance of your kindness surpass the merits and the desires of those who entreat you, pour out your mercy upon us to pardon what conscience dreads and to give what prayer does not dare to ask. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
RECIPES
ACTIVITIES
PRAYERS
LIBRARY
Old Calendar: Nintheenth Sunday after Pentecost
And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" He answered them, "What did Moses command you?" They said, "Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to put her away." But Jesus said to them, "For your hardness of heart 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. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder."(Mk 10:2-9).
Today is the feast of St. Francis of Assisi which is superseded by the Sunday Liturgy.
Click here for commentary on the readings in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite.
Sunday Readings
The first reading is taken from the Book of Genesis, 2:18-24, "So the Lord God cast a deep sleep on the man, and while he was asleep, he took out one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. The Lord God then built up into a woman the rib that he had taken from the man. When he brought her to the man, the man said: 'This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called woman for out of her man this one has been taken.'" This reading has been chosen to show the origin of the Church's teaching on the indissolubility of marriage.
The second reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews, 2:9-11, "He who 'for a little while' was made 'lower than the angels', that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone." Today's reading talks about Jesus' exaltation through abasement.
The Gospel is from St. Mark, 10:2-16. On the "divorce" section of this Gospel see today's first reading. Christ clearly states that from the very beginning, God's plan for marriage was that it should be a life-long unity of one man and one woman. Its purpose is the procreation of children and their education, as well as the mutual love and fulfillment of the husband and wife. These demand this life-long bond. Divorce, which tries to break this bond, breaks the law of the Creator who decreed what was best for the temporal and spiritual welfare of the human race.
The last four verses of today's Gospel describe an incident which is in no way connected with the previous discussion but which has a very useful lesson for all Christians. It describes Christ's love for children and while manifesting this love he stresses the need for all his true followers to be childlike. "I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." To receive the kingdom of God is to accept the teaching of Christ and live according to it in his kingdom on earth. He who does this will enter, after death, into the eternal kingdom of heaven. Christ says, however, that we must accept "like a child": his kingdom on earth, his teaching and the Church he founded to carry on that teaching. It does not mean: in a childish way, an unthinking, uneducated way, but in a child-like way-a humble, grateful, receptive way. A child is unselfconscious, content to be dependent on others' care and generosity. Christianity is a gift of the generous God to us, we have done nothing and never could do anything to merit it. We must accept it simply and gratefully as a gift; we could never deserve it.
While Christianity is a religion of reason and conforms in all its aspects to the rational nature of manits basis is the revelation of God who is the author and foundation of all rationalityyet it is the heart of man rather than his intellect which Christ means to capture. The assent of the intellect to the doctrine revealed by Christ is not sufficient of itself for a Christian to earn the eternal kingdom; faith is the total acceptance and commitment of the believer to God through Jesus Christ. The man of true faith commits himself to God with a filial childlike trust, assured that if he does all that he can God will do the rest.
Therefore, our Christian faith must be childlike, a trusting, humble and obedient faith. This is the kind of faith that will move mountainsthe mountains that loom so large in the vision of too many Christians todaythe mountains of doubt, selfishness, unwillingness to be subjected to authority. Christ asks us, if we would be his followers: to take up our daily cross and climb the way to Calvary after him. This daily cross is made of the troubles and trials of life from which no one can escape. They can be borne with reluctance and grumbling or they can be accepted as the loving God's means of training us for the future life. Every true Christian accepts his trials in the latter way, for if he is true to his faith he knows that his years on earth are his apprenticeship to prepare him for his eternal life.
God is surely not asking too much of us when he asks us to live our Christian faith in childlike humility, candor and confidence during the days of our pilgrimage on this earth.
Excerpted from The Sunday Readings by Fr. Kevin O'Sullivan, O.F.M.
34
posted on
10/04/2015 8:59:35 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
The Word Among Us
Meditation: Mark 10:2-16
27th Sunday in Ordinary Time
What God has joined together, no human being must separate. (Mark 10:9)
Today’s readings could not be more appropriate! This morning, Pope Francis will open the Synod on the Family. For the next three weeks, he will meet with bishops from around the world to talk about the joys and the challenges of family life today. Together, they will ask how the Church can best serve and reach out to all families, no matter their situation. So how encouraging that we hear about God’s power to take two married people and make them into “one body” (Genesis 2:24)!
Yet the Gospel reading brings a note of sadness and challenge since it focuses on divorce and remarriage. Jesus’ words can sound harsh, especially if we have been through a divorce or if a loved one is part of a wounded or broken marriage.
Think about the pain that divorced couples feel. A relationship that began with high hopes has devolved into rejection and pain. What once was “one body” has been torn apart (Genesis 2:24). Does Jesus really sit in condemnation? No. He doesn’t dwell on what went wrong in the past. He wants to meet us where we are and offer us healing and restoration.
If you are divorced, know that Jesus loves you deeply. Think about his encounter with the woman at the well (John 4:4-42). He didn’t condemn her, even though she had been married five times and was living with a man who was not her husband. Instead, he brought her to repentance, healed her, and sent her home to proclaim the good news.
Our Father wants to mend the wounds that happen in every relationship. He wants to reconcile us, transform us, and use us to proclaim his kingdom. So let’s pray for the synod, that the Spirit will help the bishops find just the right way to announce this healing, transforming power of God for every family!
“Jesus, continue to guide your Church. Pour your grace on every family. Let your love flow through us so that we can be your witnesses.”
Genesis 2:18-24
Psalm 128:1-6
Hebrews 2:9-11
Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion:
Mass Readings:
1st Reading: Genesis 2:18-24
Responsorial: Psalm 128:1-6
2nd Reading: Hebrews 2:9-11
Gospel: Mark 10:2-16
1. In the first reading, we hear that God’s plan for marriage for men and women, from all eternity, was a call to unity (“one flesh”) in love. This is a unity of teamwork and intimate personal relationship where deep emotions are shared and personal dignity is upheld. If you are married, what steps can you take to improve unity, deepen your relationship, and deal better with anger or conflict? If you are not married, what steps can you take to improve unity and deepen your relationship with those you work with or those you are closest to?
2. In the Responsorial Psalm, the Lord promises blessings to those “who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways” (Psalm 128:1). What do you think it means to “fear the Lord”? What do you think it means to “walk in his ways”? How important are the support of the Church, and the support of brothers and sisters in Christ, in doing this?
3. The second reading begins by telling us that Jesus tasted “death for everyone” and that he was “made perfect through suffering.” What do these words mean to you?
4. The second reading ends by saying that Jesus is not ashamed to call us his brothers (and sisters) (Hebrews 2:11). Reflect on the magnitude of this statement. How does the truth of it impact you? What are some ways you can strengthen your relationship with other brothers and sisters in Christ within your parish?
5. In the Gospel, we are again reminded of the great importance God places on the Sacrament of Marriage, which has always been part of his eternal plan for men and women. We all know that because of human weakness and sin, marriages can often be beset by many difficulties, and couples often need healing and forgiveness. Jesus reminds us constantly in Scripture how much we need forgiveness, and how often we are to forgive (70 x 7), since he has forgiven us. If you are married are there any areas of unforgiveness between you and your wife, or other members of your family? If you are not married, are there any areas of unforgiveness between you and other members of your family, or other people? What steps can you to take to offer forgiveness, even if you believe that you are the one who was wronged?
6. The meditation offers these encouraging words about God’s desire to heal our wounds, our relationships, and our families: “Our Father wants to mend the wounds that happen in every relationship. He wants to reconcile us, transform us, and use us to proclaim his kingdom. So let’s pray for the synod, that the Spirit will help the bishops find just the right way to announce this healing, transforming power of God for every family!” How can you open yourself more to the “healing, transforming power of God”?
7. Take some time now to pray and ask the Lord to pour out his grace and wisdom on his Church and all our families—that all of us may bear witness to Jesus’ great love. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as the starting point.
35
posted on
10/04/2015 9:06:04 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
A Christian Pilgrim
GODS IDEA OF MARRIAGE
(A biblical refection on THE 27th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME [YEAR B] 4 October 2015)
Gospel Reading: Mark 10:2-16
First Reading: Genesis 2:18-24; Psalms: Psalm 128:1-6; Second Reading: Hebrews 2:9-11
The Scripture Text
And Pharisees came up and in order to test Him asked, Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife? He answered them, What did Moses command you? They said, Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to put her away. But Jesus said to them, For your hardness of heart 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. So they are no longer two but one. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder.
And in the house the disciples asked Him again about this matter. And 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.
And they were bringing children to Him, that He might touch them; and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it He was indignant and said to them, Let the children come to Me, do not hinder them; for to such belongs the Kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it. And He took them in His arms and blessed them, laying His hands upon them. (Mark 10:2-16 RSV)
There are quite many stories of marriages that strayed, drifted away and ended in the rocks. In todays Gospel, Jesus takes a strong stand on the permanence and indissolubility of marriage. This is not based primarily on the harm done to innocent children and society by broken families but rather, on the fact that sex and its fulfilment in marriage are Gods idea, hence, sacred. God intended marriage to be a lasting relationship between one man and one woman (see Mark 10:7-8).
This is expressed in the book of Genesis which our Lord Jesus quotes: …… 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. So they are no longer two but one. What therefore God has joined together, let no man put asunder (Mark 10:6-9; see Genesis 1:27; 2:24; 5:2). There is no compromise on what Jesus holds out as the ultimate and ideal goal of marriage two people should become one flesh; what God has joined let no man separate; whoever divorces and remarries commits adultery.
Thus, in mentioning Genesis, Jesus goes back to the original teaching which opposes divorce or whatever would divide a married couple. Adultery is wrong because it would harm the relationship of husbands and wives. Moreover, if men and women had sexual relations with anyone they wanted, jealousy, hatred and irresponsibility would destroy the very fabric that holds society together.
Ideally, then, a marriage should be marked by unity a total sharing of body, mind and spirit; and it should be a permanent relationship till death separate us. But we dont live in an ideal world. We live in a real world where too often selfishness overpowers love, taking dominates giving, and some marriages end in divorce. It will help to remember the fact that no marriage is perfect simply because theres no perfect husband nor perfect wife. But marriage as envisioned by God is a high ideal and being thus, the way is strewn by numerous failures, conflicts, broken promises. What does Jesus have to say about that?
To answer this, recall how Jesus condemned adultery, but forgave the woman caught in adultery (John 8:2-11); how He showed compassion toward the Samaritan woman at the well who had live with five husbands and one male companion (John 4:1-42); and how He gave Peter a new start after Peter had denied Him and run away (John 21:15-19).
Do we continue to strive for ideal marriages? Yes, with all our resources. Do we condemn divorce but not the divorcee. We deal with the divorcee the way Jesus would by balancing law with love, firmness with forgiveness and principles with practice.
Real deep love does not happen all of a sudden. It is something which must grow, even amid conflicts and personal shortcomings. When a wound or hurt has been inflicted, it is important that the wound be treated with real sorrow which goes with a resolve to reform; otherwise it leaves a permanent scar. Too many scars destroy the beauty of the relationship and lead to separation or to the marriage tribunal. But loving someone deeply, completely demands a bigness, a bigness that say Im sorry and really mean it.
On the flip side, bigness means the ability to forgive an erring spouse. And this is where the difficulty lies. How can I forgive a husband whos a traitor like Judas Iscariot? I am not crazy! How can I kiss and make up with an unfaithful wife? These are valid grievances which make the Christian teaching on marriage a hard pill to swallow at times. However, there is value in fidelity. It outweighs the conflicts and difficulties of married life. And as the Lord promised: He who is faithful until the end will receive the crown of glory.
Short Prayer: We praise You, Lord, for Your teachings, for Your compassion and love of the weak, the broken, the sinner. Amen.
36
posted on
10/04/2015 9:09:18 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Marriage = One Man amd One Woman Until Death Do Us PartDaily Marriage Tip for October 4, 2015:
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) Jesus teaching is clear: marriage lasts for life. Remove divorce from your vocabulary and trust that Christ will help you to work through your difficulties. For those spouses who have [
]
37
posted on
10/04/2015 9:11:55 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Reflections from Scott Hahn
Sunday Bible Reflections
What God Has Joined: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Twenty-seventh Sunday Ordinary Time
Readings:
Genesis 2:18-24
Psalm 128:1-6
Hebrews 2:9-11
Mark 10:2-16
In today’s Gospel, the Pharisees try to trap Jesus with a trick question.
The “lawfulness” of divorce in Israel was never at issue. Moses had long ago allowed it (see Deuteronomy 24:1-4). But Jesus points His enemies back before Moses, to “the beginning,” interpreting the text we hear in today’s First Reading.
Divorce violates the order of creation, He says. Moses permitted it only as a concession to the people’s “hardness of heart”—their inability to live by God’s covenant Law. But Jesus comes to fulfill the Law, to reveal its true meaning and purpose, and to give people the grace to keep God’s commands.
Marriage, He reveals, is a sacrament, a divine, life-giving sign. Through the union of husband and wife, God intended to bestow His blessings on the human family—making it fruitful, multiplying it until it filled the earth (see Genesis 1:28).
That’s why today’s Gospel moves so easily from a debate about marriage to Jesus’ blessing of children. Children are blessings the Father bestows on couples who walk in His ways, as we sing in today’s Psalm.
Marriage also is a sign of God’s new covenant. As today’s Epistle hints, Jesus is the new Adam—made a little lower than the angels, born of a human family (see Romans 5:14; Psalm 8:5-7). The Church is the new Eve, the “woman” born of Christ’s pierced side as He hung in the sleep of death on the cross (see John 19:34; Revelation 12:1-17).
Through the union of Christ and the Church as “one flesh,” God’s plan for the world is fulfilled (see Ephesians 5:21-32). Eve was “mother of all the living” (see Genesis 3:20). And in baptism, we are made sons and daughters of the Church, children of the Father, heirs of the eternal glory He intended for the human family in the beginning.
The challenge for us is to live as children of the kingdom, growing up ever more faithful in our love and devotion to the ways of Christ and the teachings of His Church.
38
posted on
10/04/2015 9:25:12 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
27th Sunday - The two become one
Gen 2: 28-34
Heb 2: 9-11
Mk 10: 2-16
Our Gospel this Sunday begins with a legal question asked of Jesus by the Pharisees: “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” Being somewhat of a loaded question as it always was by the Pharisees, Jesus in typical Jewish style responds with another question: “What did Moses tell you?” Then the debate begins.
Now, our first reading from the Book of Genesis is a beautiful one put in context. “The Lord God said: It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a suitable partner for him.” (Gen 2: 28). So we are presented this week as we begin Respect Life Month with two pictures. Genesis states that from the moment of creation, our God who creates purely out of love creates a being to love and to be loved. The suitable partner for the man was of course one created from the same substance as him – a woman; a partner with whom to share equally and to be seen as equal in nature and purpose. So, we interpret this as the foundation of the married state from God himself – two equal partners, created with dignity, not only for each other but together to be loved by God himself. Those two equal partners would be given a great privilege – to bring new life into the world and to do so motivated by selfless love because that is how they were created by God who can only love selflessly. And that union was not intended to be broken once joined together. It was a life-long bond that would be ended only at the time of death.
Now, we may see such a lofty idyllic image as more of a hope than a reality in light of what we see today. So, the Pharisees question in the Gospel may be closer to our lived experience. The whole question of divorce comes in, something that everyone of us in familiar with either in one’s family or maybe in your own personal experience.
With our present day sensibilities and properly correct language we may be a bit uncomfortable by this Sunday's Gospel. Jesus' commentary on marriage, divorce, and adultery is a challenge to the present day cultural experience of the 50% divorce rate, single parent households, the same-sex "marriage" debate, the not all uncommon infidelity we find in marriages, the silent monster of sexual abuse, the lower number of couples being married in a Church ceremony, the not uncommon number of unmarried couples living together (male/female) with an undecided sense of whether to ever marry, the number of children that are born out of wedlock, and the general acceptance of alternative lifestyles. Now that’s much closer to our world than it was to the time of Jesus.
Those of you who have children in any level of school know well that your children's friends more often come from "broken" homes and second marriages. But, for all the numbers which may paint a gloomy picture of marriage and family life, there are still thousands and thousands of healthy, not perfect, marriages and families throughout the world. Yet, the problems are daunting. We are faced these days with enormous challenges to what has been coined "traditional" marriage and two parent (male/female) households.
So, what is Jesus saying in the Gospel? His commentary essentially goes to the first reading from Genesis about the equality of man and woman and God’s original intent. God created us in his image not to be subservient or to dominate one another but to share life equally and to be complete before him. Yet in Jesus' time a husband could divorce his wife with barely a reason. All that was essentially needed was a "bill of divorce" and the marriage would be over with the women sent off. So, it’s really two approaches to the marital union we hear today – one a reflection, as Jesus says, on our own human stubbornness. Moses allowed divorce because you were stubborn and unwilling to hear a higher purpose to marriage, that of God’s intent.
And the words of Jesus which has become and must always be upheld by the Church about the nature of the marriage covenant – that is a permanent bond of mutually shared life and love between two equal partners of male and female out of which is produced new life. And that God is inviting himself to every marriage which then can become a union of three.
So faithfulness, respect, equality, openness to life, and a spiritual dimension in which faith is not just words but a lived experience in family life is our ideal. As one writer put it: “A vision of what God’s people can be when they choose, by God’s grace, to live in God’s kingdom.” (David Fleer: Preaching the Sermon on the Mount; 2007). Jesus sets before us lofty ideals that are rooted in God’s intention. But, he does not expect the impossible of us so what he states about the nature of marriage is not impossible.
What may be missing in some marriages is essentially that faith dimension. While there is no magic bullet for those who share faith and live it out in family life the odds are far more in their favor for success than they would be otherwise. The problems in married life are real and they may well go beyond merely Church attendance, even Church goers do scandalous things, but a return to the ideal and inviting God into one’s marriage as the third member, along with the support of a faith-filled community, can be a medicine to heal wounds.
In the next week, the second synod of Bishops begins in Rome to examine this very issue. With an open heart and mind to the movement of the Spirit we can only pray and hope that the ultimate outcome will do good for many.
The Church offers a pastoral solution for those caught in a marriage they feel should maybe have not happened in the first place. Or a marriage that even after a number of years may now show what was indicated in the beginning, called the “annulment” process. That’s a whole other discussion but an important one. In the best but not the impossible world, both spouses must be invested in the relationship in a way that supports the other, that shares mutually in life and concerns around parenting, and that can grow to the great ideal Jesus reinforces in the Gospel: “They are no longer two but one flesh.” Like a child, trusting and open, we are invited to live and accept the teaching of Christ - it is ultimately, like all things of God, for our own good.
Almighty ever-living do,
who in the abundance of your kindness
surpass the merits and the desires of those who entreat you,
pour out your mercy upon us
to pardon what conscience dreads
and to give what prayer does not dare to ask
(Collect of Sunday)
39
posted on
10/04/2015 9:29:25 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Insight Scoop
"Miracle at Cana" (1887) by Vladimir Makovsky [WikiArt.org]
The Mystery of Creation and the Sacrament of Marriage | Carl E. Olson
The Readings for Sunday, October 4th, show how Jesus insisted on going back to the beginning of creation and restoring the original meaning of marriage
Readings:
Gen 2:18-24
Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6
Heb 2:9-11
Mk 10:2-16
No human institution, writes Jorge Cardinal Medina Estévez in Male and Female He Created Them (Ignatius Press, 2003), is so deeply rooted in nature and in the heart of man and of woman as marriage and the family. And yet, as Estévez goes on to demonstrate, marriage has so many enemies and is assailed from every side by forcesboth internal and externalseeking to pervert and destroy it.
Divorce is rampant, adultery is common, and same-sex marriage now appears to be an inevitable social and cultural "reality". It is not surprising, then, to sometimes hear that marriage is doomed, soon an artifact of a different era, rapidly becoming a victim of politics, apathy, selfishness, and a disregard for tradition and religion.
But, however dark the horizon, we shouldnt forget that marriage is not the artificial construct of a particular culture, nor a transitory institution aimed at repressing this or that special interest group. Marriage pre-dates cultures, civilizations, political parties, and ideologies.
In todays first reading, taken from the creation account in Genesis 2, the first man is put into a deep sleep and the woman is fashioned from the rib taken out of his side. For this cause a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh (Gen. 2:24).
What exactly did that mean? This passage and question were the focus of much of Pope John Paul IIs famous theology of the body, given as general audiences early in his pontificate. He saw an integral connection between the mystery of creation and the sacrament of marriage.
He wrote: The words of Genesis 2:24, A man . . . cleaves to his wife and they become one flesh, spoken in the context of this original reality in a theological sense, constitute marriage as an integral part and, in a certain sense, a central part of the sacrament of creation. They constitute, or perhaps rather they simply confirm the character of its origin. According to these words, marriage is a sacrament inasmuch as it is an integral part and, I would say, the central point of the sacrament of creation. In this sense it is the primordial sacrament.
This is part of the point made by Jesus in his conversation with the Pharisees. Divorce was allowed within Judaism, even being common among some Jews. The Pharisees, of course, focused on the Law of Moses. But Jesus indicated that the allowance given by Moses for divorce was a nod to mans weakness, the hardness of your hearts. He insisted on going back to the beginning of creation and restoring the original meaning of marriage.
Creation and marriage are intimately connected, as marriage is a co-creation between the cleaving man and woman and the Triune God. In accepting the gift of the other, man and woman are given a profound wholeness. The very creative nature of marriage acknowledges Gods act of creation, his overflowing love, and his plan for humanitya plan modeled in the sacrament of marriage.
Thus, the primordial sacrament is a sign revealing a mystery of infinite value: the gift of divine life. God invites man to partake in his divine nature and enter into full communion with the Trinitarian mystery. Marriage, the deepest and most profound of human communions, is a sign of that divine communion.
The primordial sacrament, wrote John Paul II, is understood as a sign which effectively transmits in the visible world the invisible mystery hidden from eternity in God. This is the mystery of truth and love, the mystery of the divine life in which man really shares
Marriage, then, was at the heart of Gods plan for man even before Creation. The Son was the author of this sacrament, for all things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being (Jn. 1:1,3). In becoming flesh and wedding himself to humanity, he revived the roots and revealed the meaning of marriage.
(This "Opening the Word" column originally appeared in the October 4, 2009, edition of Our Sunday Visitor newspaper.)
40
posted on
10/04/2015 9:32:50 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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