by Fr. Jose “Joesum” Sumampong, Jr.
October 3, 2021
Twenty Seventh Sunday in OT (B)
Genesis 2: 18-24 / Psalm 128: 1-6 /
Hebrews 2: 9-11 / Mark 10: 2 – 12
REFLECTION ON FAMILY AND LIFE
Word: Today’s passage combines Jesus’ teaching on marriage and divorce with a section on children and the kingdom. Talk of marriage logically leads to talk of children, and this arrangement may reflect as early catechism providing Jesus’ teaching on these subjects.
The teaching on divorce is one of the most difficult parts of this gospel for many people. Unlike Matthew and Paul, Mark includes no exceptions to Jesus’ absolute prohibition against divorce. This probably reflects Jesus’ own position, which later writers found necessary to adapt a bit.
When asked about divorce, He said to them in reply, “What did Moses command you?” They replied, “Moses permitted him 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 (Mk 10:3-5).
Jesus bases his opposition to divorce on the teaching of Genesis that marriage makes the two one flesh. Thus, he insists, God did not intend divorce, and Moses allowed it only because of the people’s unwillingness to live up to his ideal.
It is on this teaching that the Catholic Church has based its position on the impossibility of ending a true sacramental marriage. Whether you think more exceptions should be made or not, it is clear that Jesus gave an absolute ideal for his followers to seek.
“Sklerokardia”, that is sclerosis of the heart, hardness of heart is certainly a far too prevalent sickness. Today as in those days, a strong social pressure incites us to be satisfied with “a balance of powers”. Take note of this popular one-liner “let’s do what everyone else does.” Statistics show that about three quarters of the divorces happening within five years of marriage, relate to couples who “lived together” before marriage.
To refuse social norms, to refuse the institution of marriage, is not necessarily a sign of maturity. Why do a boy or a girl live together or go to bed together before getting married? Is not their love thus kept at an adolescent level of “balance of powers” between them. Each one would like to be saying, “I remain my own master! I am free!”.
“Beware of this sclerosis of the heart”, Jesus warns us.
Ultimately, what is hidden behind this mask of intimacy, of autonomy, of liberty, is it love for the other person or love for oneself?
O0o
Order: Let us read and listen to this passage as a way of holding up the ideal about marriage. Though some who, especially those who are separated or divorced and remarried, may be discomfited by this message, it is important for us to hear Jesus’ words and commit ourselves to following them as best as we can, even as we admit our weakness and inadequacy at times.
o0o
Realities: 1. There was a domestic arguments. Father and mother exchanged heated loud words. The children were dumbfounded. Then suddenly the 12-year- old girl slipped out of the house, ran to a telephone booth and rang her parents’ number.
The father took the call and was astounded to hear a feminine voice say, “Good morning, sir. I’m a reporter and am doing a survey for one of the magazines. Do you love your wife?”
The father, taken completely off guard, stuttered and stammered, “Yes. Of course … naturally.” Then he called out to his wife, “Helga, come here a minute.”
The girl again asked, “Excuse me, but I’m gathering statistics for a study. Could you tell me, “Do you love your husband?”
As she answered “Yes”, she recognized her own daughter’s voice …
“Thank you,” said the voice at the other end …
After that the father took out his handkerchief and wiped the sweat off his forehead, sank into a chair and said, “Helga, what we need is a cup of coffee.” (Pastor Paterno, MARRIAGE QUARRELS)
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2. A professor was discussing the dangers of alcohol with his class and presented a demonstration as follows.
He set two glasses on the desk, one filled with water and the other with gin. Into each glass he dropped an
earthworm. In the water glass, the worm wriggled energertically, but in the glass of alcohol the worm
wriggled once or twice and then died.
“What do you conclude from the demonstration?” he asked the class. A student in the back raised
his hand and answered, “If you drink alcohol, you won’t have worms.” (ALCOHOL)
o0o
Direction : My Lord and my God, remove far from me whatever keeps me from you. My Lord and my God, confer upon me whatever enables me to reach you. My Lord and my God, free me from self and make me wholly yours. (Prayer of Self-Offering to God, St. Nicholas of Flue <1417-1487> Soldier and Hermit)