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Manila Bulletin devider Opinion devider But one flesh

But one flesh

Published Aug 15, 2024 04:13 pm

REFLECTIONS TODAY

Gird your loins

Christians from all walks of life are called to holiness. A holy life is a life of commitment. Married people, for example, are called to holiness. In today’s Gospel, the Pharisees come to Jesus, wanting to test him if he would concur with the idea of divorce. The Pharisees cite Moses’ command to write a bill of divorce (Dt 24:1-4). 


The answer of Jesus highlights the challenge to married people of living up to the commitment they have made according to God’s intention (Gn 2:24), as they become one flesh (sarx mia). How is our sense of commitment? Do we believe in the sanctity of marriage?
 

Gospel • Matthew 19:3-12 

Some Pharisees approached Jesus, and tested him, saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?” He said in reply, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female and said, for this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, man must not separate.” 


They said to him, “Then why did Moses command that the man give the woman a bill of divorce and dismiss her?” He said to them, “Because of the hardness of your hearts Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) and marries another commits adultery.” 


His disciples said to him, “If that is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” He answered, “Not all can accept this word, but only those to whom that is granted. Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it.”


Source: “366 Days with the Lord 2024,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.

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