Word to the Wise
Sunday, October 8, 2006 - 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time
[Genesis 2:18-24; Hebrews 2:9-11; Mark 10:2-16]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.
These words appear in Genesis and they are quoted by Jesus in the gospel. That is very high authority, indeed! It is a matter of divine revelation! But, it is also under attack on all sides. Culturally, a marriage has become a commodity for many. If it doesn't "work out" a divorce is obtained and a new start is made. On the personal level it is argued that people being humans will make mistakes and why should God hold them together if the initial decision was a mistake? Indeed, why should God (or the Church) be involved at all? From couples objecting to all the preparation process to couples who object to the annulment process, the theology of marriage seems to be lost entirely in the drive for personal happiness. Jesus is just plain asking too much, they say! After 35 years of witnessing marriages and almost that long in working with annulments, I'm still convinced of the truth of Jesus' teaching. Lord knows, I've seen some awfully bad situations which seemed to begin with great promise. I've also had to deal with couples who resented any of the preparation process, only to separate (sometimes less than a year later) in bitterness. The failure of couples to live out what they promise does not change the truth of the teaching. Man and woman share in the creative power of God in marriage. It is their love (one hopes) that brings them together and should keep them together all the days of their lives. All too often the attraction is less than love. After 35 years I also find it hard to preach about this teaching because I know that in almost any congregation (including this one!) there are those who have "lived with" difficult marriages. There are those who are divorced and remarried. There are those who are "in love" and engaged and focused on the wedding instead of the marriage! The teaching can cause painful memories. On an individual level, I try to respond compassionately to each pastoral situation. I try to do it in the light of Jesus' teaching. I cherish the healthy marriages with which I am acquainted and which support me in MY own vocation. To each and all, I still offer the teaching of Jesus. Become one flesh and stay that way! AMEN
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