Word to the Wise
Thursday, February 14, 2019 - Thursday in the 5th Week in Ordinary Time
[Gen 2:18-25 and Mark 7:24-30]"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. [Genesis]
FEBRUARY 14 STS. CYRIL AND METHODIUS [Valentine's Day, USA]
The ancient wisdom of God's Word in Genesis shows us why Jesus, in responding to a question from scribes and Pharisees, told them that divorce was something Moses created, not God, and he quoted Genesis to them. Several fundamental truths shine forth.
First, man is incomplete without woman. This is not a statement about sexuality, which will be part of God's mission for man and woman in marriage. Rather, the "incompletion" refers to the whole human reality. It is male and female. Nor is there a domination of male over female to be read into what Genesis presents.
Second, the future of the human race, as in all living things, depends on the complementarity of male and female to "be fruitful and multiply." Sexuality is part of this, but the relationship includes the bearing and nurturing of offspring. This, in the case of humans, requires a long period of maturation and home stability.
Third, the introduction of evil as the result of a bad decision [coming up in the next day or so in Genesis] has brought great grief and sorrow to all creation, and the marital relationship and family life are no exception. This is common knowledge and experience, but we never seem to learn. Those of us in pastoral ministry see this sorrow and do what we can to help. The ancient wisdom of God in Genesis stands as a continual challenge. AMEN