Word to the Wise
Thursday, February 9, 2023 - Thursday in the 6th Week in Ordinary Time
[Genesis 2:18-25 and Mark 7:24-30]Then 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 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. [Genesis]
The ancient truth of Genesis, to which Jesus referred when speaking about divorce to the scribes and Pharisees {Matt. 19:4-6], is presented to us today. There is a profound complementarity to the relationship of man and woman and a participation in the creative power of God. Marriage is presented in Jesus' teaching to be a monogamous life-long union. The existence of divorce is a reflection of humanity's widespread failure to recognize the truth of Genesis' and Jesus' preaching.
I wish I could say that every marriage that I have celebrated in my years as a priest remained a life-long union. The cultural and sociological secular forces that have turned the relationship almost into a consumer item are strong and challenge a lifelong commitment. The Catholic tradition of marriage regards the bond as sacred and sacramental. There are valuable preparation programs available to assist couples in making the decision to marry and preparing them to make the public commitment. None of these can replace the determined faith and steadfast everyday commitment that a healthy, holy marriage requires. At least that is what couples have told me and nearly twenty years of working in Catholic matrimonial tribunal work have taught me. The ancient truth of Genesis, repeated by Jesus, continues to challenge. AMEN