Greetings on this the Memorial of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Priest and Martyr
Readings: Ezekiel 16:1-15, 60, 63; Isaiah 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6; Matthew 19:3-12
Summary
Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever? (Mt 19:3b).
This ‘test’ or dialog with the Lord sits at the very top of the list of questions for the Lord and for the leadership. It extends well beyond the question of marriage proper but grounds all future questions of accommodation, leniency, restitution and reconciliation. I propose it is a question just below the importance of the question: Are you the Christ? It is, to reframe it: What is marital love? And, What does marital justice look like? Jesus answers with the characteristics of love.
Let’s look at the direct answer.
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." (Mt 19:4-6)
It’s straightforward but not the final answer. It is the basis by which we judge for particular and necessary consideration for the life of the people (unless the marriage is unlawful (Mt 19:9). The broader dispute over what grounds could justify divorce stood at the center of the disagreement between the schools of Hillel and Shammai. The question reflects the larger Jewish dispute over how broadly Moses’ divorce provision should be interpreted. Jesus answers by moving behind the dispute itself to the purpose of creation.
Reflection
Our first reading today considers our pride (the language is NOT gender specific – men and women both), our greed and our failure to protect the children. These are unlawful in the deeper moral sense: violations of covenant, dignity, and love.
But you trusted in your own beauty and used your renown to serve as a prostitute. You poured out your prostitution on every passerby—let it be his. You took the splendid gold and silver ornaments that I had given you and made for yourself male images and served as a prostitute with them. The sons and daughters you bore for me you took and offered as sacrifices for them to devour! Was it not enough that you had become a prostitute? (Ez 16:15,17,20).
Before we cast the stone of divorce, we are expected to come to terms with our own shortcomings. What is unlawful is how we treat each other.
For I will re-establish my covenant with you, that you may know that I am the LORD, that you may remember and be ashamed, and never again open your mouth because of your disgrace, when I pardon you for all you have done—oracle of the Lord GOD (Ez 16:62-63).
Our responsorial (taken from Isaiah) brings us to a higher perspective. In all our relationships, relying upon and imitating the divine expression of relationship.
God indeed is my savior;
I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
With joy you will draw water
at the fountain of salvation. (Isa 12:2-3)
Personal Reflection
I wish for each of you a happy life, married, single or divorced. “What God has joined together, no human being must separate” cannot be used to demand that someone remain physically exposed to violence, coercion, or danger.
The unlawful begins with our actions in contradiction to the promises of becoming one, acting like one and being one human family.
A marriage may be lawful in bond while becoming unlawful in behavior; the Church’s challenge is to honor both truths without confusing either one for the whole truth.
Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/081426.cfm
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry