In Jesus' OWN Words

This reflection is perhaps the closest that I have heard in many years to dealing with divorce, but still does a skirt around the topic. The reflection chooses one verse of Mark 10:2-16 to speak to. Most often, in all the years I have been watching (and taking polls of friends who attended different parishes all over the world and the US over the years...) the sermon does not even touch Marriage. It is an avoided topic, much like Abortion and Contraception.

The reasoning for many is that 'it may hurt some parishoners'.

My thoughts? "MY PEOPLE PERISH FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE".

So why don't we deal with Jesus' words in this, one of only two times in three years that the topic comes up in the Sunday readings?? What ARE His words there? Does anyone really hear what He says? The famous 'red' is used here for what He has to say.... and He speaks for Himself.

Do you REALLY need a sermon if you LISTEN to what He says without any justification?

I don't think so...

The Pharisees approached Jesus and asked,
"Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?"
They were testing him.
He said to them in reply, "What did Moses command you?"
They replied,
"Moses permitted a husband to write a bill of divorce
and dismiss her."
But Jesus told them,
"Because of the hardness of your hearts
he wrote you this commandment.
But 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."
In the house the disciples again questioned Jesus about this.
He said to them,
"Whoever divorces his wife and marries another
commits adultery against her;
and if she divorces her husband and marries another,
she commits adultery."

MASS READINGS

1:Gen 2:18-24
R:Ps 128:1-6
2:Heb 2:9-11
G:Mk 10:2-16 (or Mark 10:2-12)
Listen·Reflection