Reading 1
Gn 2:18-24
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 formed out of the groundvarious wild animals and various birds of the air,and he brought them to the man to see what he would call them;whatever the man called each of them would be its name. The man gave names to all the cattle,all the birds of the air, and all wild animals;but none proved to be the suitable partner for the man.
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 ribthat 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 motherand clings to his wife,and the two of them become one flesh.
Reading II
Heb 2:9-11
Brothers and sisters:He "for a little while" was made "lower than the angels, "that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
For it was fitting that he,for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the leader to their salvation perfect through suffering. He who consecrates and those who are being consecratedall have one origin.Therefore, he is not ashamed to call them “brothers.”
Gospel
Mk 10:2-16 or 10:2-12
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 heart she 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."
And people were bringing children to him that he might touch them,but the disciples rebuked them.When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them,"Let the children come to me;do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you,whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a childwill not enter it."Then he embraced them and blessed them,placing his hands on them.
or
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 divorceand dismiss her." But Jesus told them,"Because of the hardness of your heart she 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."
Meditation:
Mark 10:2-16
What God has joined together, no human being must separate. (Mark 10:9)
These words can sound harsh to us, especially if we have been through a divorce or if a family member or close friend is part of a wounded or broken marriage. On one hand, we can say that Jesus knows what he is talking about when he speaks of God’s power to heal even the most difficult of marriages. But on the other hand, experience tells us that divorce is a traumatic reality that can leave deep and lasting wounds.
Think about the pain that divorced couples feel. A relationship that began with high ideals and optimism has devolved into rejection, distrust, and anger. What once was “one flesh” has been torn apart. Does Jesus really sit in condemnation? No. He doesn’t want to dwell on what went wrong in the past. He wants to meet us where we are right now and offer us healing and restoration.
If you are divorced, know that Jesus loves you just as much as ever. He shares your pain and suffers with you. Think about his encounter with the woman at the well (John 4:1-42). He didn’t condemn this woman, even though she had been married five times and was currently living with a man who was not her husband. Instead, he brought her to repentance, healed her, and sent her back to her village to tell other people about him.
Whether married, divorced, or single, we all need to know God’s healing. Our Father wants to mend the wounds that happen in every relationship. He wants to reconcile us, transform us, and use us to proclaim his kingdom—no matter what we have done in the past. Just as he did with the little children in today’s reading, he wants to put his arms around us and give us his blessing (Mark 10:16).
“Jesus, pour your grace on every family that has been through divorce. Heal them, and restore their hope. Let your love flow through us so that we can be your witnesses.”
Genesis 2:18-24; Psalm 128:1-6; Hebrews 2:9-11
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