Daily Catholic Lectio
Fri, 24 May 2024
Seventh Week in Ordinary Time – Friday
James 5:9-12. Mark 10:1-12
Marriage and divorce
(a) Key theme (gospel reading)
The gospel reading presents to us the divine purpose of marriage and the emergence of divorce in human history. Today, our understanding of marriage is changing fast. Even a slight misunderstanding leads to a breakup. Relationships outside of marriage are seen as acceptable and welcome. In this context, today’s reading becomes meaningful.
(b) Structure of the text
The gospel reading is divided into three sections: (i) Pharisees’ question about divorce; (ii) Jesus’ teaching on marriage; and (iii) Disciples clarify their question.
(c) Words and significance
The Pharisees’ Question (v. 2): The Pharisees approach Jesus with a tricky question about divorce: ‘Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?’ If Jesus had answered ‘yes,’ he would have been accused of trespassing God’s law, and had he said ‘no,’ he would have transgressed the Mosaic Law. Jesus takes them on a cognitive journey from Mosaic law to God’s law.
Divine purpose for marriage (vv. 6-9). Jesus quotes from the creation narratives to say that marriage was willed by God: ‘God created human persons male and female’ (cf. Gen 1:27); ‘husband will leave his parents to be united to the wife’ (cf. Gen 2:24).
Disciples’ question (v. 10). The disciples ask Jesus about his answer. Earlier, the disciples were afraid to ask Jesus for clarification.
Jesus’ explanation (vv. 11–12) Jesus not only underlines the permanence of marriage but also equates divorce to adultery, breaking the sixth commandment.
(d) First Reading
James, addressing his community on murmuring, impatience, and swearing, exhorts them to be patient and to have integrity in speech.
(e) Final Word
Marriage is God’s gift to humanity. This is a metaphor for Christ’s love for the church. God’s presence makes matrimony a sacramental celebration. When families are united to each other by God, the bond becomes blessed and long. We must also show pastoral empathy to the divorced, the remarried, and those whose marriage is in a storm.
#
Fidelity, forgiveness, patience, and tolerance keep a relationship moving. (Jubilee A. D. 2025, bite 106).
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
# Be M.er.cy.Fool
Yesu Karunanidhi 
Leave a comment