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WHAT GOD HAS JOINED—27th Sunday in Ordinary Time (10/3/2021)
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Genesis 2:18-24
Psalm 128
Hebrews 2:9-11
Mark 10:2-16
WHAT GOD HAS JOINED
Today we hear about God's plan for marriage. From the first pages of Genesis to Jesus's words in the Gospel, God's original intention for marriage is revealed. With the multitude of conflicts and controversies swirling around us now, it is no secret that there is also much controversy regarding marriage and sexuality. Today the Church presents us with the light and truth of God's holy word in the midst of the darkness and confusion generated by the world, the flesh, and the Devil.
GENESIS
Our first reading makes it clear—marriage is God's idea! "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a suitable partner for him."
The Genesis narrative stresses the complementarity of man and woman. The woman is "bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh," says the man.
The last verse is a powerful theological summary of marriage: "That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one flesh."
The Responsorial, Psalm 128, praises God for the blessings of marriage and family life.
GOSPEL
Perhaps a summary of the gospel could go something like this: God's original plan "from the beginning" was for marriage to last until death without divorce.
Jesus says that "because of the hardness of (your) hearts," Moses permitted divorce, but Jesus also makes clear what God's law was at the beginning and still remains: "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."
After this, Jesus tells the disciples not to prevent the children from coming to him. He blesses them and uses them as examples of how to receive the kingdom of God.
HEBREWS
Our second reading from Hebrews emphasizes, first of all, that all things exist for Jesus and through Jesus.
We are told that Jesus, in bringing the children of God to glory, was made perfect through suffering. Jesus, who is God, is also profoundly and intimately identified with us, and is not ashamed to call us his "brothers."
INCARNATION
Marriage will never be really understood apart from God's word and God's plan. In fact, human life on earth will never be understood apart from God's word and God's plan: creation, original sin, redemption in Jesus. That is what our Scriptures teach us today. "What God has joined, man must not separate." Yes—and what God's word says, man must not contradict nor disobey. Only in God's loving plan is God's blessing found. May we embrace God's word and God's kingdom like his children, so that we might enter his kingdom.
