Catechism Links [1]
CCC 1602-1617, 1643-1651, 2331-2336: conjugal fidelity
CCC 2331-2336: divorce
CCC 1832: fidelity, a fruit of Spirit
CCC 2044, 2147, 2156, 2223, 2787: the fidelity of the baptized
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| “Creation of the Animals” by Tintoretto, 1551-52 |
Commentary:
Reading 1: Genesis 2:18-24
Commentary on Gn 2:18-24
This selection continues the Yahwehest creation account with the creation of life. It is important to note early near eastern peoples felt that the individual who named a person or thing, had dominion over it. Here we see man naming all the animals in God’s creation thereby having dominion over them.
The passage concludes with God’s creation of woman as the perfect companion for man. He does so by taking a rib (thus also explaining why there is a “spare rib”). This passage will be familiar to those who attend weddings as it is one of the texts frequently used because of verse 24: “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one flesh.”
CCC: Gn 2:18-25 1605; Gn 2:18 371, 1652; Gn 2:19-20 371, 2417; Gn 2:22 369, 1607; Gn 2:23 371; Gn 2:24 372, 1627, 1644, 2335
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6
R. (cf. 5) May the Lord bless us all the days of our lives.
Commentary on Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6
Psalm 128 is an individual lament. In these strophes it reemphasizes the tenet of our faith regarding the need for faith in God in the marital union.
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Reading II: Hebrews 2:9-11
Commentary on Heb 2:9-11
This passage from Hebrews contains a very complex and important understanding of the nature of Christ. God set mankind to rule the earth. For a while he sent his only Son to be in that state – “lower than the angels”, and suffer death for everyone. This classic passage from Hebrews is foundational to our understanding of Christ Jesus, true God and true man.
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Gospel
A Longer Form: MarK 10:2-16
Commentary on Mk 10:2-16
This passage gives us the scriptural support for the Church’s view of the “Sacrament of Matrimony”. The Pharisees question to Jesus and their response to his; “Moses permitted him to write a bill of divorce and dismiss her." shows the Mosaic Law they are referring to (Deuteronomy 24:1) dealt with a contractual relationship. Jesus, in quoting Genesis (see Genesis 1:27 and 2:24) speaks instead of the spiritual bond which joins husband and wife. This bond cannot be broken (“…what God has joined together, no human being must separate.").
Mark continues with a picture of Jesus demonstrating that those who had seen his works and heard his words saw greatness in him. They brought their children to him instinctively that they might receive the grace endowed by his touch. This activity made his disciples indignant that their master should be pestered by these little ones. The Lord, however, used this as a teaching moment and told the crowd that only complete dependence upon God’s support would allow them salvation (“…for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”).
CCC: Mk 10:8 1627; Mk 10:9 1639, 2364, 2382; Mk 10:11-12 1650; Mk 10:11 2380; Mk 10:14 343, 1261; Mk 10:16 699
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OR
B Shorter Form: Mark 10:2-12
Commentary on Mk 10:2-12
This passage gives us the scriptural support for the Church’s view of the “Sacrament of Matrimony”. The Pharisees question to Jesus and their response to his; “Moses permitted him to write a bill of divorce and dismiss her." shows the Mosaic Law they are referring to (Deuteronomy 24:1) dealt with a contractual relationship. Jesus, in quoting Genesis (see Genesis 1:27 and 2:24) speaks instead of the spiritual bond which joins husband and wife. This bond cannot be broken (“…what God has joined together, no human being must separate.").
CCC: Mk 10:8 1627; Mk 10:9 1639, 2364, 2382; Mk 10:11-12 1650; Mk 10:11 2380
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Homily:
Have you ever wondered who picks out the scripture selections we hear at Mass? There were a group of very smart people who decided that, when the Roman Missal was translated to the vernacular following Vatican II, the people of God should be able to hear a much broader selection of scriptural passages and they created the options for the Lectionary. They went through the Bible and created series of topics that related to the liturgical seasons of the Church’s year; readings for Advent, Lent, Easter and Christmas, and for Ordinary Time (as we call it).
Every third year we come to what are called be “B Cycle” readings for Sunday Mass and every 27th Sunday or Ordinary Time. It is the only time we hear the Genesis reading from the second chapter coupled with the Gospel of St. Mark that clearly address the issue of Marriage in the way it is defined today. This is pointed out so no one thinks that someone in Rome or in the US or even in Lansing decided that today, on the eve of an election, this topic should be featured.
It is very important that each of us understands how the Church views the Sacrament of Marriage. It is especially important because of the recent Supreme Court decision that redefines Civil Marriage. It is also important because many marriages end in divorce these days and those so impacted need to understand their standing in the Church as a consequence of going through that process.
While Pope Francis has recently put out rules that should expedite the annulment process and all eyes are fixed upon the Synod on Marriage and the Family that opens today in Rome, the Church’s teaching on Marriage will not likely be fundamentally changed.
Let’s first look at the Gospel to see where many misunderstandings might arise. First, the Church does not take literally every word found in the Bible. So if someone were to tell you that the Church blindly and literally believes:
“’Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.’”
They would be wrong. What Jesus is referring to in this quoted passage is not what the Pharisees were trying to trap him with. They were testing his knowledge of the Law of Moses which lays out contractual obligations between a husband and wife. This contract of Marriage still exists in the form of a civil contract of marriage referenced by the marriage license couples get from the County Clerk’s office. While that contract, once signed, represents a legal contract of marriage, it is not a sacramental declaration.
When a couple comes before the Church and declares their consent before God, pledging their eternal love for one another, unimpeded by other factors and open to the possibility the God will grace them with children; a sacramental or holy bond is created. It is of this bond, formed as much by God as by the couple themselves, that Christ says “So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate."
When the civil courts give a decree of divorce they are nullifying the civil contract. In the eyes of the civil law that couple is no longer married. However, in the eyes of the Church, which supposes an indelible Sacramental Bond was formed, the couple is still joined. That is why a decree of nullity is required of Catholic couples. That decree states that the Sacramental bond everyone thought was present at the time the vows were taken was not, in fact, present. If it were, it could not be broken.
One of the political hot buttons for the up-coming national election is the topic of “Same-Sex Marriage”. The is a lot of rhetoric going on about how many Christian denominations, especially the Catholic Church are “haters” of the gay community because of our stance on sexual relationships between un-married persons. This language was developed and promulgated by the Gay and Lesbian community specifically to label anyone who disagreed with their agenda as “bigots” or worse.
It does not matter that the Church has repeatedly expressed its openness to individuals who have developed a same-sex attraction. It does not matter that, time and again, we have proclaimed that our arms are open to all peoples. The objective of these homosexual activists is to change the morality of the world into one which openly supports hedonism or an “If it makes you happy, just do it” culture.
Sacred Scripture speaks to us of God’s “Natural Law” of creation. The reading from the book of Genesis that was read today says it plainly; God created man and woman as symbiotic partners. Genesis tells us that there is a natural connection between them. “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one flesh.” Jesus quotes this passage in St. Mark’s Gospel. It is but one example of why the Church is so firmly against calling a committed relationship between same-sex partners a “Marriage”.
We believe that distinction is important and Catholics should take this fact into account when making their decisions in the up-coming elections. The Church does not tell us who to vote for. The Church does not endorse any candidate or party. However, the Church does ask its members to inform themselves as to the moral stance of the candidates for election and take into account their stance on such things as the definition of Marriage and their stance on Religious Freedoms. Above all, the Church encourages each adult to participate in the political process by casting a ballot. In doing so we expect that you will vote your informed conscience.
Let us pray today for all married couples and for those who are discerning a call to live in a married relationship. May God support them and guide them.
Pax
In other Years: October 4 Saint Francis of Assisi, Religious, Memorial
[1] Catechism links are taken from the Homiletic Directory, Published by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, 29 June 2014
[2] S.S Commemoratio
[3] The picture is “Creation of the Animals” by Tintoretto, 1551-52
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