Oneness and Indivisibility of Marriage

 

So they are no longer two but one.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, Friday of 7th Week of Ordinary Time II, May 24th, 2024
Texts: James 5:9-12; Psalm 103; Mark 10:1-12 

Marriage is an institution whereby a man and a woman come together to become one. Jesus Christ emphasises today the oneness and indivisibility of marriage. He says, “For your hardness of heart 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.' So they are no longer two but one.”

Jesus takes the emphasis on oneness and indivisibility of marriage further by saying, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another, commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery." Marriage is truly till death do us part. It is the given of the self to another.   

Some people now embrace gay marriage

The gospel reading reveals how we have marred and corrupted marriage over time because of our hardness of heart.  We read, “They said, ‘Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to put her away.’ But  Jesus said to them, ‘For your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.’”  
Today divorce is not only the challenge marriage faced, its constitution is also challenged. It is no longer between male and female but between two persons, which could be male and male or female and female. Some people now embrace gay marriage.  

St. James tells us in the first reading what keeps the sanctity and dignity of marriage. It is steadfastness. He says “You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the  Lord, how the  Lord is compassionate and merciful. But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath, but let your yes be yes and your no be no, that you may not fall under condemnation.” 

Prayer  

God our Father,  we thank You for instituting marriage, grant that we may no longer mar it but keep its sanctity and dignity; grant to every marriage partner the spirit of steadfastness and love for each other. Amen  

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke