Divorce

FRIDAY, March 1, 20019
Gospel: Mark 10:1-10

Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them.

Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” “ What did Moses command you”, he replied. They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.” “It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus replied. “But at the beginning of creation God made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh.

When they were in the house again the disciples asked Jesus about this. He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.

Therefore what God has joined together let no one separate. Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.

D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the Assimilated Life Experience)

Here is Sa-eh Poh’s joke of the day: Si Ginoong Takuza ay masyadong takot kay Missis. Nakukuha lang siya sa isang tingin, ‘ika nga^. Si Ginoong Takuza na ang nagluluto at naglilinis ng bahay. Siya na rin ang naglalaba. Isang umaga habang tambak naman ang sangkaterbang labada sa kanyang harapan nagdabog ito na ang sabi ay, “Sobra na… tama na… hiwalayan naaah” Medyo malakas yata ang kanyang pagkasabi. Naku narinig ng Misis. Galit na galit. MISIS: Tama ba ang narinig ko? Hiwalayan na? Pwesss layaaaaas! TAKUZA: Naku hindi. Ang tinutukoy ko lang naman ay ang hiwalayan ng puti at de kolor na mga damit..

Today’s Gospel reading is the reason why the Church has never changed her stand about divorce. It is clear from the conversation between Jesus and the Pharisee that the proscription against divorce is absolute. Not even the Law of Moses merited Jesus’ consideration. And when Jesus was alone with his disciples he reiterated in much clearer terms his teaching against divorce .

Divorce is as controversial an issue today as it was in the time of Jesus. Like Moses the Church is also confronted with the clamor from different sectors of society for the relaxation of this teaching. Moses gave in by allowing men to issue certificates of divorce to their wife. But Jesus put an end to the Moses compromise by declaring that no man is allowed to separate what God has joined.

In dealing with similar clamors the Church should remain open to the realities of the marital relationship without compromising doctrine. It is not enough that the Church puts her foot down on the divorce issue. One area that the Church needs to strengthen is the preparation stage for marriage to the effect that no one should enter marriage unprepared. Long time commitments such as marriage require long time preparation. The Church should also make her presence felt at the preparation stage to provide adequate guidance to the faithful. – (Atty.) Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., D.M.