First Reading: Genesis 2:18-24
Reflection:
In this Sunday’s first reading we hear of the creation of the first woman, Eve. There are fundamental truths to learn from this passage. God had created Adam after he created all of the rest of the world. God gave Adam authority over creation, as the only being made in God’s very image and likeness. Adam first exercised this authority, which was to be one of caretaker, by naming all the animals. But Adam did not find companionship among the other creatures. God, in fact, had created the first human being to be in relationship with other humans. It was always God’s plan to create Eve and, therefore, institute marriage and family within humanity. We see here that marriage was instituted by God from the beginning for the well-being of humanity. In fact, marriage and family, as God intended them to be, are the building blocks of human flourishing because they have been there since the beginning. God created man and woman as distinct from one another. Eve was not simply a replica of Adam. God created them to offer each other companionship and mutual support. They were to complement each other. Also, we see in the way God created man and woman that they are both equal in dignity. In fact, the detail of the rib being taken from Adam’s side points to this truth that they are side-by-side as equals. This detail also points to the intended unity between man and woman. In marriage, in particular, they are to become “one flesh.”
Second Reading: Hebrews 2:9-11
Reflection:
The author of Hebrews here is speaking about the identity of Jesus, although he is not mentioned by name in this particular passage. The author emphasized the dual natures of Christ–that he is fully God and fully man. Jesus is the Second Person of the Holy Trinity. He is God “for whom and through whom all things exist.” He, alongside the Father and the Holy Spirit, created all things. Jesus was there when Adam and Eve, and all the other creatures, were made. 2,000 years ago, God “became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). In doing so, he became “lower than the angels.” The creator became part of creation. Why? So that “by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” In other words, God became man in order to die on the cross for our sins. That was his primary mission. God took on flesh in order to save us from the eternal consequences of our sins, which began with the original sin of Adam and Eve. In his humanity, Jesus knows our pain and suffering. He can relate with us in whatever we are facing. And we can find assurance that he is here to help us, guide us, and save us.
Gospel Reading: Mark 10:2-16
Reflection:
The Pharisees were known for trying to trap Jesus. Here they brought up a hot-button issue (then and now). Their question about the lawfulness of divorce was intended to put Jesus between a rock and a hard place. They knew that divorce was not in God’s plan for marriage. He created marriage to be indissoluble, that is, unbreakable. But they also knew that the great figure of the Old Testament, Moses, had allowed husbands and wives to divorce. In Jesus’ response, he reminds them that God’s plan for marriage trumps whatever man says about it. God’s law is authoritative over civil law because God’s law has been in effect since the beginning. Jesus invoked the creation account that we heard in the first reading to reassert God’s intention for marriage to be permanent. When a man and woman get married they become “one flesh.” They make vows before God and “what God has joined together, no human being must separate.”
Still, this does not make marriage easy, and civil divorce is a reality in our society, and sometimes is the only choice for one of the spouses to protect themselves (e.g. in an abusive relationship). Yet, a civil divorce does not break the Sacrament of Matrimony. A couple is married in the eyes of God “until death do us part,” even if they are civilly divorced and separated. That is why the Catholic Church does not allow for someone to remarry if they were in a valid marriage and their spouse is still living, even if they have gone through a civil divorce. The divorce is about the legal constructs of marriage, but does not (and cannot) break the marriage bond in a valid marriage before God. A divorced individual can go through the annulment process, but an annulment is not “Catholic divorce.” Rather, the annulment process is about looking at whether or not the marriage was valid in the first place. A marriage is assumed to be valid until proven otherwise. The annulment process explores if there is evidence to show that the marriage was not entered into in a valid form. Marriages, as God created them, must be free, total, faithful, and fruitful. If one of those elements was not in place when the marriage took place on the wedding day, then it was not a valid marriage. For example, if one of the parties was coerced into the marriage or their ability to choose the married freely was limited in some way, it was not a valid marriage. Or, if someone entered marriage with the intention to be unfaithful to their spouse, or the couple intended to never have children and/or were intentionally sterilized (this excludes infertility issues which are no fault of the couple). In these cases, the Church can grant a Declaration of Nullity, which means that the marriage was not valid in the first place. Because each party was not in a valid, indissoluble marriage, they are free to marry. But if it is shown that they were in a valid, indissoluble marriage, then they are not free to remarry after a civil divorce, because they are still married to their ex-spouse in the eyes of God and the Church, even though they are no longer civilly married.
All that said, marriage vows do not automatically make couples get along and agree on everything! Two becoming one takes much effort. Thankfully, God gives us what we need to succeed. Jesus elevated the natural institution of marriage to a sacrament, through which God pours his grace into our lives. That doesn’t mean it’s an automatic success, but we can trust that God can strengthen, renew, and save marriages. As the saying goes, “it takes three to get married” (i.e. God, the husband, and the wife). God has outlined what he intends for marriage to be and it is a beautiful thing that is possible with the grace of God. In our broken world, marriages aren’t going to be perfect but those who are married can strive towards holiness in marriage and find forgiveness when they fall. God is merciful and wants marriages to not just survive, but thrive!
Application:
• If you are interested in learning more about the annulment process in the Catholic Church, visit: https://www.catholicsdivorce.com/Annulment.
• If you are married, you’re invited to renew your commitment to your spouse and ask God to strengthen and enrich your marriage. If you’re not married, you’re invited to pray for married couples. For marriage enrichment resources, visit: https://dbqarch.org/marriage-resources.
