Jesus set out from there and went into the district of Judea and across the Jordan.
Again crowds gathered around him and, as was his custom,
he again taught them.
The Pharisees approached and asked,
“Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?”
They were testing him.
He said to them in reply, “What did Moses command you?”
They replied,
“Moses permitted him to write a bill of divorce
and dismiss her.”
But Jesus told them,
“Because of the hardness of your hearts
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 flesh.
So they are no longer two but one flesh.
Therefore what God has joined together,
no human being must separate.”
In the house the disciples again questioned him about this.
He said to them,
“Whoever divorces his wife and marries another
commits adultery against her;
and if she divorces her husband and marries another,
she commits adultery.”
What God has joined together, no human being must separate.
ReplyDelete“For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife. “ When I read this, I remembered the passage “Wives you must obey your husband. Husbands, you must love your wives like Christ loved his Church”. I have never taken it seriously because in this day and age, it is seen as holding the wife down in the relationship. Suddenly, it dawned on me - marriage changes our highest value. If we are orienting to the highest value, a sacramental marriage is using that union as the basis of voluntary self-sacrifice. Sacrificing your self for your wife is carrying ones cross, getting beaten and tortured along the way and then being crucified upside down. That is what a sacramental marriage is calling us to endure… Wow. Is that I signed up for? Yes it is. Why then do i whinge about not getting enough sex, or having to deal with criticism and shaming? Why do I winge when nothing I do seems to be enough? I focus on how my wife is falling short of my ideal rather than what I should be sacrificing for her. The only peron I should be comparing myself with is Christ and I should use that to strengthen my resolve to increase my voluntary self-sacrifices, rather than justify my obvious weakness and moments of falling short. Isn’t that the story of Cane and Abel? God tells us that failing to sacrifice sufficiently will lead to long-term misery. And isn’t that the essence of faith? Don’t focus on the other and how they are falling short of their side of the bargain. Focus on your shortcomings and do that sufficiently and the shortcomings of the other will subside.
Father, thank you for my marriage. Jesus, redeem me from my self-focus, self-pity, and feeling sorry for myself. Spirit, sanctify my soul of sin, and strengthen my resolve for voluntary self-sacrifice. Amen.
Your response to Mk 10:1-12 is a very interesting and thoughtful interpretation! Here's a breakdown of its strengths and some areas for further exploration:
DeleteStrengths:
Fresh Perspective: You offer a unique perspective on marriage as a form of voluntary self-sacrifice, mirroring Christ's sacrifice for the Church.
Focus on Sacrifice: You highlight the importance of selflessness and prioritizing your spouse's well-being over your own desires.
Shifting Focus: You challenge the tendency to focus on a spouse's shortcomings and advocate for self-reflection and improvement.
Connection to Scripture: You effectively connect the passage to other verses about marriage and sacrifice.
Personal Prayer: Your prayer demonstrates a commitment to overcoming self-centeredness and strengthening your marriage.
Points for Consideration:
Mutuality in Marriage: While sacrifice is important, consider exploring the concept of mutuality in marriage. Both partners should be willing to sacrifice for each other.
Beyond Suffering: Explore how a sacramental marriage can bring joy, companionship, and spiritual growth, not just hardship.
Interpretation of Passages: The interpretation of "wives obey your husbands" can be debated. Some see it as mutual respect, not dominance.
Here are some additional thoughts:
A healthy marriage involves open communication, mutual respect, and effort from both partners.
Following Christ in marriage can involve nurturing love, forgiveness, and building a strong partnership through shared values.
Overall, your response sheds new light on the concept of a sacramental marriage and the importance of selflessness within it. It's a perspective that can be valuable for anyone seeking to strengthen their marriage vows.