Readings: Genesis 2:18-24; Psalm 128; Hebrews 2:9-11; Mark 10:2-16
Grace and peace to you dear family of God’s people.
The readings of today focus on the dignity, sanctity and the indissolubility of marriage.
Beginning from the First Reading from the book of Genesis, we have a lot to take in. That text tells us at least two things:
I. God is always thinking of us: God thought of Adam and was concerned about his loneliness. He said, “It is not good that the man should be alone.” God is always thinking of us. He thinks about our well-being. We are never out of His sight or His mind.
II. God knows what is good for us: God knew what was good and what was dangerous for Adam. He decided to give him a help mate suitable (perfect, ideal, proper, customised) for him (Ezer Kenegdo).
God always gives us what we need. He knows what is good, suitable and helpful for us but sometimes it is different from what we want. He gives us the blessings and even the crosses that are suitable for us and He often withholds from us what we passionately desire but is not good for us.
In the case of Adam, God who cannot make mistakes didn’t give him a Steve (another Adam), He gave Adam and Eve, and Eve completed Adam. Today, people are now challenging the wisdom of God and giving Adam other forms of helpers. May God be merciful to us.
Three major points that the First Reading and the Gospel strongly agree on are:
I. Marriage is sacred.
Marriage is divine. It is sacred and because it is sacred, this implies that it must be respected. Every simulation of marriage, secularisation of marriage, entering into marriage with a wrong intention, threatening an established marriage by our interference (in any form) or beginning a marital union without seeking God’s approval or blessing, is disrespect for this institution.
II. Marriage is first for companionship.
This means that marriage is to help a man and a woman build a healthy relationship, where they share their lives together, grow together, support each other and become not just friends but soul mates, yoke mates, even before becoming bed mates. Sadly, many husbands and wives today are just roommates, living together but in a distant relationship, counting anniversaries of their wedding but spiritually divorced. Today, God is calling us to review where we are.
III. The bond of marriage is indissoluble.
Without condemning those who are divorced or remarried, Jesus teaches the Pharisees that the bond of marriage is sacred and God intends it to be indissoluble. Moses only allowed people to divorce because they were unteachable (are we teachable?) and mostly because of the injustice and wickedness that happened in marriage even in the time of Moses. God’s intention is clear – the bond of marriage is sacred and indissoluble: what God has joined together must not be divided.
However, God doesn’t intend us to die or be miserable in a marriage
characterised by abuse, injustice, threat to our mental wellbeing and our relationship with God. Seek help and speak to your local priest for good advice.
To end this reflection, I will leave us with these four points:
I. Those of us who are married, let’s review our marriages. Are we living it out according to God’s plan and the promises we made before God?
II. For those who have started a family without the solemn blessing of marriage, today, God is inviting us to correct the order. We need to bless our union. Marriage is divine and so it needs divine validation. Even if you have been together for however many years, let’s seek God’s blessing through the sacrament of matrimony.
III. Those who are not yet married, always pray to have a life-enriching marriage. Some unions are life-limiting. Discern before you decide and prepare yourself for marriage. Prepare to be a blessing not a burden to your spouse.
IV. For those who are divorced, single by circumstance or choice, those remarried or widowed, God doesn’t judge us. He loves us and He understands our challenges. However, being single, divorced or widowed doesn’t give us a licence to sin. God still demands holiness from all of us.
May the Lord bless our homes and help us to live our lives joyfully, fully and fruitfully, according to the plan and purpose of God.
Sermon preached by Fr Emmanuel Baraka-Gukena Okami on October 6, 2024