Posted by The WORD in other words by Fr Edwin Fernandez SVD -Divine Word College of Laoag
Friday 19th Week in Ordinary Time
Before Sister Lucia dos Santos, one of the three children who witnessed the Marian apparitions at Fatima, died in 2005, she wrote in a letter: “The final battle between the Lord and the kingdom of Satan will be about Marriage and the Family.”
In today’s Gospel, the Pharisees questioned Jesus’ stand against divorce. Jesus uncompromisingly reaffirmed God’s will and original plan concerning marriage. The Pharisees argued, however, that Moses himself had allowed divorce, so they expected Jesus to agree with Moses who was a very important religious figure for the Jews.
Jesus then pointed out the root of the problem: the hardness of the human heart in accepting God’s will. When people find it hard to live God’s commandments, they look for alternatives, hoping that God would adjust to their selfish desires. Instead of relying more on his grace and deepening their commitment to him, they often choose to abandon the path of fidelity, discipline, and sacrifice, which are essential components of genuine love.
Today, human beings have gone too far in complicating the issues of marriage and family. Our times are marked by unprecedented confusion rooted in atheistic humanism, extreme individualism and expansive relativism. Family values of respect for parents and elders, care for the weak, old, sick and little ones, and pursuit of community goals are set aside in the pursuit of individual interest and happiness.
Amid this seemingly insurmountable vertigo, we need to listen to Jesus who is the Way and the Truth, and the only Name given to us by whom our families can have life in its fullness. He came to proclaim the kingdom of God by giving us a new heart that is eager and determined to do what is pleasing to God and what is truly good for us the community of human beings and the whole of God’s creation.
We need to be strongly reminded that we must humbly embrace God’s original plan, that is, what he intended for us from the very beginning. He in no way will change nor contradict his will. It is for us to humbly accept and live in his divine will.“
Jesus, bless all married couples and families. May we never separate what you have joined. May we not destroy what you have built. Cast the darkness from our homes and send your light into our hearts. Heal the wounds and brokenness that divide our families. Give us the grace to be faithful to your will until the end. Amen.”
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