Posted by The WORD in other words (2009) By Frater Jong Bidon SVD – Divine Word Seminary, Tagaytay City
Friday 10th Week in Ordinary Time
In the Philippines, issues of unfaithfulness in marriage are seemingly easy to handle because our society frowns upon separation, and our legal system does not allow divorce. Seldom do we hear troubled couples resorting to legal separation as a remedy because it only allows separation in bed and board, but it does not dissolve marriage. The only way to be separated is to have the marriage annulled which requires a more tedious legal process.
If there is anything good about our laws, it is the fact that they clearly reflect a very catholic pro-family orientation which upholds the indissolubility of mariage. But alas, Filipino couple nowadays simply separate without going through the legal process, not only because it is tedious, but also because our society has become more permissive to couples separating for many seemingly valid, nay, flimsy reasons with painful consequences.
Jesus in our Gospel today touches not only on mere legalism or any outward signs of sexual sin, like adultery, or any sin for that matter, but also the very core where sinfulness starts — in the person’s heart. He tells us that while we loathe an adulterous act, our evil desires or inner thoughts can be as morally bad.
It is therefore not surprising for Jesus to suggest tearing out the eyes and cutting off the hand that causes one to sin. Not to be taken literally, such teaching reinforces the idea that anything that causes us to sin, eyes and hand included, should be riff off. Now perhaps, we can stop awhile and examine our attitudes, thoughts and action. We rise and fall, win heaven or hell with what we brood or think over, and do. Jesus forewarns us, but the choice is always ours. Otherwise, we all together lose our souls in hell.
Keeping marriages then is not simply having protective laws on family, but making ones heart disposed to conserve the sacred bond. It is for this reason that marriage is a sacrament, it gives witness to the true love who is God by the authentique, honest and selfless love shared by husband and wife. A heart that beats for God makes family strong and marriage last.
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