Posted by The WORD in other words (2018) by Sister Frances Grace Solis SSpS – Quezon City
Friday 19th Week in Ordinary Time
Pope Francis, on June 16, 2016, after addressing the Diocese of Rome’s Pastoral Congress, remarked, “We live in a culture of the provisional. Too many couples do not understand marriage is for life. The idea of commitments being temporary occurs everywhere: the provisional. And for this reason, a large number of sacramental marriages are null.” (Rome, CNS, June 16, 2016)
People still ask, “Is marriage really a lifetime commitment? If one is unsure, should ‘trial marriage’ be allowed?” “If a marriage fails, is divorce the remedy?” These questions echo what our Lord encountered. He was put to the test by the Pharisees, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause?” To say that divorce was unlawful, Jesus would be considered going against the law of Moses. If lawful, it would make Him unpopular to the multitude who expected from Him perfection in doctrine.
The Pharisees wanted to talk about divorce, but Jesus, who honored Holy Scriptures, drawing His argument from there, talked about marriage. His reply (verses 4-6) emphasized marriage as grounded in Creation, and meant to be forever. Divorce was never commanded but permitted by God in some circumstances because of the hardness of human hearts.
The Catholic Church, though not favoring divorce, has grounds for marriage annulment – a ruling that “something was gravely wrong at the time the wedding vows were made and it prevented a valid marriage from coming into existence” (Sept. 2015: Pope Francis Reformed the Annulment Process).
It is imperative for all to accept the prime importance of marriage preparation (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1632) and to understand that marriage is a sacrament, a lifetime covenant, and is sacred in the plan of God.
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