Not all can accept [this] word

Gs 24,1-13; Ps 135; Mt 19,3-12
16 AUGUST

In our faith we often witness two parallel paths. On the one hand we have the Scripture, or Word of God, plain, clear and neat, which directs life to perfect conformation with the will of our Lord, Creator, God, Redeemer and Saviour. On the other hand we have the word of man, its traditions, its concrete choices of life, which are very distinct, if not in opposition and in contradiction with the Word of God. Even when one appeals to the Scriptures, to Moses and to the prophets, it is done in a very distorted way, because details that make Revelation false are added or removed. We know from Deuteronomy that the reasons should have been very serious. From the Book of Malachi we learn that the Lord hates repudiation. The breath of life is broken.

“When a man, after marrying a woman and having relations with her, is later displeased with her because he finds in her something indecent, and therefore he writes out a bill of divorce and hands it to her, thus dismissing her from his house: if on leaving his house she goes and becomes the wife of another man, and the second husband, too, comes to dislike her and dismisses her from his house by handing her a written bill of divorce; or if this second man who has married her, dies; then her former husband, who dismissed her, may not again take her as his wife after she has become defiled. That would be an abomination before the Lord, and you shall not bring such guilt upon the land which the Lord, your God, is giving you as a heritage (DT 24,1-4). This also you do: the altar of the Lord you cover with tears, weeping and groaning, Because he no longer regards your sacrifice nor accepts it favourably from your hand; And you say, “Why is it?” –  Because the Lord is witness between you and the wife of your youth, With whom you have broken faith though she is your companion, your betrothed wife. Did he not make one being, with flesh and spirit: and what does that one require but godly offspring? You must then safeguard life that is your own, and not break faith with the wife of your youth. For I hate divorce, says the Lord, the God of Israel, And covering one’s garment with injustice, says the Lord of hosts; You must then safeguard life that is your own, and not break faith (Mal 2,13-16).

Jesus brings the truth of marriage back to its origins. One man, one woman, once they have become one flesh, they remain only flesh forever. To the only flesh one is obliged forever. At custody of the stability of marriage, the Lord puts two Commandments: Do not commit adultery. Do not desire the woman of others. Fidelity to marriage must be guarded, keeping body, mind and heart in their truth. Moreover, Jesus adds his grace that heals, elevates, sanctifies, instils every force in the nature of man so that he may obey every will manifested by his God and Lord. Jesus does not give only the truth of marriage, he gives every grace so that it can be lived from its truth of origin. But if man is detached from the source of grace, old nature always takes the upper hand. There is always a anticipating sin a serious omission when a marriage is torn. The Lord has done every perfect thing. Faithfulness can always be lived.

Some Pharisees approached him, and tested him, saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?” He said in reply, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female’ and said, ‘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.” They said to him, “Then why did Moses command that the man give the woman a bill of divorce and dismiss (her)?” He said to them, “Because of the hardness of your hearts Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) and marries another commits adultery.”  [His] disciples said to him, “If that is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” He answered, “Not all can accept [this] word, but only those to whom that is granted. Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it.”

Can one not marry? Yes. But to dedicate one’s life to the total service of the Kingdom.

Mother of God, Angels and Saints ensure that we believe and walk in the truth of the Gospel.