Navarre Bible Commentary:Friday, 7th Week in Ordinary Time

Source: USCCB

Mark 10:1-12

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Teaching about Divorce

10 And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to him again; and again, as his custom was, he taught them.

2 And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” 3 He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” 4 They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to put her away.” 5 But Jesus said to them, “For your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. 6 But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ 7 ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife,[a] 8 and the two shall become one.’[b] So they are no longer two but one.[c] 9 What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder.”

10 And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. 11 And he said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another, commits adultery against her; 12 and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

Footnotes:

1. Mark 10:7 Other ancient authorities omit and be joined to his wife
2. Mark 10:8 Greek one flesh
3. Mark 10:8 Greek one flesh

Cited in the Catechism:  In promulgating the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Blessed John Paul II explained that the Catechism "is a statement of the Church's faith and of catholic doctrine, attested to or illumined by Sacred Scripture, the Apostolic Tradition and the Church's Magisterium."  He went on to "declare it to be a sure norm for teaching the faith and thus a valid and legitimate instrument for ecclesial communion" (Fidei Depositum). Passages from this Gospel reading are cited in the Catechism, paragraphs 1639, 1650, 2364, 2380 and 2382.

Commentary

The indissolubility of marriage

10:1–12. This kind of scene occurs often in the Gospel. The malice of the Pharisees contrasts with the simplicity of the crowd, who listen attentively to Jesus’ teaching. The Pharisees’ questions are aimed at tricking Jesus into going against the Law of Moses. But Jesus Christ, Messiah and Son of God, has perfect understanding of that Law. Moses had permitted divorce because of the hardness of that ancient people: women had an ignominious position in those primitive tribes (they were regarded almost as animals or slaves); Moses, therefore, protected women’s dignity against these abuses by devising the certificate of divorce; this was a real social advance. It was a document by which the husband repudiated his wife and she obtained freedom. Jesus restores to its original purity the dignity of man and woman in marriage, as instituted by God at the beginning of creation. “A man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh” (Gen 2:24): in this way God established from the very beginning the unity and indissolubility of marriage. The Church’s Magisterium, the only authorized interpreter of the Gospel and of the natural law, has constantly guarded and defended this teaching and has proclaimed it solemnly in countless documents (Council of Florence, Pro Armeniis; Council of Trent, De Sacram. matr.; Pius XI, Casti connubii; Vatican II, Gaudium et spes, 48; etc.).

Here is a good summary of this doctrine: “The indissolubility of marriage is not a caprice of the Church nor is it merely a positive ecclesiastical law. It is a precept of natural law, of divine law, and responds perfectly to our nature and to the supernatural order of grace” (St Josemaría Escrivá, Conversations, 97). Cf. the note on Mt 5:31–32.

10:5–9. When a Christian realizes that this teaching applies to everyone at all times, he should not be afraid about people reacting against it: “It is a fundamental duty of the Church to reaffirm strongly […] the doctrine of the indissolubility of marriage. To all those who, in our times, consider it too difficult, or indeed impossible, to be bound to one person for the whole of life, and to those caught up in a culture that rejects the indissolubility of marriage and openly mocks the commitment of spouses to fidelity, it is necessary to reaffirm the good news of the definitive nature of that conjugal love that has in Christ its foundation and strength (cf. Eph 5:25).

“Being rooted in the personal and total self-giving of the couple, and being required by the good of the children, the indissolubility of marriage finds its ultimate truth in the plan that God has manifested in his revelation: he wills and he communicates the indissolubility of marriage as a fruit, a sign and a requirement of the absolutely faithful love that God has for man and that the Lord Jesus has for the Church.

“Christ renews the first plan that the Creator inscribed in the hearts of man and woman, and in the celebration of the sacrament of matrimony offers ‘a new heart’: thus the couples are not only able to overcome ‘hardness of heart’ (Mt 19:8), but also and above all they are able to share the full and definitive love of Christ, the new and eternal Covenant made flesh. Just as the Lord Jesus is the ‘faithful witness’ (Rev 3:14), the ‘yes’ of the promises of God (cf. 2 Cor 1:20) and thus the supreme realization of the unconditional faithfulness with which God loves his people, so Christian couples are called to participate truly in the irrevocable indissolubility that binds Christ to the Church, his bride, loved by him to the end (cf. Jn 13:1).

“To bear witness to the inestimable value of the indissolubility and fidelity of marriage is one of the most precious and most urgent tasks of Christian couples in our time” (John Paul II, Familiaris consortio, 20).

Source: The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries. Biblical text from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and by Scepter Publishers in the United States. We encourage readers to purchase The Navarre Bible for personal study. See Scepter Publishers for details.

"Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ." St Jerome

Navarre Bible Commentary:Friday, 19th Week in Ordinary Time

Source: Marriage of the Virgin by Raphael 

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
Friday, August 16, 2013, 19th Week in Ordinary Time

Matthew 19:3-12

Marriage and Virginity
[3] And Pharisees came up to Him (Jesus) and tested Him by asking, "Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause?" [4] He answered, "Have you not read that He who made them from the beginning made them male and female, [5] 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'? [6] So they are no longer two but one. What therefore God has joined together, let no man put asunder." [7] They said to Him, "Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?" [8] He said to them, "For your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. [9] And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for unchastity, and marries another, commits adultery; and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery."

[10] The disciples said to Him, "If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is not expedient to marry." [11] But He said to them, "Not all men can receive this precept, but only those to whom it is given. [12] For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. He who is able to receive this, let him receive it."

Commentary:
4-5. "Marriage and married love are by nature ordered to the procreation and education of children. Indeed children are the supreme gift of marriage and greatly contribute to the good of the parents themselves. God Himself said: 'It is not good that man should be alone' (Genesis 2:18), and 'from the beginning (He) made them male and female' (Matthew 19:4); wishing to associate them in a special way with his own creative work, God blessed man and woman with the words: 'Be fruitful and multiply' (Genesis 1:28). Without intending to underestimate the other ends of marriage, it must be said that true married life and the whole structure of family life which results from it is directed to disposing the spouses to cooperate valiantly with the love of the Creator and Savior, who through them will increase and enrich His family from day to day" (Vatican II, Gaudium Et Spes, 50).

9. Our Lord's teaching on the unity and indissolubility of marriage is the main theme of this passage, apropos of which St. John Chrysostom comments that marriage is a lifelong union of man and woman (cf. Hom. on St. Matthew, 62). On the meaning of "except for unchastity", see the note on Matthew 5:31-32).

11. "Not all men can receive this precept": our Lord is fully aware that the demands involved in His teaching on marriage and His recommendation of celibacy practised out of love of God run counter to human selfishness. That is why He says that acceptance of this teaching is a gift from God.

12. Our Lord speaks figuratively here, referring to those who, out of love for Him, renounce marriage and offer their lives completely to Him. Virginity embraced for the love of God is one of the Church's most precious charisms (cf. 1 Corinthians 7); the lives of those who practise virginity evoke the state of the blessed in Heaven, who are like the angels (cf. Matthew 22:30). This is why the Church's Magisterium teaches that the state of virginity for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven is higher than the married state (cf. Council of Trent, De Sacram. Matr., can. 10; cf. also Ven. Pius XII, Sacra Virginitas). On virginity and celibacy the Second Vatican Council teaches: "The Church's holiness is also fostered in a special way by the manifold counsels which the Lord proposes to His disciples in the Gospel for them to observe. Towering among these counsels is that precious gift of divine grace given to some by the Father (cf. Matthew 19:11; 1 Corinthians 7:7) to devote themselves to God alone more easily in virginity or celibacy [...]. This perfect continence for love of the Kingdom of Heaven has always been held in high esteem by the Church as a sign and stimulus of love, and as a singular source of spiritual fertility in the world" (Lumen Gentium, 42; cf. Perfectae Caritatis, 12). And, on celibacy specifically, see Vatican II's Presbyterorum Ordinis, 16 and Optatam Totius, 10.

However, both virginity and marriage are necessary for the growth of the Church, and both imply a specific calling from God: "Celibacy is precisely a gift of the Spirit. A similar though different gift is contained in the vocation to true and faithful married love, directed towards procreation according to the flesh, in the very lofty context of the sacrament of Matrimony. It is obvious that this gift is fundamental for the building up of the great community of the Church, the people of God. But if this community wishes to respond fully to its vocation in Jesus Christ, there will also have to be realized in it, in the correct proportion, that other gift, the gift of celibacy 'for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven'" (Bl. John Paul II, Letter To All Priests, 1979).

Source: The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries. Biblical text from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and by Scepter Publishers in the United States. We encourage readers to purchase The Navarre Bible for personal study. See Scepter Publishers for details.

"Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ." -- St Jerome

Stand Up for Marriage: Live the Sacrament!

There's been a lot of buzz recently since the Supreme Court heard two cases involving the question of whether or not same-sex unions or so-called same-sex marriage should be constitutionally protected. I haven't written one line about the debate on this blog since the cases were heard, mostly because I feel others have articulated the arguments for traditional marriage much better than I ever could.

One thing, that has struck me in all of this is the absence of discussion about our roles in being witnesses to the world of the sanctity of marriage. If those of us who are married (especially Catholics) would start living our marriages like the sacrament they are, we could change the world. LITERALLY. I honestly believe that is where the fight will be won, by being witnesses of our faith. In other words, this means by sanctifying our ordinary lives, we witness to the Gospel truth, announcing it to non-believers and fortifying the faith of believers (AA, 5). The Council of Vatican II spurred the laity to use their particular gifts “to explain, defend, and properly apply Christian principles to the problems of our era in accordance with the mind of the Church” (AA, 6).

Here's a video that cuts to the chase:

Tuesday Tech Talk:Marriage, Annulments and Divorce

I don't profess to be an expert on the Church's annulment procedures, but I can speak from first-hand experience about how difficult the annulment process can be. Yesterday, Stacey and I celebrated the seventh anniversary of the day our marriage was officially convalidated by the Church. It is a special day for us, because it also marks the anniversary of Stacey's full admission into the Catholic Church; she received the sacraments of the Eucharist and Confirmation at our ceremony.

As I was reflecting on the years since we both came into full communion with the Church, it occurred to me that one of the biggest hurdles for people returning or staying in the Church are issues surrounding current and past marriages. All you have to do is listen to a session on Catholic Answers open lines to hear a majority of calls on marriage, annulments and divorce. I feel for these people because I know how much they want to conform to the teachings of the Church and how challenging it can be.

Some have criticized U.S. Catholics as using annulments as a form of Catholic sanctioned divorce. This may be the case with some, but I don't think the majority of people fall into this category. Instead, I believe many are the victims of years of poor catechises and inadequate marriage prep. I myself am a cradle Catholic. I didn't know until a deacon told me, although Stacey wasn't Catholic, that her previous marriage was an impediment to us getting married. Unfortunately, no one told me (and I didn't ask) that before we got married by the county. This of course complicated matters.

The Church leadership is taking strides to remedy some of this. The USCCB has recently developed For Your Marriage, dedicated to promoting marriage formation. This is important because marriage is not only a sacrament, but it is also a vocation for which one is called. The site is a comprehensive resource for those getting married, already married or getting married for the second time. It also includes resources on parenting, natural family planning and provides helpful tips for strengthening the marriage bond.

In a time when traditionally marriage is under attack, we need to begin by taking care of our own household. What I mean by that is how can anyone take us seriously when Catholics are divorcing at similar rates as non-Catholics? This is not any different than any other form of evangelization. Other people have got to see a difference in us. We need to stand out for our caring, loving and fortified marriages.

If you found this post helpful, you might also be interested in:

World Marriage Day

Breaking the Chains of Pornography

One of the primary attacks on the family in modern culture is pornography. The subject is not widely discussed in Catholic men's circles because it's either viewed as taboo or some unknowingly view it as a "victimless" activity. Doctors say that the effects of pornography on the brain are more addictive than crack cocaine or heroin. The bottom line is that porn destroys families. If this is something that you are struggling with (and many church going men are), do something about it now. First, go to reconciliation. Next, find some help. I have listed some resources below to help.

This executive summary of the underlying report (made available through the link) demonstrates the real world effects of this growing problem among Catholic men.

Executive Summary: The Effects of Pornography on Individuals, Marriage, Family and Community

For those who want to learn more about dealing with this addiction:
St. Joseph's Covenant Keepers

St. Augustine's Men's Purity Group

Crossing the Goal

Are we raising future priests and nuns?

When I was a boy, I would pretend to be a priest using Pringles as communion hosts. While I don't recall my parents specifically promoting vocations to priesthood or the religious life, I do remember that they always displayed a great deal of respect for our priests. Whenever they would invite one of the priests from  our parish over to the house, I remember it was big deal. While I never became a priest, I did consider it and even discussed it with our parish priest.

The above video was posted by Brandon Vogt, author of The Thin Veil blog and editor of The Church and New Media. I loved this video because it demonstrates that Brandon and his wife are raising their children in an atmosphere in which priests are respected.

I have a good friend who has four children ranging from elementary school age to college bound. He and is wife have always discussed all vocations with their children. This included discussing marriage as a vocation. This doesn't mean we force our children in to considering the religious life, but it does mean that we should explain that they should be open to serving God in that way.

What are you doing to promote vocations in your household?

WMD & Marriage

Sometimes when Stacey and I have a knock down drag out fight (yes, loving couples in a sound marriage CAN and DO fight) it can seem like someone is about to launch a WMD.  The WMD I am referring to in the title of this post is World Marriage Day.  The idea for WMD originated in Baton Rouge, Louisiana 1981. A few couples in that area approached their mayor, governor and bishop about honoring marriage on St. Valentine's Day. The event was so successful it was eventually adopted by the World Marriage Encounter and expanded to several other states. In 1993, Blessed Pope John Paul II "imparted his Apostolic Blessing upon World Marriage Day." WMD is now celebrated throughout the United States on the second Sunday in February.

Last night our parish celebrated WMD with a "sweetheart" dance and dinner. The evening began with a blessing over the couples, followed by a series of prayer petitions for married couples. This morning at Mass, Father Mathew blessed all the married couples in attendance.

I like the idea of the WMD, but I have a small issue with their logo. While I agree that the two hearts should be one, there is one heart missing - the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The sacramentality of marriage - and ultimately its success - rests in the union with Christ. Archbishop Fulton Sheen wrote a book on this very subject entitled Three to Get Married (available in txt format on EWTN). Maybe I am being picky, but my point is that in a time when the sacrament of marriage is under attack, we should do all we can to promote its sacramentality.

Nevertheless, I think WMD is good start. It should be a launching point for developing more couples' oriented ministries within parishes. Our parish has a Couples' Ministry that meets once a month, revolving between homes of its members. The couples all gather for a potluck meal and then have organized discussions on various topics.

More Marriage Resources:

• The Alexander House
• Casti Connubii, Pope Pius XI
• World Marriage Encounter