First reading James 5:9-12
Do not ask for judgement, or you may receive it
Do not make complaints against one another, brothers, so as not to be brought to judgement yourselves; the Judge is already to be seen waiting at the gates. For your example, brothers, in submitting with patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord; remember it is those who had endurance that we say are the blessed ones. You have heard of the patience of Job, and understood the Lord’s purpose, realising that the Lord is kind and compassionate.
Above all, my brothers, do not swear by heaven or by the earth, or use any oaths at all. If you mean ‘yes’, you must say ‘yes’; if you mean ‘no’, say ‘no.’ Otherwise you make yourselves liable to judgement.
Responsorial Psalm 102(103):1-4,8-9,11-12
The Lord is compassion and love.
My soul, give thanks to the Lord
all my being, bless his holy name.
My soul, give thanks to the Lord
and never forget all his blessings.
The Lord is compassion and love.
It is he who forgives all your guilt,
who heals every one of your ills,
who redeems your life from the grave,
who crowns you with love and compassion.
The Lord is compassion and love.
The Lord is compassion and love,
slow to anger and rich in mercy.
His wrath will come to an end;
he will not be angry for ever.
The Lord is compassion and love.
For as the heavens are high above the earth
so strong is his love for those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west
so far does he remove our sins.
The Lord is compassion and love.
Gospel Mark 10:1-12
What God has united, man must not divide
Jesus came to the district of Judaea and the far side of the Jordan. And again crowds gathered round him, and again he taught them, as his custom was. Some Pharisees approached him and asked, ‘Is it against the law for a man to divorce his wife?’ They were testing him. He answered them, ‘What did Moses command you?’ ‘Moses allowed us’ they said ‘to draw up a writ of dismissal and so to divorce.’ Then Jesus said to them, ‘It was because you were so unteachable that he wrote this commandment for you. But from the beginning of creation God made them male and female. This is why a man must leave father and mother, and the two become one body. They are no longer two, therefore, but one body. So then, what God has united, man must not divide.’ Back in the house the disciples questioned him again about this, and he said to them, ‘The man who divorces his wife and marries another is guilty of adultery against her. And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another she is guilty of adultery too.’
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God’s desire for us is to love
In today’s gospel passage, some Pharisees asked Jesus about the question of divorce in the context of marriage. Today, let us look at the passage by going beyond commitment in marriages and reflecting on our different commitments in our lives.
In marriage, two people make a lifelong commitment of faithful love. However, it is not just in marriage but also in family life where parents
commit themselves to accept and to care for their children so that they are free to be who they are meant to be. Children also commit themselves to love and respect their parents and not despise them in their old age. Good friends commit to being there for each other in the ups and downs of life. According to Jesus, Moses allowed divorce because of the people’s hardness of hearts. However, it was not the original plan of God. God always desires unity, i.e. unity in marriage, family life and friendships.
commit themselves to accept and to care for their children so that they are free to be who they are meant to be. Children also commit themselves to love and respect their parents and not despise them in their old age. Good friends commit to being there for each other in the ups and downs of life. According to Jesus, Moses allowed divorce because of the people’s hardness of hearts. However, it was not the original plan of God. God always desires unity, i.e. unity in marriage, family life and friendships.
Question for reflection:
Do I struggle to commit myself to love with God’s love in my marriage, family life, and friendship?
Do I struggle to commit myself to love with God’s love in my marriage, family life, and friendship?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year C” by Sr Sandra Seow FMVD.
