Saturday, October 06, 2012
27TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – B
OCTOBER 7, 2012
27TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – B
Gn 2:18-24 / Heb 2:9-11 / Mk 10:2-16 or 10:2-12
GENESIS 2:18-24
Yahweh God said, "It is not good for Man to be alone; I will give him a helper who will be like him." Then Yahweh God formed from the earth all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air and brought them to Man to see what he would call them; and whatever Man called every living creature, that was its name. So Man gave names to all the cattle, the birds of the air and to every beast of the field. But he did not find among them a helper like himself. Then Yahweh God caused a deep sleep to come over Man and he fell asleep. He took one of his ribs and filled its place with flesh. The rib that Yahweh God had taken from Man he formed into a woman and brought her to the man. The man then said, "Now this is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh. She shall be called woman because she was taken from man." That is why man leaves his father and mother and is attached to his wife, and with her becomes one flesh.
HEBREWS 2:9-11
But Jesus who suffered death and for a little while was placed lower than the angels has been crowned with honor and glory. For the merciful plan of God demanded that he experience death on behalf of everyone. God, from whom all come and by whom all things exist, wanted to bring many children to glory, and he thought it fitting to make perfect through suffering the initiator of their salvation. So he who gives and He himself is not ashamed of calling us brothers and sisters,
MARK 10:2-12
Some Pharisees came and put him to the test with this question, "Is it right for a husband to divorce his wife?" He replied, "What law did Moses give you?" They answered, "Moses allowed us to write a certificate of dismissal in order to divorce." Then Jesus said to them, "Moses wrote this law for you, because you are stubborn. But in the beginning of creation God made them male and female, and because of this, man has to leave father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one body. So they are no longer two but one body. Therefore let no one separate what God has joined." When they were indoors at home, the disciples again asked him about this, and he told them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against his wife, and the woman who divorces her husband and marries another also commits adultery."
REFLECTION
An unknown author noted that: Woman was not taken from the feet of man -- that she might be trampled by him. She was not taken from the head of man that he might be superior to her. She was taken from the side of man that she might walk beside him. She was taken from under the arm of man that she may be protected by him. She was taken from near the heart of man that he may love her.
Man and woman complement each other relationally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. From the moment of creation, woman is seen as a suitable partner for man. Woman is intended to be the one in who man finds support and strength. This does not mean subservience in any way, for she is a "partner." It does speak to marriage relationships. As the first reading goes, the two become one, and the relationship is one of intimacy and unity rooting itself in love. The two become one in mind, heart, and body.
This relationship is one characterized by the relationship of Christ to his people, the Church. This is why at the end of the wedding Mass, the priest admonishes the groom: "Love your wife as Christ loves his Church." How does Christ love his Church? He loves them unto the cross. He was willing to be crucified for love of the Church, his people. Because of the intensity and sacredness of this union, it is not difficult for us to understand the teaching of Jesus about divorce.
With this understanding we see why it is that Jesus speaks against divorce and adultery in the Gospel reading today. He will not be set up or trapped by the Pharisees' question about divorce and the law. What God has joined together, no man must divide.
In a Church wedding the love of a man and a woman is consecrated to God – made holy. God enters into the Marriage Covenant. It is no longer in the power of people to dissolve the covenant. Because of this Sacrament every action of love between husband and wife becomes grace-giving, sanctifying.
Nowadays, with the erosion of family values, divorce and indissoluble marriage are a much debated topic. One of the least understood notions today is that of love. Yet, the word "love" is used continually in popular songs, in pulp magazines, in TV series, in daily conversations. And most of the time the notion of "love" as the media convey it is totally inadequate, if not distorted.
Jesus, in taking the defense of fidelity in marriage, is only giving us a means towards greater happiness. Jesus offers a very different picture of love, which lies not in feelings but in commitment – one that entails a separation from one's family and a lifelong companionship through joy and sorrow, "for better or for worse." Only such a commitment, maintained despite the high and low of feelings, can enable two persons to grow toward real maturity.
The psychologist M. Scott Peck says that genuine love is not when we feel like loving, because when we have that loving feeling we are driven by the feeling to love. We have no choice. It is when we don't have that loving feeling, yet we freely choose to love – that is a commitment. That is genuine love.
This does not mean that such a love is without feeling. On the contrary, it will be accompanied by a great variety of feelings. Aside from the dreamy glow of romantic ecstasy, it will know tenderness, humor, compassion, anxiety – and many other feelings. But it will go beyond feelings. It will essentially be rooted in a free decision, a constantly renewed choice to affirm the other person at whatever personal cost, knowing full well that such a determination is on the long run the only road leading to lasting happiness.
Where would humanity be today if Jesus had said that the cross was too heavy or the crucifixion was too painful, too much? Is there not something we can learn from Jesus? Are we no longer willing to suffer? Suffering can soften us; it makes a better person of us. It makes us like the children Jesus talks about in the second reading – to give and not to count the cost; to have the freedom of the birds of the air; to respond spontaneously to the love and embrace around us. Are we afraid to suffer because of what suffering will do to us? What God has joined, let no one separate.
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Fr. Ismael Zuloaga, SJ
- Lillian McSwain
- Antoinetta Sterner
… for the personal intentions of Pauline
… for the eternal repose of the souls of
- Atty Cipriano P Maribojoc
- Stephen Lee Rogers
Eternal rest grant unto them and may perpetual light shine upon them. May they and all the dearly departed rest in peace.
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Christine Marie R. Andres
- Birthday: Augusto K. Fabella
- In Memoriam (+): Bong Castelo
… for families who are in need of healing
… for world peace and reconciliation.
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
**************************************************
These reflections are distributed free and are for personal use only. Feel free to send the Daily Prayer reflections to your friends, colleagues and relatives; however, if you do, please include the following:
+================================================+
| The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the
| priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish
| http://www.marythequeen.org
| Distributed free and for personal use only.
+================================================+ --
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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To subscribe from this free mailing service, send email to: dailyhomily@earthlink.net
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© 2012 Daily-Homily
27TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – B
Gn 2:18-24 / Heb 2:9-11 / Mk 10:2-16 or 10:2-12
GENESIS 2:18-24
Yahweh God said, "It is not good for Man to be alone; I will give him a helper who will be like him." Then Yahweh God formed from the earth all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air and brought them to Man to see what he would call them; and whatever Man called every living creature, that was its name. So Man gave names to all the cattle, the birds of the air and to every beast of the field. But he did not find among them a helper like himself. Then Yahweh God caused a deep sleep to come over Man and he fell asleep. He took one of his ribs and filled its place with flesh. The rib that Yahweh God had taken from Man he formed into a woman and brought her to the man. The man then said, "Now this is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh. She shall be called woman because she was taken from man." That is why man leaves his father and mother and is attached to his wife, and with her becomes one flesh.
HEBREWS 2:9-11
But Jesus who suffered death and for a little while was placed lower than the angels has been crowned with honor and glory. For the merciful plan of God demanded that he experience death on behalf of everyone. God, from whom all come and by whom all things exist, wanted to bring many children to glory, and he thought it fitting to make perfect through suffering the initiator of their salvation. So he who gives and He himself is not ashamed of calling us brothers and sisters,
MARK 10:2-12
Some Pharisees came and put him to the test with this question, "Is it right for a husband to divorce his wife?" He replied, "What law did Moses give you?" They answered, "Moses allowed us to write a certificate of dismissal in order to divorce." Then Jesus said to them, "Moses wrote this law for you, because you are stubborn. But in the beginning of creation God made them male and female, and because of this, man has to leave father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one body. So they are no longer two but one body. Therefore let no one separate what God has joined." When they were indoors at home, the disciples again asked him about this, and he told them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against his wife, and the woman who divorces her husband and marries another also commits adultery."
REFLECTION
An unknown author noted that: Woman was not taken from the feet of man -- that she might be trampled by him. She was not taken from the head of man that he might be superior to her. She was taken from the side of man that she might walk beside him. She was taken from under the arm of man that she may be protected by him. She was taken from near the heart of man that he may love her.
Man and woman complement each other relationally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. From the moment of creation, woman is seen as a suitable partner for man. Woman is intended to be the one in who man finds support and strength. This does not mean subservience in any way, for she is a "partner." It does speak to marriage relationships. As the first reading goes, the two become one, and the relationship is one of intimacy and unity rooting itself in love. The two become one in mind, heart, and body.
This relationship is one characterized by the relationship of Christ to his people, the Church. This is why at the end of the wedding Mass, the priest admonishes the groom: "Love your wife as Christ loves his Church." How does Christ love his Church? He loves them unto the cross. He was willing to be crucified for love of the Church, his people. Because of the intensity and sacredness of this union, it is not difficult for us to understand the teaching of Jesus about divorce.
With this understanding we see why it is that Jesus speaks against divorce and adultery in the Gospel reading today. He will not be set up or trapped by the Pharisees' question about divorce and the law. What God has joined together, no man must divide.
In a Church wedding the love of a man and a woman is consecrated to God – made holy. God enters into the Marriage Covenant. It is no longer in the power of people to dissolve the covenant. Because of this Sacrament every action of love between husband and wife becomes grace-giving, sanctifying.
Nowadays, with the erosion of family values, divorce and indissoluble marriage are a much debated topic. One of the least understood notions today is that of love. Yet, the word "love" is used continually in popular songs, in pulp magazines, in TV series, in daily conversations. And most of the time the notion of "love" as the media convey it is totally inadequate, if not distorted.
Jesus, in taking the defense of fidelity in marriage, is only giving us a means towards greater happiness. Jesus offers a very different picture of love, which lies not in feelings but in commitment – one that entails a separation from one's family and a lifelong companionship through joy and sorrow, "for better or for worse." Only such a commitment, maintained despite the high and low of feelings, can enable two persons to grow toward real maturity.
The psychologist M. Scott Peck says that genuine love is not when we feel like loving, because when we have that loving feeling we are driven by the feeling to love. We have no choice. It is when we don't have that loving feeling, yet we freely choose to love – that is a commitment. That is genuine love.
This does not mean that such a love is without feeling. On the contrary, it will be accompanied by a great variety of feelings. Aside from the dreamy glow of romantic ecstasy, it will know tenderness, humor, compassion, anxiety – and many other feelings. But it will go beyond feelings. It will essentially be rooted in a free decision, a constantly renewed choice to affirm the other person at whatever personal cost, knowing full well that such a determination is on the long run the only road leading to lasting happiness.
Where would humanity be today if Jesus had said that the cross was too heavy or the crucifixion was too painful, too much? Is there not something we can learn from Jesus? Are we no longer willing to suffer? Suffering can soften us; it makes a better person of us. It makes us like the children Jesus talks about in the second reading – to give and not to count the cost; to have the freedom of the birds of the air; to respond spontaneously to the love and embrace around us. Are we afraid to suffer because of what suffering will do to us? What God has joined, let no one separate.
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Fr. Ismael Zuloaga, SJ
- Lillian McSwain
- Antoinetta Sterner
… for the personal intentions of Pauline
… for the eternal repose of the souls of
- Atty Cipriano P Maribojoc
- Stephen Lee Rogers
Eternal rest grant unto them and may perpetual light shine upon them. May they and all the dearly departed rest in peace.
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Christine Marie R. Andres
- Birthday: Augusto K. Fabella
- In Memoriam (+): Bong Castelo
… for families who are in need of healing
… for world peace and reconciliation.
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
**************************************************
These reflections are distributed free and are for personal use only. Feel free to send the Daily Prayer reflections to your friends, colleagues and relatives; however, if you do, please include the following:
+================================================+
| The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the
| priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish
| http://www.marythequeen.org
| Distributed free and for personal use only.
+================================================+ --
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GoogleGroup Address: http://groups.google.com/group/daily_homily
To subscribe from this free mailing service, send email to: dailyhomily@earthlink.net
To unsubscribe: daily_homily-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
© 2012 Daily-Homily
