FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK
Dear Parishioners,
Marriage is surely one of the most misunderstood realities of our present age. We who are people of the Book, the Sacred Scriptures, have a clear teaching about marriage and about the relationships that lead to a profound and wonderful life with God. Right from the beginning, the teaching is clear that marriage is between one man and one woman.
The Book of Genesis has more than one story about creation and about man and woman in creation. All the stories agree that marriage is between one man and one woman. The whole of the Old Testament echoes this teaching. On the other hand, polygamy came to be accepted practice. Why?
Today’s Gospel passage, from the Gospel of Mark, tells us that the human heart had become hard, and people would not accept the teaching. This hardness of the human heart is taught throughout all of Scripture. We humans want to do our will and not the will of the God who creates us. We should not be surprised that it is still the same today.
We can reflect for a moment on the clear teaching of Jesus given to us in this Gospel. The people at the time of Jesus accepted polygamy, a man having more than one wife. Jesus is not afraid to teach against the practice. Today Jesus would not be afraid to continue preaching that marriage is between one man and one woman. We are less bold than Jesus.
To be bold in our proclamation of the Gospel does not mean that we must be harsh to others. Think of Jesus with the Samaritan woman. He does not condemn her but invites her to live the Gospel. Think of Jesus with the woman taken in adultery. Again, no condemnation but an invitation to a life of virtue. We need to be aware of how Jesus proclaims the teachings of His Father. Always the proclamation is one of love and acceptance, even as it challenges to true conversion.
The Church has never taught that God dislikes people who divorce and remarry. Nor does she say that she wants no part of those who break the rules concerning marriage. In consequence, she counsels separation in some cases and even divorce to secure the legal rights of wronged parties. Assuming no serious sin on the part of a divorced Catholic; such a person’s relationship to the Church is unaffected by the marital breakup. It’s only when an individual remarries after a divorce that a problem arises, because at that point there is a public departure from a standard set by Christ Himself.
The reading from the Letter to the Hebrew affirms that we are brothers and sisters of the Lord. We want to live as Jesus lived, proclaiming the Gospel with love, compassion and acceptance. We never need condemn anyone, even as we proclaim that there is a right way and a wrong way to live.
Peace,
Fr. Monteleone
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