27TH SUNDAY HOMILY OF THE ORDINARY TIME — YEAR B

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27TH SUNDAY HOMILY OF THE ORDINARY TIME — YEAR B

HOMILY THEME: THE DIVINE ORIGIN OF MARRIAGE

BY: Fr. Sylvanus Amaobi

Gen. 2: 18-24, Ps. 128, Heb. 2: 9-11, Mark. 10: 2-16

Dear brothers and sisters, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).

Marriage as an institution has a divine origin. This is what we read in the first reading of this Sunday from the book of Genesis (Gen. 2: 18-24). In that bible passage, Adam could not find a partner from all the creatures even though he gave them their names. But when the woman was brought to him, he exclaimed, “This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.” The woman made an impression on Adam and was the only partner he was comfortable with. She was his consort, for “she was taken out of Man” (Gen 2:23). The implication of this is the beginning or origin of marriage and family life. In the words of the scripture, “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one flesh,” and if I might amplify, they equally become one family.

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The divine union of a man and a woman, marriage, has many characteristics. Today’s Gospel message (Mark 10:2-12) talks about one of those basic characteristics of marriage, namely, indissolubility. In Jesus’ teaching, married couples are no longer two but one flesh, and what God has joined together, no human being must separate. This stresses the indissolubility of marriage. This is one of the teachings of Jesus Christ that seems harsh to people, especially those who think they have legitimate reasons to walk away from their marriage. Be that as it may, a call to married life, a call to the vocation of marriage, is a call to sacrifice.

RECOURSE FOR MARRIAGE PROBLEMS.

It should be pointed out that the Church does not cast a blind eye on those who have marriage problems. There is still recourse to the Church for healing, counseling, spiritual direction, and, where applicable, annulment. Annulment is an ecclesiastical term that is different from divorce. Annulment is the last recourse, and in it, the Church tries to establish that the marriage under question lacks the basic things that make it valid before it is contracted or celebrated. Therefore, in the eyes of the Church, the marriage was invalid from the beginning. Marriage should be contracted in and with love, with openness to children, and without fear, coercion, and deception. When these properties are lacking, then the validity of such a marriage is questionable. Of course, we know that nothing built on falsehood or that has a “shaky foundation” can ever stand. The scripture says, “If the foundation is destroyed, what can the just/righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3).

Let us continue to pray for God’s transforming power in every marriage and family. Let us pray for God’s love and mercy on all married couples and their families. We also pray for couples whose marriages are passing through difficulty and having marital issues that God will continue to care for them and give them wisdom to know the best line of action to follow in solving their marital problem.

Always remember that Jesus loves you!

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