27th Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year B, By Rev. Fr. Lucas Binnah Junior

First Reading: Genesis 2:18-24/Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 128:1-2.3.4-5.6 (R. 8ab) Second Reading: Hebrews 2:9-11/Gospel Acclamation: I John 4:12/Gospel: Mark 10:2-16

Theme: In His Wisdom, He Made Them Male And Female: God Has Good Plans For Our Families

In the introduction to his Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation, Amoris Laetitia, issued in 2016, Pope Francis states: “The joy of love experienced by families is also the joy of the Church. This joy of love has its very basis in God, whose vision for family life is hinged on the institution of marriage between one man and one woman. So, authentic marriage is naturally from God and thus, divine. He is its ground and centre without whom things fall apart – to borrow words from W.B. Yeats who inspired Chinua Achebe’s 1958 novel, Things Fall Apart. If the family is made up of individuals, and is the domestic church and the microcosm of society, then a crisis in the family automatically affects not only individuals but the entire church and the society as a whole.

In our day, we experience very serious attacks and problems in marriage. We see the recent trend and challenge to redefine the basic make-up of marriage. Divorce, remarriage, single parenting, de-facto unions or cohabitation and other realities have become commonplace phenomena. Families are bruising and bleeding, parents unhappy and complaining, children hurting and fretting! Consequently, the human environment is bedevilled with lots and loads of family-related difficulties some of which include human trafficking, parental irresponsibility, child abandonment, child delinquency and sex scandals. How do we tackle this surge? Is there any way to restore the joy of love in family life? Today’s readings afford us the opportunity to revisit God’s vision and purpose for marriage and better family life. Come on, let us discover together!

In the first reading, we read the second creation account by the Yahwist author. This author calls God Yahweh and uses a lot of anthropomorphisms, that is, he attributes human characteristics to God the Creator as if he were flesh and blood like us. For example, we read that after God had formed man from the ground, he said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will give him a suitable companion. So out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird in the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever man called every living creature, that was its name” (Gen. 2:18-19). Again, we are told that “but for the man there was not found a helper fit for him. So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh; and the rib which the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man” (Gen. 2:20-22). At this, Adam romantically pours out poetry like Shakespeare when he says: “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh” (Gen. 2:23). When we imagine this ‘Eden-ic’ drama, we are very confident to say that God’s creation is indeed beautiful! In fact, God himself saw everything he created to be good (cf. Gen. 1:31). Then comes the famous words for the institution of marriage: “Therefore, a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh” (Gen. 2:24). So lovely is the divinely[1]instituted union of marriage by God! It is so sacred that the Psalmist prays a powerful prayer of blessing for marriages even to the third generation and beyond: “Your wife like a fruitful vine… your children like shoots of the olive…Indeed thus shall be blessed… May you see your children’s children. May the Lord bless you from Zion… all the days of your life” (Ps. 128:3- 5). This is the vision of God for marriage, that, members of the family find progress, happiness and fruitfulness. For this to happen, we should ensure that this original template of God’s vision or plan for marriage is unsullied by concupiscence leading to perversion and pain.

Consequently, not to give in to compromises nor water down the Law of God, Jesus reiterates this plan of God in the Gospel (New Testament), which actually, is a repetition of the concluding part of the first reading (Old Testament). Even a cursory reading will not miss Jesus’ statement: “But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female” and he adds: “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh” (Mk. 10:6-8). From this, we clearly see the unitive or companionship purpose of marriage although the procreative dimension being implicit in the passage is also discernible. Against this background, the issue of divorce and remarriage rears its head. How can couples hold firmly to the sacrament of Holy Matrimony? How can they transform problems into solutions and weaknesses into strengths? In the face of childlessness, joblessness, sickness, addiction, verbal abuse, domestic violence and conflict-stricken marriages, how can we find forgiveness and healing? How can family members be restored and ennobled? Is there any possibility of making relationships work again? Perhaps, the answer lies in a spirituality of sexuality, family spirituality and therapy. The second reading helps us to understand this clearly.

In the second reading, the author of the Letter to the Hebrews highlights how Jesus “tastes death for everyone” (Heb. 2:9). His death brings “many sons [and daughters] to glory (Heb. 2:10). In spite of our unworthiness, Christ is not ashamed to call us his brothers and sisters (cf. Heb. 2:11). By becoming human, Jesus feels what we feel, suffers what we suffer but does not succumb to sin as we do. For this reason he has what it takes to help us. Christ’s identification with us should make us confident enough to relate with and to draw closer to him for grace, solace and healing. Embedded in every human is the desire or capacity for sex. If this desire is Holy Spirit-controlled and disciplined, it becomes useful, helpful and peaceful resulting in good relationships; but, it can become a morass of danger when not put under control. It then becomes destructive rather than creative, possessive rather than freeing, selfish rather than selfless and disordered rather than ordered. Jesus understands the difficulties we face with regards to human sexuality. Yet, rather than compromising, he encourages us to opt for the spirituality of sexuality. We do this via true conversion,showing fidelity to God’s word and sincere personal and family prayer where husband, wife and children come together to surrender themselves to Christ, and to morally-sound therapies from scientific innovation. It extends to families, groups in the church and society. It means acknowledging our powerlessness and Christ’s absolute power. Christ died for us and it costs him his precious blood, yet, he did it for us! It is he who can fix our broken homes so as to restore our shattered, scattered and tattered lives. He can sanctify and make us better. Through his painful death on the cross, Christ has ensured that “He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified have all one origin.” (cf. Heb. 2:11). This is our dignity and blessing!

Again, we need the grace to call sin by its name and to repent of it. Jesus pointed out that the solution is not racing for divorce certificates nor avoiding the life-long commitment of marriage but to uproot the causal sin at its root. Infidelity and un-forgiveness leading to adultery and other sexual sins must be tackled (cf. Mk. 10:11-12). The problem is not that God is unconcerned or standing aloof while marriages break down. Rather, we are not doing enough. We are gradually getting immunity against the ‘necessary suffering’ and needful sacrifices expected in marriage and family life. If there is no cross, there will be no crown. If we are willing, we can make family life work! Like children, let us be true to ourselves and humble to accept Christ on his terms.

Beloved in Christ, the indissolubility of marriage, monogamy and chastity still remain a panacea to the defence and protection of the dignity of both man and woman in marriage relationship. We need a spirituality of dependence on God and his commands to grow and nurture our families. We cannot relegate God to the background, enthrone disordered appetites and expect good results! It is the vocation of every family to listen to Jesus. We need to live in deep and active love and service to one another. To be healed, we ought to forgive. We can make things better if we cooperate with God and with one another. God loves us and he wants the best for us. No matter the difficulties in marriage and family life, let us remember that God instituted marriage and he is the best person to help us out in times of trouble. May God bless and grant us the grace to do things better. Happy Sunday! Remember: #God-Has-Good-Plans-For-Our-Families#