27th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year B) Gn. 2:18–24; Ps 128:1–2, 3, 4–5, 6; Heb. 2:9–11; Mk 10:2–16
During a group building activity, a psychiatrist professor invited a volunteer from the group to play a game. Eliza came forward with a smile. The professor asked Eliza to write down thirty names of the most important people on the board. She wrote the names of family members, relatives, colleagues and friends. The professor asked her to erase three unimportant names from the list. She erased the names of her colleagues. Then the professor told her to erase five more names from the list. She erased the names of her neighbours. This went on until there were only four names left on the board. They were her father, mother, husband and child. It was tough to erase any other name. The professor asked her to erase two names. Eliza erased with great difficulties his parents’ names. The board had only two names on it; her husband and her child. It was a tough situation when the professor asked her to keep only name and erase the others. Eliza was filled with anxiety and at last erased the name of her child. She burst into tears. The teacher asked her why she kept her husband’s name. Eliza answered with her serene voice; my parents would pass away before me and my child would grow and leave me behind in pursuit of studies and career but there is only one person who would always remain with me is my husband. The story reveals to us one of the greatest lessons of married life.
Today’s Liturgy of the Word is very apt for world marriage day or a nuptial mass. I wish everyone attending today’s mass will pay attention to every detail mentioned in all the three readings. The reading from the book of Genesis highlights some important thoughts that every person should keep in mind. This is the second story of the creation of man. God realises the man was alone. God decided to make wild beasts and all the birds. Man gave them names which means to say God gave man authority over them. But he did not find a match for himself. God once again realised that man needed a suitable helpmate. He made the man fall into deep sleep. He took a rib from his side and made a woman. Man found completeness in woman because she was made from his flesh. The conclusion drawn from the creation of the woman’s story is that man leaves his father and mother and joins himself to his wife and they become one flesh. It reveals a beautiful plan of God that man and woman share a common humanity. They complement each other and they cannot be complete without the other.
Jesus confirms this in today’s Gospel. The background of the Gospel text is that some Pharisees approached Jesus with a question on divorce. They wanted to trap Jesus. On one hand, if Jesus had to condemn the divorce then He would have invited problems for himself like John the Baptist because Herod had married his brother’s wife. On the other hand, if He had to support the divorce then He would degrade himself in the eyes of his followers. Because the ancient Jews believed that marriage signified sacredness. The husband consecrated himself to his wife so also the wife consecrated herself to her husband. Each partner in marriage offered totally to the other and made themselves holy. This was the high ideal life propagated by the Jews but the reality was different and divorce had become common. The men considered their wives as their property. The women did not have legal rights. The men abandoned them for petty reasons. They justified themselves by quoting the Mosaic laws on the divorce (Deut. 24:1). Jesus explained to them the reason why Moses allowed them to divorce their wives so that the woman would at least get a certificate of divorce to remarry. So Moses tried to protect women in a small way. However, Jesus confirms the original plan of God regarding marriage. He makes them realise that God is the author of marriage therefore they have no power over the marriage.
There is yet another way Jesus explained how to live married life. The author of the letter to Hebrews explains it to us in today’s reading. He says, man committed sin against God. He was made in God’s image and likeness but he broke his ties with God. Man could not live without God. He lost his happiness. He was like Adam without his helpmate. Therefore, God once again chose to do something that would restore his happiness. He decided to become Man. He suffered death for him and his sinfulness. Jesus saved us from sinfulness. This was the marvellous plan of God.
Today’s liturgy reveals to us about the truth of married life that man and woman share a common humanity. They complement each other and they cannot be complete without the other. Hence, they are not allowed to divorce each other. It also reveals to us the truth of eternal life that Jesus and the entire human race share a common humanity. Jesus complemented us by becoming human and sharing his divinity. We cannot be complete without him.
Eucharist is one of the best expressions of becoming one with Christ. Jesus waits to become one body and one spirit in the Eucharist. May we live a life of faithful spouse of Christ.
