Mark 10, 2-16
Recently, marriage has been quite a hot topic in various sectors of society. At one end, there are advocates for “marriage equality” which means you can marry any person regardless of their gender. A man can marry another man and a woman can marry another woman. While on the other hand, particularly with Catholics, there are some advocates that those who have divorced their partners and remarried should be able to partake of the Eucharist at Mass. And this issue has deeply divided Catholic bishops and theologians worldwide. While in other parts of the world, there’s the existence of “child brides”, where underage girls are forced to marry men who are old enough to be their fathers and we don’t have to think hard of its disastrous consequences.
The gospel for today, places Jesus in a tight spot by being asked his opinion about divorce. We should remember that in Jewish society, divorce was permissible as it was allowed in Mosaic Law. However, there’s a division among the Pharisees and scribes as to what are the circumstances in which divorce should be permitted. On one hand of the debate, divorce should be permitted in whatever circumstance it may be. It means that even the flimsiest reason for a husband to divorce his wife should be granted. For example, if the wife has a nagging voice or if she burns the dinner food, those are already enough reasons for a divorce to be granted. On the other hand, divorce should only be permitted in extreme circumstances. For example, proof of the wife’s infidelity through adultery or a wife’s incapacity to bear children, those reasons and other grave circumstances are the only cases where divorce is permissible.
However, we must also remember that the purpose of the Pharisees is not to seek clarity on this issue but to trap Jesus into this debate where whatever he says will be used against him by one party or another. Then through this Jesus would be discredited because he took a stand on either side of the debate. But Jesus knew this trap and took the opportunity to rise up against their petty arguments and state God’s purpose for marriage. Which is whatever God has joined together, no human being must separate. So for Jesus, divorce is not possible in whatever circumstance. And nothing can be plainer than that.
Then we ask ourselves, Isn’t this quite harsh? I would say not at all. Jesus is not harsh. In fact Jesus is well grounded in reality. Jesus knew that there are marriages that fall apart. Jesus knew of the sadness and the tragedy that divorce brings to couples. In the gospel of John, Jesus had a conversation with the woman at the well. Jesus knew very much the state of the woman, for Jesus can read our hearts. And yet despite knowing that this woman married five times and the man that she is with is not her husband, Jesus did not condemn her. Jesus even made her a messenger to tell the townsfolk that he is around and is willing to preach to them.
In the next few weeks, there will be the second part of the Synod on the family. The Pope, together with bishops, theologians and lay people will again discuss the institution of the family and the challenges that lay upon us in this world. Let us pray for the success of this Synod so that we may be able to strengthen the institution of the family and also be a merciful church to those who have fallen.
Every Thursday night, I watch “The Footy Show” here in Australia. It is a show about the ins and outs of the National Rugby League (NRL) in Australia and New Zealand. My favourite portion of the show is the “Small Talk with the Big Marn”. It is where Big Marn, interviews a children’s rugby team from all over Australia to talk about various topics from footy to food. What I like about this portion is how honest children can be and how frank they are. The children are going to speak their mind out and maybe teach us adults a lesson or two.
When I was a chaplain at St Claudine Thevenèt Primary School, I observed that when two children fought in the playground, the teacher or myself would come and sort it out. Once the two had apologised to each other, they would resume playing as if nothing happened. While we adults, when we have a misunderstanding, sometimes it takes years before we can start talking to each other again.
In Jewish society, being a child is next to nothing, and yet Jesus said that if we will not accept the kingdom of God like a child, we will not enter into it. In other words, if we won’t be child-like or possess the good qualities of a child like honesty, trust, loyalty, caring, loving, forgiving, we won’t enter the kingdom of heaven. How many times we don’t value children much in society. However, if we truly listen to them, we may learn a thing or two. God values those whom society thinks as worthless. Maybe if we change our mentality once in a while and learn from children then maybe we will be gifted with the Kingdom of God also.