27th Sunday of the Year
The issues with which Jesus is faced in today’s Gospel reading are very much the same as what the Church faces even in our times. In the Gospel today Jesus is challenged unfairly, as always, about the issue of divorce. This was not because the Pharisees were concerned about upholding the Law. They were trying to catch Jesus out in order to justify their own behaviour and prejudices. For them it was not so much about marriage, but about their rights as men! Women were not allowed to divorce. Men could do so at a whim. They did so to further their own interests and to show their superiority over women.
Jesus pointed out just why Moses allowed divorce – because of the hardness of hearts of the people and because of the grave injustices and sinfulness of the unions that existed. It was about the dignity of women and equality and respect for all, regardless of gender.
This debate about marriage and divorce continues in our Church today. When we consider how to handle marriage breakdown and separation the most important aspect to consider is the dignity of those involved, their rights, their contentment and happiness. When these things are taken really seriously and when the sanctity of Marriage is regarded as of paramount importance, then we can look at all marriage breakdown issues with faith and charity.
Cardinal Nichols, speaking before the Synod in 2015 expressed the situation with great compassion and understanding; “One of the great issues is to see; ‘what is the pattern of conversion for the people who have experienced failure in their marriage and have found a precious new partner. Divorced people are not a category – they are people on a pilgrimage like all of us’. “What is the grace that remains in a person’s life after a broken valid marriage? I would suggest that it might be the grace of conversion, a fresh look at what happened … that is part of the pathway that people can be invited to walk – we learn more about it – and that is always part of the holding together of the mercy of God and his call to us to grow and be more like what we should be”.
The final paragraph of the Gospel today deals with what is another family matter – children. Jesus exalts them to the role of model for all of us. It is their innocence and their simplicity which brings them close to God and to whom the Kingdom of God belongs.
Thankfully, during the papacy of Pope Francis these issues of Marriage breakdown and divorce are being handled with more compassion and understanding than in the past. We join our prayers to God’s Holy Spirit to guide our bishops and teaching Church in its concern for all who struggle in their personal lives.