In today’s Gospel from Matthew, we hear Jesus say: “the Creator made them male and female and said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, man must not separate.”
This passage helps us stop and think about the institution of marriage and its sanctity, as well as the complexities of human relationships and societal norms. At its core, the passage addresses a question posed by the Pharisees regarding the legality of divorce. Jesus responds by invoking the divine intention behind marriage, quoting the Genesis narrative where God establishes the unity and indissolubility of the marital bond. He emphasizes the sacredness of marriage, declaring that what God has joined together should not be separated by humans.
However, the Pharisees counter with the Mosaic allowance for divorce. While acknowledging this concession, Jesus reiterates the original intention of marriage as a lifelong commitment between a man and a woman. He reinforces the gravity of divorce, stating that remarriage after divorce constitutes adultery, except in cases of marital unlawfulness.
Jesus speaks passionately about the sacredness of marriage throughout these verses and whether you are about to become married, have been married for 5 years, or have been married for 20 years it is very important to look back and remember the sacred commitment made to your spouse through God. In today’s culture, it can sometimes be hard to step away from what society says about marriage and divorce and remember what God’s expectations are. This passage from Matthew can help couples remember the sacredness of that commitment.
Ultimately, this passage calls us to embrace God’s vision for marriage and human relationships, rooted in love, fidelity, and selflessness. It reminds us that our choices in matters of marriage and celibacy should be guided by faithfulness to God’s will and a deep reverence for the sacred bond of matrimony.
En el Evangelio de hoy de Mateo, escuchamos a Jesús decir: “desde un principio los hizo hombre y mujer, y dijo: ‘Por eso el hombre dejará a su padre y a su madre, para unirse a su mujer, y serán los dos una sola cosa?‘ De modo que ya no son dos, sino una sola cosa. Así pues, lo que Dios ha unido, que no lo separe el hombre”.
Este pasaje nos ayuda a detenernos y pensar en la institución del matrimonio y su santidad, así como en las complejidades de las relaciones humanas y las normas sociales. En esencia, el pasaje aborda una pregunta planteada por los fariseos con respecto a la legalidad del divorcio. Jesús responde invocando la intención divina detrás del matrimonio, citando la narrativa del Génesis donde Dios establece la unidad y la indisolubilidad del vínculo matrimonial. Destaca el carácter sagrado del matrimonio y declara que lo que Dios ha unido no debe ser separado por los humanos.
Sin embargo, los fariseos responden con la concesión mosaica para el divorcio. Si bien reconoce esta concesión, Jesús reitera la intención original del matrimonio como un compromiso de por vida entre un hombre y una mujer. Refuerza la gravedad del divorcio, afirmando que volver a casarse después del divorcio constituye adulterio, excepto en casos de ilegalidad matrimonial.
Jesús habla apasionadamente sobre el carácter sagrado del matrimonio a lo largo de estos versículos y ya sea que esté a punto de casarse, haya estado casado durante 5 años o haya estado casado durante 20 años, es muy importante mirar hacia atrás y recordar el compromiso sagrado hecho con su cónyuge a través de Dios. En la cultura actual, a veces puede resultar difícil alejarse de lo que la sociedad dice sobre el matrimonio y el divorcio y recordar cuáles son las expectativas de Dios. Este pasaje de Mateo puede ayudar a las parejas a recordar el carácter sagrado de ese compromiso.
En última instancia, este pasaje nos llama a abrazar la visión de Dios para el matrimonio y las relaciones humanas, arraigada en el amor, la fidelidad y la generosidad. Nos recuerda que nuestras decisiones acerca del matrimonio y el celibato deben estar guiadas por la fidelidad a la voluntad de Dios y una profunda reverencia por el vínculo sagrado del matrimonio.
Heather Orlowski and her husband are busy parents of two little girls (ages 2 and 4). The Catholic Church holds a special place in her heart and in her entire life. She attended Catholic schools from Kindergarten through college. She graduated from Aquinas College with a degree in Elementary/Special Education. Catholic Education is very important to her and she now teaches 1st and 2nd grades at St. Therese Catholic School. In her free time, she loves creating memories with her family and watching her little girls play soccer.
Feature Image Credit: Josh Applegate, unsplash.com/photos/groom-and-bride-kneeling-in-front-of-priest-raising-the-holy-sacrament-nKJzYDP10Zw