Friday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Peter H. Davids

Ordinary Time • Sermon • Submitted a year ago • Presented a year ago

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In contrast with the concerns of his age that assumed the right to divorce, Jesus goes to the divine institution of marriage and states that divorce is impossible. Paul follows Jesus. The disciples are shocked and suggest celibacy would be better and are further shocked when Jesus says, "Yes, if chosen for the kingdom of God." While this does not cover the pastoral application of this teaching, it is followed by the Catechism of the Catholic Church and it is therefore the basis for addressing the painful pastoral issues that we sometimes face.

Notes

Transcript

Title

Divorcing Divorce by Going to the Source

Outline

We live in a divorcing society

Our society splits into pieces over a variety of issues

One of the issues is marriage and divorce

That was also the situation in Jesus’ world - the Pharisees were split into two groups, the followers of Shammai and the followers of Hillel (Hillel would eventually “win”), and divorce was one of the issues

Both read Deuteronomy 24, and both believed it sanctioned divorce rather than limited and already-existing practice and neither extended any rights to the wife

Jesus goes to the institution and purpose of marriage

His authority is the Creator’s purpose rather than human interpretation that focuses on their interests rather than Deuteronomy’s purpose

Jesus simply says that a properly constituted marriage is life-long and cannot be dissolved and that therefore remarriage (assuming it is not a platonic relationship) is adultery. Paul will in essence say the same thing in First Corinthians seven, making a difference between divorce and separation and dealing with the issue of marriage to a pagan.

The Disciples say, “Hey, if I’m stuck with her, it would be better to remain single”

Jesus has simply been saying, This is God’s design and if you break it it will break you

He is also not saying that every marriage should be “happily every after,” for some are “crosses” - yet Jesus bore a cross for us enabling us to follow him and carry our crosses for our good.

But he responds to the disciples by saying, “Not a bad idea, but not everyone can grasp that truth.” He, followed byPaul in First Corinthians seven, views celibacy as a good option when chosen for the good of the kingdom of God.

Brothers and Sisters, I have covered a lot in a short homily

I have essentially laid out Catholic teaching, but not as thoroughly or with the great pastoral insight that Fr Mike Schmidt does in his Catechism in a Year podcast.

My purpose has been to lay out the Gospel clearly in its context so we could see what Jesus meant and means and to point out that Paul follows Jesus.

There are a ton of pastoral issues that I have not touched - I am trained as a counselor, I know a lot about the pain in marriages. However, we start with the teaching of our Lord, notice that his teaching is followed by the Catechism of the Catholic Church and then on a firm foundation address the painful issues that we encounter, doing so in the light of the cross.

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 8-18-2023: Friday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time

FIRST READING

Joshua 24:1–13

1 Joshua gathered together all the tribes of Israel at Shechem, summoning the elders, leaders, judges, and officers of Israel. When they stood in ranks before God, 2 Joshua addressed all the people: “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: In times past your ancestors, down to Terah, father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the River and served other gods. 3 But I brought your father Abraham from the region beyond the River and led him through the entire land of Canaan. I made his descendants numerous, and gave him Isaac. 4 To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. To Esau I assigned the mountain region of Seir to possess, while Jacob and his children went down to Egypt.

5 “Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and struck Egypt with the plagues and wonders that I wrought in her midst. Afterward I led you out. 6 And when I led your ancestors out of Egypt, you came to the sea, and the Egyptians pursued your ancestors to the Red Sea with chariots and charioteers. 7 When they cried out to the LORD, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, upon whom he brought the sea so that it covered them. Your eyes saw what I did to Egypt. After you dwelt a long time in the wilderness, 8 I brought you into the land of the Amorites who lived east of the Jordan. They fought against you, but I delivered them into your power. You took possession of their land, and I destroyed them at your approach. 9 Then Balak, son of Zippor, king of Moab, prepared to war against Israel. He summoned Balaam, son of Beor, to curse you, 10 but I would not listen to Balaam. Instead, he had to bless you, and I delivered you from his power. 11 Once you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho, the citizens of Jericho fought against you, but I delivered them also into your power. 12 And I sent the hornets ahead of you which drove them—the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites, and Jebusites—out of your way; it was not your sword or your bow. 13 I gave you a land you did not till and cities you did not build, to dwell in; you ate of vineyards and olive groves you did not plant.

Catholic Daily Readings 8-18-2023: Friday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time

RESPONSE

Text

PSALM

Psalm 136:1–3, 16–18, 21–22, 24

1 Praise the LORD, for he is good;