Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time: In the beginning, it was not so …

(Significant?) Sequence of events in the Gospel

Pharisees test Jesus

Jesus responds from Genesis

and goes beyond —”let not man separate” more like ‘rupture’ (from chasm).

The disciples question Jesus

they think he’s too strict,

Jesus goes further: if they divorce, they commit adultery.

Unnamed ’They’ bring children for him to ‘touch’ (bless?)

the disciples object

Jesus becomes indignant (intensive form): “Do not prevent them.”

and he wrapped his arms around them.

Clash followed by embrace

(Adult) antagonists (whom he, apparently, reduced to silence);

followed by ‘young’ children, who

must have been encouraged by their mothers

The mothers clearly trusted him;

he must have often welcomed children this way to have developed this trust.

Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God

like a child shall not enter it

The Pharisees seem to have left the scene

but it seems that this message is meant for them as much as or more than for Jesus’ followers.

i.o.w., putting this together with the teaching on divorce,

This is how you approach marriage difficulty

Learn to trust God, simply and implicitly.

Before you laugh …

Have you tried it?

Job

His story this past week shows us a great example of this kind of trust.

Job knew two things:

He was innocent.

God is faithful to his promise.

Our humanity whispers to us

c’mon, get real! —But faith (+Jesus, scripture) insists.

Is it easy?

Just ask Job; I think the answer is No.

Scripture tells the bare bones of the story, but you can read between the lines;

Job had to struggle mightily.

In the end, it was his trust in God that brought him through.

Will God rescue us?

Probably not; but that’s the thing about trust.

Will things work out as we want?

Maybe not; that’s another thing about trust. Will we recognize the gift God gives when it isn’t what we asked for?

Does that mean a spouse or child should stay in an abusive home?

Absolutely Not!

When we relate to God in trust, rather than in strictly by the letter of the law, there will be a way to remain faithful and safe.

Will it be worthwhile?

I think the answer to that is, “Do you trust God?”