27th Sunday of Ordinary Times

Today’s scripture readings center on our call from God toward perfection. In Genesis, God was creating a new and pure world, a world before the fall, a world of harmony and love. Jesus by His coming, recalls that Perfection created by God. He returns again to the indissolubility of marriage and uses children as an example of purity of heart and soul.

               In Judaism the dissolubility of marriage was accepted practice and was traced back to the law of Moses (Deut 24:1-4).But Jesus reminds us of the big picture of what God intended marriage should be. His radical teaching on indissolubility of marriage got him into cultural trouble with the Jewish people, because he encouraged the husband to regard his wife as a partner and not a possession. Jesus attempts to restore marriage to the position it ought to have and see woman in her rightful and dignified position as man’s equal, and not a trash.

               Today, we still live in an imperfect time. We still have much to learn. But Jesus has come to teach us and set us free, if we are willing. All were welcome around Jesus. Jesus spoke to Pharisees and children alike, He ate with sinners and leaders, He invited rich and poor, men and women together around him, He touches the unclean and healed the sick. And, the Letters to the Hebrews indicates that Jesus suffered and died for us so that we could live a new life and a new hope.

               We all know people who have been through divorce. Bring one such person and hi or her hurts and worries before Jesus. Tell Jesus your concerns about him or her and ask Jesus to take care of that person. When asked about marriage, One man said, “I better not say anything. I’m a married man.” One wife said, “It depends on the day whether I’m for it or against it.” One widow said, “Enjoy it while you can.” On the eve of their 70^th wedding anniversary, a couple were asked their advice on how to live a long and happy life in marriage. Here are four rules they came up with: Keep active. Be temperate. Trust in God. Take a nap every afternoon.