Daily Readings - Fri Mar 01 2019
Mark
1And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to him again. And again, as was his custom, he taught them.2And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?"3He answered them, "What did Moses command you?"4They said, "Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away."5And Jesus said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.6But from the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female.'7'Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife,8and they shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two but one flesh.9What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate."10And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter.11And he said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her,12and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the sacred bonds of relationship and the fidelity that sustains them. In the first reading from Sirach, we are reminded that true friendship is a gift from God, a treasure that requires trust, loyalty, and perseverance. The author warns us to test the mettle of those we call friends and to cherish those who stand by us through trials. A true friend, we are told, is a steadfast companion, a shelter in times of need, and a reflection of God’s faithfulness. This wisdom calls us to nurture our relationships with care and gratitude, recognizing that they are not merely human connections but also a way of experiencing God’s love.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches about the indissoluble union of marriage, emphasizing that it is not a human invention but a divine institution rooted in the order of creation. He challenges the Pharisees’ casual acceptance of divorce, insisting that marriage is a sacred bond between a man and a woman that reflects the unity and love of God. Just as a true friend is a gift, so too is a spouse. Jesus calls us to approach marriage with reverence, commitment, and fidelity, understanding that it is a vocation that mirrors the covenantal love of God for his people.
These readings remind us that all meaningful relationships—whether friendship or marriage—are rooted in God’s plan and call for us to live with fidelity and love. In a world where commitments are often fleeting, we are challenged to cherish and nurture the bonds that unite us. Let us ask ourselves: Am I a faithful friend? Am I a loyal spouse? Do I approach my relationships with the reverence and gratitude they deserve? May we seek to reflect God’s love in all our relationships, trusting that he will strengthen us to live with the fidelity and devotion that these sacred bonds require.