THE INDISSOLUBILITY OF MARRIAGE (HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 19TH WEEK IN THE ORDINARY TIME
Ezekiel 16:1-15, 60, 63; Matt 19:3-12
Homily for Friday of the 19th week in the ordinary time.
The first reading from the Book of the prophet Ezekiel brings to the fore the infidelity of Israel despite the unwavering steadfastness of God to them. How God cared, loved and nurtured the people of Israel whose origin and birth was unwanted, uncared, unloved and miserable. How God took her to himself in love, made a covenant with her, blessed her, provided for her, conquered their enemies and embellished her with beautiful ornaments and jewels and yet the response of Israel as the bride was that of ingratitude and unfaithfulness.
The Lord God made known his dissatisfaction and disappointment about Israel who were constantly wayward, rejecting God and fashioning for themselves ways that are unpleasant in the sight of God. They committed idolatry and persecuted the messengers who had been sent to them over time, and abandoned God. Brothers and sisters in Christ, all these wrongdoings notwithstanding God did not abandon them. God through the prophet Ezekiel reiterated his enduring love for the people of Israel even while they were in exile. He promised them an establishment of a new covenant (Ezek 16:60).
Friends in Christ, Jesus is the new covenant: The establishment and fulfilment of God's love for the salvation of humanity. God out of his great love and mercy sent us his only begotten Son so that through him the world may know salvation.
In the Gospel reading of today, the Pharisees interrogated Jesus: Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife on any pretext whatever? Jesus took time to counsel them on the original purpose and plan of God prior o the modification of the law in other to lure them to acceptance. In the original plan of God, the creator made them male and female and said this is why a man must leave father and mother and cling to his wife and the two become one body. They are no longer two but one body. Hence, what God had united, man must not divide. Thus, marriage as ordained but God is devoid of divorce. It is eternal and unbreakable. However, the modification done by Moses, following the further interrogation by the Pharisees was a result of the unteachable and insubordinate heart of the people. Hence, Jesus insisted that any man who divorces his wife and marries another is guilty of Adultery.
Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, in our world of today marital divorce, is seemingly on the rise with so many factors mitigating and wrecking the union of couples. We pray for them today that the grace of God will abide with them. That they may witness a renewal of the love they have for one another at the inception of their union; may they experience one another as needful companions for the betterment of the family. May the difficulties they may experience in marriage never divide them rather may they be strengthened in their zeal and love for one another. May they be witnesses and models of the church's teachings on the indissolubility of marriage and may God crown their effort and union with success. Amen
Have a blissful day
Fr Remi osj
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