Responding to our unique vocation (HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE NINETEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR II (AUGUST 16, 2024)

HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE NINETEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR II (AUGUST 16, 2024)

Ezekiel 16:1-15,60,63; Isa.12; Matthew 19:3-12

Responding to our unique vocation

“Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?” By this question, the Pharisees in today’s gospel, sought for an exception to the law of indissolubility of marriage such that the bond of marriage will no longer be permanent. Probably one or two difficult experiences may have informed this question of the Pharisees. In fact, today, some couples tend to regret the day they vowed to remain one for the rest of their lives.

Jesus’ answer was simply to reiterate the indissolubility of marriage. When man and woman become one, we cannot talk about separation without destruction. Thus in stressing the unity of marriage, Jesus was calling for perseverance. There will be many factors and situations that will threaten the peaceful co-existence of married people. In all, they must learn to overcome.

As soon as a man and woman validly exchanges consent, God recognizes the bond between them. This means that they can only find meaning in life within the context of that union. A story was told of two friends John and James who were given N1,000 note as Christmas gift by Mr Paul, a neighbour. Mr Paul asked them to share the money equally. In their innocence, they divided the one thousand naira note into two equal halves and each went home with his half.

John joyfully approached the woman in the supermarket by the house to buy biscuits. The woman complained that John’s money was torn but John tried to explained that the money is not torn rather he and his friend shared it equally as Mr Paul instructed. At that point, the woman understood and smiled. She explained to John that unless he joins this half of the money with the other half, neither he (John) nor James will be able to use the money.

Immediately, John went in search of James. When he found James, he narrated his experience. James too had the same experience while trying to indomie. When they joined the two halves of the one thousand naira note, each was able to buy their desired biscuits and indomie.

Dear married people, each of you are like the halves of the one thousand naira note. The tearing is divorce. If you attempt to tear, you will never find fulfilment. If you have torn, the solution is to reunite. Marriage works out when both parties are ready to work it out and are ready to persevere. Never stop giving each other another chance to get it right. Please, please and please, forgive; forgive again and again and again.

However important marriage is, it is never compulsory. God has given some persons the grace to remain unmarried namely: a Catholic Priest, a Consecrated person, a widow or widower (who refuses to remarry after the death of the spouse) and so on. None of these do anything wrong. If they are faithful to their state, while not negating the Sacrament of Matrimony, it is grace that is at work in them. Thus, whether married or not, faithfulness to one’s vocation is the common denominator.