Today’s Gospel deals with something that can be even more painful than death: when one has given one’s heart to another in love and in trust and the other person does not honor the commitment and breaks the trust. As well as the dangers of tragedy or death, we have to face the possibility and the pain of relationships failing or turning sour. Love is beautiful, but it is also delicate, and it can be fragile. The rending of a love relationship can leave us shattered in such a way that healing seems impossible.
Jesus is asked his opinion on the topic of divorce which often disadvantages women and leaves them completely vulnerable. He challenges the men of his time to focus on God’s design for marriage as a relationship based on love, respect and equality. It is a way of life in which men and women can grow, through unselfish commitment, to become humble and grace-filled adults.
This is not to say that every marriage is made in heaven. Sometimes we human beings, even with the best will in the world, enter into destructive relationships that cannot bring either person to this mature loving. In such cases we need the courage and the humility to acknowledge our mistake and to go through the pain of separation. We will need as much understanding and love from the community as it can give.
Whatever path we walk in our journey of giving and receiving love, we are not meant to be alone. We need community, and it is here that the Church has a key role, in supporting us as we strive to build love and in supporting us when our efforts collapse about us.
Wherever we find ourselves in our relationships, let us remember the good news that God is love, and that all God’s grace is now being offered us to find the truth that will set us free. Everyone in this church, whatever our past history, is capable now of loving and receiving love.
We must not compare ourselves to others or attempt to measure our love. Knowing that we are not meant to be alone, let us take whatever small steps of love present themselves to us and we will be astonished at the results. God is love and so love – any real love – is the stuff of which miracles are made.Welcome Bishop Zubik: This Wednesday, October 6th, we welcome Bishop Zubik as he comes to our parish to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation to our 9th grade parishioners. Please pray that as these young people receive the Holy Spirit, they will use their gifts and talents for the Glory of God and for ministry in the Church.