Friday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 345
Reading 1
James 5:9-12
Do not complain, brothers and sisters, about one another,
that you may not be judged.
Behold, the Judge is standing before the gates.
Take as an example of hardship and patience, brothers and sisters,
the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
Indeed we call blessed those who have persevered.
You have heard of the perseverance of Job,
and you have seen the purpose of the Lord,
because the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
But above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear,
either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath,
but let your "Yes" mean "Yes" and your "No" mean "No,"
that you may not incur condemnation.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 8-9, 11-12
R. (8a) The Lord is kind and merciful.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
He pardons all your iniquities,
he heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
he crowns you with kindness and compassion.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
He will not always chide,
nor does he keep his wrath forever.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
Alleluia
See John 17:17b, 17a
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Your word, O Lord, is truth;
consecrate us in the truth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Mark 10:1-12
Jesus came into the district of Judea and across the Jordan.
Again crowds gathered around him and, as was his custom,
he again taught them.
The Pharisees approached him and asked,
"Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?"
They were testing him.
He said to them in reply, "What did Moses command you?"
They replied,
"Moses permitted a husband to write a bill of divorce
and dismiss her."
But Jesus told them,
"Because of the hardness of your hearts
he wrote you this commandment.
But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female.
For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother
and be joined to his wife,
and the two shall become one flesh.
So they are no longer two but one flesh.
Therefore what God has joined together,
no human being must separate."
In the house the disciples again questioned Jesus about this.
He said to them,
"Whoever divorces his wife and marries another
commits adultery against her;
and if she divorces her husband and marries another,
she commits adultery.”
Reflection 1
Catholic Daily Reflections
Resolving Conflict
Jesus came into the district of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds gathered around him and, as was his custom, he again taught them. The Pharisees approached him and asked, “Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?” They were testing him. Mark 10:1–2
Notice the contrast above. The crowds gathered around Jesus to listen to Him. Clearly, they were coming to faith. But the Pharisees came to Jesus to test Him. They did not come in faith; they came with jealousy and envy and were already seeking to trap Him. The question they proposed was a trick question, not an honest attempt at communication with our Lord. They presumed that however Jesus answered the question, some people would be offended. The Pharisees were ready to stir things up, since so many were flocking to Jesus. Also, the Pharisees wanted to find fault with Jesus’ answer so as to show that He opposed the Law of Moses. But Jesus’ answer was perfect.
Much could be said about the content of Jesus’ answer. He clearly supports the indissolubility of marriage. He states that “what God has joined together, no human being must separate.” He adds: “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.” For those who have suffered through a divorce, it is important to prayerfully ponder this teaching from our Lord. It is also important to work with the Church Tribunal to examine the marriage in the light of truth so that a determination can be made about the validity or invalidity of the marriage bond. With that said, the approach that both the crowds and the Pharisees took toward Jesus also teaches us an important lesson about communication, not only with God but also with one another. This is a lesson that is especially important for married couples to learn.
Think about your own approach to communication. When you struggle with conflict with another, how do you resolve it? How do you bring your questions and concerns to your spouse? The crowds came to Jesus to listen and understand. The reward was the gift of faith in that they received a deeper knowledge of Who Jesus was. The Pharisees, however, came to Jesus with the intent of finding fault with Him. And though it is obviously foolish to take this approach with our Lord, it is also foolish to do so with another, especially a spouse.
Use the above approaches of the crowds and the Pharisees to think about how you come to others with your questions and concerns. When there is some conflict or misunderstanding, do you come with an open mind and heart, seeking to understand and resolve the question? Or do you come with a loaded question so as to trap and find fault with the other? So many conflicts in life with others, especially among spouses, could be resolved if the goal of any conversation was simply to understand the other person, not trap them or find fault with them. This is hard for many people to do and requires much humility and openness.
Reflect, today, upon any relationship with which you are currently struggling. Reflect, especially, upon whether your approach to communication with that person is more like the crowds or more like the Pharisees. Commit yourself to the approach of seeking open and honest communication and you will find that this commitment brings true resolution, peace and unity.
Reflection 2
One Bread, One Body
SAVING MARRIAGE
“They are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore let no man separate what God has joined.” —Mark 10:8-9
The name Jesus means: “Yahweh saves.” We need Jesus to save us not only from sin and death, but also from the impossible dilemmas of marriage. For example, human beings are social and sexual. Therefore, we want to be with others and are attracted to have sexual relations with some of these people. Human beings also want to be loved deeply and forever. We do not want to be used, “dumped,” and rejected. Therefore, we are made to seek a permanent commitment of love, which is often expressed in marriage. However, because of our stubborn, fallen human nature (see Mk 10:5), we aren’t able to be close to people for a long time without hurting them badly and being hurt by them. Consequently, our nature has deep-seated needs which can’t be fulfilled. We are doomed. Marriage is doomed. Therefore, Moses permitted divorce in an attempt to limit the bad effects of being married in our human condition (Dt 24:1ff).
Jesus announced that divorce was no longer necessary (Mt 19:8-9). He is God and is able to change our human nature so that we can fulfill our legitimate needs. Baptized into Jesus, we can love deeply and forever. The life and marriage we want are now possible. Christ’s salvation and our Baptism into Him makes divorce obsolete and matrimony holy, not harmful. Accept Jesus as the Savior of your marriage and your life.
Prayer: Father, I will live my new marriage and my new life in Jesus.
Promise: “Let it be ‘yes’ if you mean yes and ‘no’ if you mean no. In this way you will not incur condemnation.” —Jas 5:12
Praise: Steve and Rhonda rise early each morning for prayer together as a married couple.
Reflection 3
The Servants of the Word
What God Has Joined Together
What is God's intention for our state in life, whether married or single? Jesus deals with the issue of divorce by taking his hearers back to the beginning of creation and to God's plan for the human race. In Genesis 2:23-24 we see God's intention and ideal that two people who marry should become so indissolubly one that they are one flesh. That ideal is found in the unbreakable union of Adam and Eve. They were created for each other and for no one else. They are the pattern and symbol for all who were to come.
We belong to God and not to ourselves
Jesus explains that Moses permitted divorce as a concession in view of a lost ideal. Jesus sets the high ideal of the married state before those who are willing to accept his commands. Jesus, likewise sets the high ideal for those who freely renounce marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 19:11-12). Both marriage and celibacy are calls from God to live a consecrated life, that is to live as married couples or as singles who belong not to themselves but to God. Our lives are not our own - they belong to God (1 Corinthians 6:19b,20; Romans 14:7-8).
The Lord Jesus through the gift of the Holy Spirit gives the grace and the power to those who seek to follow his way of holiness in their state of life. His grace and power bring freedom, discipline, and strength to live a life of love, joy, and holiness. Do you seek the Lord and his grace (his strength and power) in your state of life?
Prayers
Lord of all truth, You desire that I always come to You with sincerity, honesty and humility, seeking resolution to every internal question and conflict I face. You call me to approach others with this same depth of communication. Give me the grace to always seek the unity and truth that result in peace of mind and heart. Jesus, I trust in You.
Lord Jesus Christ, your call to holiness extends to all in every state of life. Sanctify our lives - as married couples and as singles - that we may live as men and women who are consecrated to you. Make us leaven in a society that disdains life-long marriage fidelity, chastity, and living single for the Lord
Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy
Reflection 144: Your Holiness is a Gift to Others
Jesus deeply desires to pour forth His Divine Mercy into your soul. He desires to transform your sin and make you His perfect dwelling place. This is a gift beyond what we can grasp, but one we are invited to accept. Accepting the countless graces from our Lord is not only for our good, it’s also for the good of others. Jesus wants you to become holy in every way out of love for you, as His precious child. But He also wants you to become holy for the good of others. The holier you become, the more abundant is the Mercy of God in your life. And the more abundant the Mercy of God in your life, the more others will be blessed by God’s Mercy through you (See Diary #723).
Do you seek holiness? If so, it’s easy to think of this goal in a selfish way. It’s easy to seek holiness and Mercy for our own good. But if the gift we experience is truly the Mercy of God in our souls, then we will be compelled to let Him distribute this overflowing Mercy to others through us. Mercy cannot be kept in a selfish way for selfish purposes. It must be received so that we become an instrument to others. Reflect upon yourself being this instrument today, and offer yourself to God for this holy purpose.
Dear Lord, I thank You for the abundance of Your Mercy in my life. I thank You for loving me as Your precious child. Help me to be transformed by Your love and, in turn, to become an instrument of Your overflowing grace to others. Jesus, I trust in You.
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