The True Meaning of Marriage

Twenty-seventh Sunday

in Ordinary Time

03 October 2021 

 

First Reading: GN 2:18-24

Responsorial Psalm: PS 128:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6

Second Reading: HEB 2:9-11

Gospel: MK 10:2-16 or 10:2-12

 

Reflection

By: Bernard Borja

 

When God created the earth, He gave man the freedom to decide the names of the animals. "Whatever the man called each of them would be its name." This is one of the first manifestations of co-creation when God lets man take a big part in His creation. God always listens to what man has to say, and let man use his freedom to decide things for the good of the whole creation. But even with this, only God knows what is good for His creation. When none of the creatures proved to be the suitable partner for the man, God created the woman out of the man's flesh. This is how the very first marriage came to be.

God Himself is the author of marriage. It is a natural law created ever since the beginning when man was created according to the image and likeness of God. Marriage has always been indissoluble, and in accordance with procreation. While marriage has always been one of the most beautiful creations of God, it has also been tainted with sin ever since Adam and Eve disobeyed God. Humankind took the freedom to decide on its own, even though it will break the natural law. But even though man continues to choose to "cross the line", God will always pursue us to bring back the beauty and sacredness of marriage, just like in the beginning.

During the time of Moses, divorce was permitted because of the hardness of the Israelites' hearts. Even today, there is still hardness in the hearts of humankind that continues to stain and even change the true meaning of marriage.

Divorce did not come from God. It was only allowed since the time of Moses because of couples are not anymore able to "work out" their relationship. But the rule of divorce has always been the same - one cannot divorce his or her spouse for the purpose of marrying another. In today's generation, it seems this rule does not matter. Divorce became an option, even when one is not yet married, for the reason that "the couple may find out that they are not meant for each other." This perception takes away one of the most important things that marriage requires - commitment. I remember a part of the homily during my friend's wedding when the priest shared, "There is something about commitment that changes the consistency of relationships, and that is not simply at the mercy of uncertain things yet to come." This commitment is affirmed during the exchange of vows when the couple promises "to be true to each other, in sickness and in health, to love and honor each other for the rest of their lives." But why is it that these words are easily overtaken by setting an option to "bail out" whenever one realizes that they are not meant to be? The perception of marriage, and the value of it, has evolved into something like a goal for couples when things are blissful but easily set aside in difficult times.

Jesus healed the tainted meaning of marriage. He continues to restore in us the value of this sacrament by reminding us that no human being must separate what God has joined together. Jesus also explained that divorce is only a physical separation of spouses, but they will remain husband and wife before the church. Marriage will always be indissoluble and commitment is one of the essential things needed to preserve it. People may think that this is difficult to achieve, and this maybe the reason why some are open to divorce. But by the grace of God, who for a little while was made lower than the angels and understands everything about being human, marriage is a wonderful journey that is worth every moment of a couple's life. Through Jesus Christ who consecrates, those being consecrated are constantly reminded and brought back to the true meaning of marriage.

 

Prayer

 

Lord, help us to truly understand the meaning of marriage so that we may continue to give utmost importance to this sacrament. Seeking the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Stay Grateful!

Second Sunday of Easter

Sunday of Divine Mercy

11 April 2021 

 

First Reading:  ACTS 4:32-35

Responsorial Psalm:  PS 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24

Second Reading:  1 JN 5:1-6

Gospel:  JN 20:19-31

 

Reflection

By: Fely C. Santiago

 

"Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His love is everlasting."

 

At this time of the pandemic when people are losing their jobs, businesses are closing down, families are losing their loved ones to CoVid-19, there is just so much uncertainty and anxiety. How long will this pandemic last? How long, O Lord? This is the question of so many of us.

And it can be overwhelming. And today we are reminded to give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His love is everlasting in whatever circumstances we may have.

Can we pause for a while and be present for the moment? This is the Second Sunday of Easter and we should be thankful that we are still alive! Start writing down the things that you are thankful for and you will be surprised! Start it right now. Thank God for  a new life every morning, for the sunshine, for the rain, for the trees, for the flowers, the plants, the mountains, the sea, your eyes to see, your ears to hear, there is food on the table, you still have your feet to walk, you have friends, you can still meet people online, the gift of technology, you can connect and browse the internet, you have your phone, the comfort of your bed, the air-conditioner, the electric fan, your kitchen, your home, and on and on and on. How many were you able to list down?

 

Yes, we may be filled with dark clouds but the Lord is here. Let us keep the faith and hope in the Lord. Let us thank Him for His continued presence and unconditional love. We just have to believe that. The Lord is our only refuge at this time of the pandemic and for that we should already give thanks. We pray for the big things and forget to give thanks for the ordinary, small (and yet really not small) gifts. We strive for the grand spiritual adventure, which we haven't had, and neglect the many gifts from God that we do have. Let us be satisfied with the small measure of spiritual knowledge, experience, and love that has been given to us.

Give thanks to the Lord for He is everlasting!

Prayer

 

Lord Jesus for whatever life may bring I say THANK YOU! Give me the grace of a grateful heart all the time. Because when there is gratitude and humility, there is peace. Thank You for everything You have given me Lord including the gift of life that I sometimes take for granted. All this I pray in Jesus' Name. Amen.

 

 

 

Live to Rise Like Angels!

Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time 10 November 2019
First reading 2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14

Seven brothers and their mother were arrested and were being compelled by the king, under torture with whips and thongs, to partake of unlawful swine’s flesh. One of them, acting as their spokesman, said, “What do you intend to ask and learn from us? For we are ready to die rather than transgress the laws of our ancestors.” And when he was at his last breath, he said, “You accursed wretch, you dismiss us from this present life, but the King of the universe will raise us up to an everlasting renewal of life, because we have died for his laws.”

After him, the third was the victim of their sport. When it was demanded, he quickly put out his tongue and courageously stretched forth his hands and said nobly, “I got these from Heaven and because of his laws I disdain them and from him I hope to get them back again.”

As a result, the king himself and those with him were astonished at the young man’s spirit, for he regarded his sufferings as nothing. After he too had died, they maltreated and tortured the fourth in the same way. When he was near death, he said, “One cannot but choose to die at the hands of mortals and to cherish the hope God gives of being raised again by him. But for you there will be no resurrection to life!”

Second reading                                                          2 Thessalonians 2:16–3:5

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word.

Finally, brothers and sisters, pray for us, so that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified everywhere, just as it is among you and that we may be rescued from wicked and evil people; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.

And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will go on doing the things that we command. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

Gospel                                                                          Luke 20:27-38

Some Sadducees, those who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus to question him, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no children, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. Now there were seven brothers; the first married and died childless; then the second and the third married her and so in the same way all seven died childless. Finally the woman also died. In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had married her.”

Jesus said to them, “Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage; but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. Indeed they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself showed, in the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive.”

Reflection

By Anabelle P. Balla

I will praise your name for ever, my God, the God of the living!

Today is the birthday of my second daughter, Cereza. Her life is a gift to us, a life to protect and enrich. We thank the Lord for entrusting her precious life to us along with her other three sisters, and the many living things that He surrounds us with.

The flowers, the trees, the plants, the birds, the animals, the children – all breathing, all beautiful, all manifest the amazing Creator of the living! We are all made to live not just to exist but to do wonders with what we have, with the things around us. Everything that is beautiful and living is of God. And He makes them vibrant, significant and more impactful! 

We are to make our life beautiful, fruitful! We need to be living, not dying within because of sins or unproductive life. Living is being alive with God, doing His works, loving and nurturing His creations (including ourselves). Living is being a child of God, being more like Him, imitating His goodness so that even after death, we will still live, raised back to life as angels - filled with overflowing joy, dancing and singing in exultation.

Prayer

Father, thank You for breathing life into us, into our world. Thank You for living in us, making our life wonderful to live on. Allow us to live in You, to stay with You, In Jesus' name. Amen.