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Mark 10:2-16

Gospel according to Mark 10:2-16

The Pharisees approached Jesus 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." And people were bringing children to him that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, "Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it." Then he embraced them and blessed them, placing his hands on them.
Wedding at Cana - Paolo Veronese, 1563 - Louvre Museum, Paris

Reflections

In the first section of today’s Gospel, Jesus demonstrates that He has come not to abolish the law of Moses, but to complete it through the New Covenant. When the Pharisees ask Jesus about divorce, He highlights that Moses permitted divorce only because of the hardness of people’s hearts. Jesus explains that, from the very beginning, God’s intention was for marriage to be a lifelong union between husband and wife. This completion of the Old Testament law calls us to reflect on whether or not the way we are living is according to God’s original plan.

Furthermore, this section of the passage teaches a fundamental lesson on the sanctity of marriage. Jesus teaches very explicitly that whoever remarries after divorce commits the sin of adultery. He calls all of his followers to strive to uphold the commitment to fidelity that marriage entails. This teaching on the insolubility of the marital bond can challenge more contemporary views on marriage and divorce. It teaches that marriage is so much more than just a social contract – It is a Divine Sacrament that embodies and reflects God’s unconditional love for His followers.

In addition, Jesus’ interaction with the Pharisees demonstrates their worldly thinking. While they focus on the legalistic aspects of the law, Jesus contrasts their thinking by pointing to God’s will and the law’s spiritual intent. The Pharisees only expose their blatant failure to grasp the heart of God’s commandments when they attempt to trap Jesus with their question about divorce. This interaction serves as a warning against reducing our faith to a set of rules that must be followed – Jesus urges us instead to accept God’s commandments along with their deeper spiritual meaning.

The second half of today’s passage reaffirms the importance of protecting the vulnerable in society, as demonstrated by Jesus’ response to the Disciples when they rebuke the children. Jesus teaches that the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are humble and poor in spirit – like little children. He reminds us that in the Kingdom of God, social status, wealth and power are irrelevant. By protecting the vulnerable in society, we are opening our hearts to God’s unconditional love and grace. The unifying theme in today’s Gospel is the severity of hard-heartedness toward God and His Creation. Through both the Pharisees’ rigid adherence to the law, as well as through the Disciples’ rebuking of the children, the passage shows us that with a hardened heart, we can only distance ourselves from God – With a hardened heart, we are prevented from fully understanding and experiencing His will. Jesus calls us to move beyond blind adherence to the law and to instead embrace a faith that is compassionate and aligned with God’s intentions. By transforming our hearts of stone, we can enter into a deeper and more authentic relationship with the Father. We are called today to examine our conscience, and to listen to what God is telling us throughout our lives.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus asks us to be like the Father, forgiving, tolerant, compassionate, and loving. Examine our hearts, and if we find evidence of hardness of heart, be open to formation and transformation. How do we achieve a change of heart? According to Pope Fracis, loving others requires a “leap of the heart” (2021). --A leap that, with Martin Buber’s words, reaches from the “I” to the “Thou,” and creates bonds of sharing and communion (Buber, 2008).

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