13 People were bringing children to him so that he might touch them, but the talmidim rebuked those people. 14 However, when Yeshua saw it, he became indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me, don’t stop them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Yes! I tell you, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it!” 16 And he took them in his arms, laid his hands on them, and made a b’rakhah over them.
27th Sunday in Ordinary Time
What God has joined together, no human being must separate. (Mark 10:9)Today’s readings could not be more appropriate! This morning, Pope Francis will open the Synod on the Family. For the next three weeks, he will meet with bishops from around the world to talk about the joys and the challenges of family life today. Together, they will ask how the Church can best serve and reach out to all families, no matter their situation. So how encouraging that we hear about God’s power to take two married people and make them into “one body” (Genesis 2:24)!
Yet the Gospel reading brings a note of sadness and challenge since it focuses on divorce and remarriage. Jesus’ words can sound harsh, especially if we have been through a divorce or if a loved one is part of a wounded or broken marriage.
Think about the pain that divorced couples feel. A relationship that began with high hopes has devolved into rejection and pain. What once was “one body” has been torn apart (Genesis 2:24). Does Jesus really sit in condemnation? No. He doesn’t dwell on what went wrong in the past. He wants to meet us where we are and offer us healing and restoration.
If you are divorced, know that Jesus loves you deeply. Think about his encounter with the woman at the well (John 4:4-42). He didn’t condemn her, even though she had been married five times and was living with a man who was not her husband. Instead, he brought her to repentance, healed her, and sent her home to proclaim the good news.
Our Father wants to mend the wounds that happen in every relationship. He wants to reconcile us, transform us, and use us to proclaim his kingdom. So let’s pray for the synod, that the Spirit will help the bishops find just the right way to announce this healing, transforming power of God for every family!
“Jesus, continue to guide your Church. Pour your grace on every family. Let your love flow through us so that we can be your witnesses.” Amen!Genesis 2:18 Adonai, God, said, “It isn’t good that the person should be alone. I will make for him a companion suitable for helping him.” 19 So from the ground Adonai, God, formed every wild animal and every bird that flies in the air, and he brought them to the person to see what he would call them. Whatever the person would call each living creature, that was to be its name. (S: iii) 20 So the person gave names to all the livestock, to the birds in the air and to every wild animal. But for Adam there was not found a companion suitable for helping him.
21 Then God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the person; and while he was sleeping, he took one of his ribs and closed up the place from which he took it with flesh. 22 The rib which Adonai, God, had taken from the person, he made a woman-person; and he brought her to the man-person. 23 The man-person said, “At last! This is bone from my bones and flesh from my flesh. She is to be called Woman [Genesis 2:23 Hebrew: ishah], because she was taken out of Man [Genesis 2:23 Hebrew: ish].” 24 This is why a man is to leave his father and mother and stick with his wife, and they are to be one flesh.
Psalm 128:(0) A song of ascents:
(1) How happy is everyone who fears Adonai,
who lives by his ways.
2 You will eat what your hands have produced;
you will be happy and prosperous.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
in the inner parts of your house.
Your children around the table will be
like shoots from an olive tree.
4 This is the kind of blessing that will fall
on him who fears Adonai.
5 May Adonai bless you from Tziyon!
May you see Yerushalayim prosper
all the days of your life,
6 and may you live to see your children’s children!
Shalom on Isra’el.
Hebrews 2:9 But we do see Yeshua — who indeed was made for a little while lower than the angels — now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by God’s grace he might taste death for all humanity. 10 For in bringing many sons to glory, it was only fitting that God, the Creator and Preserver of everything, should bring the Initiator of their deliverance to the goal through sufferings. 11 For both Yeshua, who sets people apart for God, and the ones being set apart have a common origin — this is why he is not ashamed to call them brothersQuestions for Reflection or Group Discussion:
[Mass Readings:
1st Reading: Genesis 2:18 Adonai, God, said, “It isn’t good that the person should be alone. I will make for him a companion suitable for helping him.” 19 So from the ground Adonai, God, formed every wild animal and every bird that flies in the air, and he brought them to the person to see what he would call them. Whatever the person would call each living creature, that was to be its name. (S: iii) 20 So the person gave names to all the livestock, to the birds in the air and to every wild animal. But for Adam there was not found a companion suitable for helping him.
21 Then God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the person; and while he was sleeping, he took one of his ribs and closed up the place from which he took it with flesh. 22 The rib which Adonai, God, had taken from the person, he made a woman-person; and he brought her to the man-person. 23 The man-person said, “At last! This is bone from my bones and flesh from my flesh. She is to be called Woman [Genesis 2:23 Hebrew: ishah], because she was taken out of Man [Genesis 2:23 Hebrew: ish].” 24 This is why a man is to leave his father and mother and stick with his wife, and they are to be one flesh.
Responsorial: Psalm 128:(0) A song of ascents:
(1) How happy is everyone who fears Adonai,
who lives by his ways.
2 You will eat what your hands have produced;
you will be happy and prosperous.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
in the inner parts of your house.
Your children around the table will be
like shoots from an olive tree.
4 This is the kind of blessing that will fall
on him who fears Adonai.
5 May Adonai bless you from Tziyon!
May you see Yerushalayim prosper
all the days of your life,
6 and may you live to see your children’s children!
Shalom on Isra’el.
2nd Reading: Hebrews 2:9 But we do see Yeshua — who indeed was made for a little while lower than the angels — now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by God’s grace he might taste death for all humanity. 10 For in bringing many sons to glory, it was only fitting that God, the Creator and Preserver of everything, should bring the Initiator of their deliverance to the goal through sufferings. 11 For both Yeshua, who sets people apart for God, and the ones being set apart have a common origin — this is why he is not ashamed to call them brothersGospel: Mark 10:2 Some P’rushim came up and tried to trap him by asking him, “Does the Torah permit a man to divorce his wife?” 3 He replied, “What did Moshe command you?” 4 They said, “Moshe allowed a man to hand his wife a get and divorce her.”[Mark 10:4 Deuteronomy 24:1, 3] 5 But Yeshua said to them, “He wrote this commandment for you because of your hardheartedness. 6 However, at the beginning of creation, God made them male and female.[Mark 10:6 Genesis 1:27, 5:2] 7 For this reason, a man should leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, 8 and the two are to become one flesh.[Mark 10:8 Genesis 2:24] Thus they are no longer two, but one. 9 So then, no one should break apart what God has joined together.” 10 When they were indoors once more, the talmidim asked him about this. 11 He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against his wife; 12 and if a wife divorces her husband and marries another man, she too commits adultery.”
13 People were bringing children to him so that he might touch them, but the talmidim rebuked those people. 14 However, when Yeshua saw it, he became indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me, don’t stop them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Yes! I tell you, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it!” 16 And he took them in his arms, laid his hands on them, and made a b’rakhah over them.
1. In the first reading, we hear that God’s plan for marriage for men and women, from all eternity, was a call to unity (“one flesh”) in love. This is a unity of teamwork and intimate personal relationship where deep emotions are shared and personal dignity is upheld. If you are married, what steps can you take to improve unity, deepen your relationship, and deal better with anger or conflict? If you are not married, what steps can you take to improve unity and deepen your relationship with those you work with or those you are closest to?2. In the Responsorial Psalm, the Lord promises blessings to those “who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways” (Psalm 128:1). What do you think it means to “fear the Lord”? What do you think it means to “walk in his ways”? How important are the support of the Church, and the support of brothers and sisters in Christ, in doing this?
3. The second reading begins by telling us that Jesus tasted “death for everyone” and that he was “made perfect through suffering.” What do these words mean to you?
4. The second reading ends by saying that Jesus is not ashamed to call us his brothers (and sisters) (Hebrews 2:11). Reflect on the magnitude of this statement. How does the truth of it impact you? What are some ways you can strengthen your relationship with other brothers and sisters in Christ within your parish?
5. In the Gospel, we are again reminded of the great importance God places on the Sacrament of Marriage, which has always been part of his eternal plan for men and women. We all know that because of human weakness and sin, marriages can often be beset by many difficulties, and couples often need healing and forgiveness. Jesus reminds us constantly in Scripture how much we need forgiveness, and how often we are to forgive (70 x 7), since he has forgiven us. If you are married are there any areas of unforgiveness between you and your wife, or other members of your family? If you are not married, are there any areas of unforgiveness between you and other members of your family, or other people? What steps can you to take to offer forgiveness, even if you believe that you are the one who was wronged?
6. The meditation offers these encouraging words about God’s desire to heal our wounds, our relationships, and our families: “Our Father wants to mend the wounds that happen in every relationship. He wants to reconcile us, transform us, and use us to proclaim his kingdom. So let’s pray for the synod, that the Spirit will help the bishops find just the right way to announce this healing, transforming power of God for every family!” How can you open yourself more to the “healing, transforming power of God”?
7. Take some time now to pray and ask the Lord to pour out his grace and wisdom on his Church and all our families—that all of us may bear witness to Jesus’ great love. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as the starting point.
“Jesus, continue to guide your Church. Pour your grace on every family. Let your love flow through us so that we can be your witnesses.” Amen!
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