Reflection for August 12, Friday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 19:3-12

Gospel: Matthew 19:3-12

Some Pharisees approached Jesus, and tested him, saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?” He said in reply, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female and said, 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, man must not separate.” They said to him, “Then why did Moses command that the man give the woman a bill of divorce and dismiss her?” He said to them, “Because of the hardness of your hearts Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) and marries another commits adultery.”  

His disciples said to him, “If that is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” He answered, “Not all can accept this word, but only those to whom that is granted. Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it.”

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Reflection:

How’s your married life? 

Every marriage relationship has its own imperfections and some passes though the severe test of fire. Ask any married couple and they will silently say that they have their own share of disagreements and issues.  

If they have their problems why do they stay in their marriage covenant and try very hard to make it work? They stay and try hard to make the marriage work because they believe in the sanctity of the Sacrament of Marriage.  

Problems and issues are part of the marriage journey but notice also that as you move forward with the married journey. You would also discern that problems and issues will start to dissipate until it eventually disappears. Therefore what will remain is your love for each other and your willingness to sacrifice for the marriage to be successful.  

But reality bites, there really are unsuccessful marriages whether we admit it or not. In spite of this sad reality we still have to believe in the sanctity of the marriage covenant. When temptation lurks around like a shark eyeing its prey we have to try our best to avoid it.  

How are we going to avoid being tempted? We have to strongly fight the tempter which is the devil and we have to vividly remember the marriage covenant that we promised before God. Otherwise the marriage might be torn apart.  

Believe in the sanctity of your marriage and avoid the devil like a plague and you’ll have a beautiful and peaceful life ahead of you.  How’s your marriage? – Marino J. Dasmarinas