For of such is the kingdom of God

Then He arose from there and came to the region of Judea by the other side of the Jordan. And multitudes gathered to Him again, and as He was accustomed, He taught them again.

The Pharisees came and asked Him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" testing Him. And He answered and said to them, "What did Moses command you?" They said, "Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to dismiss her." And Jesus answered and said to them, "Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. But from the beginning of the 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 then they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."

In the house His disciples also asked Him again about the same matter. So He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.

Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it." And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.

- Mark 10:1-16

In yesterday's reading, Jesus taught the importance of the value of humility and detachment, especially among those who would be great in the kingdom. He said, " If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell." Three times, for emphasis, Jesus repeated this point: better to lose a hand, a foot, an eye, than to cause the little ones to stumble. This is especially in response to the dispute among the disciples about who would be greatest. He said, "For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another."

Then He arose from there and came to the region of Judea by the other side of the Jordan. And multitudes gathered to Him again, and as He was accustomed, He taught them again. He has now completed His Galilean ministry. We recall that all through this time, the disciples have studied with Him, lived with Him, and gone on their first mission. His inner circle has seen His divinity revealed at the Transfiguration -- and they have all been strictly taught about the importance of humility, that the first shall be last, that they -- if they are to be "great" -- must be those who serve. This service is especially extended to the "little ones," the seeming least in the kingdom. My study bible reminds us that all people need teaching: "Teaching is not all people need, but it is indispensable for effective Christian living."

The Pharisees came and asked Him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" testing Him. And He answered and said to them, "What did Moses command you?" They said, "Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to dismiss her." My study bible points out that this subject of divorce would often be debated by the scribes and Pharisees. Here, the Pharisees are testing Jesus. At this time, all that was necessary for divorce was that a dissatisfied husband write a certificate. So, the setting is clear here: divorce is the prerogative of a husband. It is a society in which women are socially inferior.

And Jesus answered and said to them, "Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. But from the beginning of the 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 then they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate." "Hardness of heart" clearly indicates that Jesus considers this to be a concession to the failure of men to understand the nature of marriage, and through human weakness to fail to fulfill its potentials. In His image of marriage here, He accomplishes several things. First of all, male and female are opposites -- different from one another, and more importantly, equals in this partnership as ordained by God. Marriage is an institution that does not reflect the social castigation of one gender -- and particularly an inferior qualification of one against the other. Taking it to an individual level, it is a union of two people who may differ on many levels: social, personal, psychological, financial, etc. It is a union of "the other" and therefore a powerful institution commanding selflessness, against selfishness and self-centeredness. Moreover, clan and family obligation do not apply, in a sense -- they are not to be allowed to interfere with this primary union between two people: the man leaves his family and marries a woman, in this image. He leaves his parents in order to form a new relationship with her. In the context of the society, it is a powerful statement about the rights of the wife, as the man's primary obligation, partner and loyalty. So much so, that the two are one. She is a part of him, not his property, not an inferior. This relationship, as an institution and sacrament, is one that accomplishes a union - a setting for love, equality, belonging, humility as opposed to arrogant pride, respect and emptying of oneself to the other. The two are one: one must clearly love the other as oneself. Note that "no man" should separate this union: again, He reflects the context of the society. It is a clear teaching sanctifying an economy of love and charity toward one another in the home, a reflection of the kingdom - which in its expression of emptying to one another may be at clear odds with the society at large.

In the house His disciples also asked Him again about the same matter. So He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery." So strong is the teaching on marriage as a sacrament, that remarriage here is characterized as adultery. However we must take note that in Jewish society, a woman could not divorce her husband. That is a case only applicable to Gentiles. In Matthew's Gospel, Jesus gives an exception to this rule against divorce: sexual immorality -- which my study bible says was a standard held by the stricter school of the Pharisees at the time. Clearly marriage in this image can be destroyed or damaged by actions on the part of one party or both. The early Church would expand grounds for divorce to include threat to a partner's life, desertion, and forced prostitution.

Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it." And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them. The teaching on marriage as sacred institution and sacrament is couched between teachings involving children, or "little ones" in the church, who wish to enter the kingdom. In this one, Jesus teaches all of them, especially His disciples (whom He rebukes here) about the power of love and acceptance of the kingdom. His teachings may be difficult, out of step with the society, but all must receive as a little child, with love and openness. And of course, such love also constitutes a kind of reflection on love in a marriage in Jesus' picture here: for two to become one involves a profound depth, openness, receiving. The childhood relationship with parents is replaced by the one between spouses. Thus, marriage as a sacrament serves the purpose of teaching us to empty, not to one another alone, but ultimately to God "as a little child." And in both cases, Jesus gives us important teachings on humility -- a theme that has repeated itself in several recent readings.

There is so much that we can read and learn from today's teaching. But perhaps most of all we come somewhat to understand the nature of love in Christ's teaching, because behind all of these teachings regarding marriage and the children in the crowd is the powerful love we learn from God, and the kingdom. Marriage as a sacrament is a form of initiation and institution of this kingdom and its character of love: where sacrament provides us with a mystery into which we enter into union. Marriage has been called the layperson's way to holiness. But in all of these teachings we remember that any initiation into this kingdom, however it comes, is one in which we enter more deeply into love and its nature, manifestation and reflection; hence the teaching on marriage, and the openness of the child. Mark's gospel has repeatedly shown us the difference between the kingdom of the "prince of this world" with its oppressions, violence, slavery and fear, and the one He seeks to bring to the world, the kingdom of God which is distinguished by love: selflessness, humility, charity toward one another, and growing and deeper union -- all established perhaps in opposition to the social structure. This is a tall order for us to live up to! But a sacred institution is one whose aim is to help us to secure God's kingdom of love in this world. Can we still seek to fulfill that for ourselves?