Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate

 

 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 continued to teach the disciples regarding the places of greatness in His Church:   "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.  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, into the fire that shall never be quenched -- where 'Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.'  And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off.  It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched -- where 'Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.'  And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out.  It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire -- where 'Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.'  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.  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." My study Bible comments that in contrast to the easy access to divorce under the Mosaic Law, and because of the misuse of divorce at the time of Christ, Jesus repeatedly condemns divorce (see, for example, Matthew 5:31-32 and 19:8-9) and emphasizes the eternal nature of marriage.  Jesus cites Genesis 1:27, 5:2 and Genesis 2:24 in His statement about the nature of marriage as a holy institution.  Here in Mark's Gospel Christ's statement against divorce is categorical, but in Matthew's Gospel He makes an exception ("for sexual immorality" - Matthew 19:8-9), showing that the bonds of marriage can be destroyed by sin, which in any case is still acknowledged in the Church as a spiritual tragedy.  In the early Church the permissible reasons for divorce were expanded to include threat to a spouse's or  child's life and desertion.

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.  My study Bible comments that, according to Theophylact, the disciples rebuked the mothers for bringing little children to Christ both because their manner was "unruly" and also because they thought children "diminished His dignity as Teacher and Master."  But Jesus rejects this thinking, and instead sets little children as an example of those who inherit the kingdom of God.   Therefore, my study Bible says, children are invited (even as an example to adults) to participate in the Kingdom through prayer, worship, baptism, christmation, and Communion.  Elsewhere Theophylact writes, "A little child is not arrogant, he does not despise anyone, he is innocent and guileless.  He does not inflate himself in the presence of important people, nor withdraw from those in sorrows.  Instead, he lives in complete simplicity."

Jesus holds up little children as the standard by which one receives the kingdom of God in today's reading.  But let us look at the context, for He continues to address issues of power and rank, as was begun in Saturday's reading when He responded to the disciples' dispute about who would have the places of greatest honor ("who would be the greatest") in the Kingdom they expect will be His.  Clearly they think a worldly, material kingdom will manifest as they understand Christ to be the Messiah, in keeping with popular expectation.  But Jesus begins to address notions of greatness in both Saturday's and Monday's readings (see above), teaching them what greatness means in the context of His Church, and hence what kind of stewards and bishops they must become.  In today's reading, the Pharisees' question serves as another basis for Christ to address notions of power and social status, and the proper conduct for those who call themselves His followers.  In particular, of course, this statement regarding divorce is brought in response to questions that apply to men, as Jewish women could not ask for divorce.  In Christ's time, this was a very hotly debated topic, with the Pharisees actually coming down more on the side Jesus advocates, rather than their opponents.  The subject could also involve complicated problems regarding money brought into the marriage and questions that pertained to second marriages as well, even practices in which the same couple divorced and remarried for financial reasons.  When Jesus speaks of the "hardness of your hearts" He is addressing men as those who would obtain the certificate of divorce for reasons that could be trivial (or simply financial, as the case may be).   Moreover, let us understand the position of women in the society which often was dependent upon marriage.  If we look at Christ's own mother, we understand through tradition that her marriage to Joseph was a conventional one for protection and respectability; she had been consecrated as young child for service in the Temple, and her marriage to an older man, Joseph, was expected to remain chaste.  So the questions of divorce, and even the subsequent discussion about little children -- the second time in as many days the topic has come up -- remains focused on issues of power and its abuse.  Marriage as an institution of God is understood as fidelity to union:  "the two shall become one flesh," with devotion paramount to the marriage over and against even father and mother ("a man shall leave his father and mother").  These are important questions to understand in the context of the society and questions of inheritance and social status, and in particular the dependency of women on marriage.  In a modern context, we might consider that society has worked very hard at creating conditions of material and social equality for men and women, but nevertheless marriage remains a foundation for social structure, both for men and women and for children as well.  There remain clear spiritual, psychological, and even physical health benefits from such relationships.  It remains a spiritual tragedy for abuse to destroy the bonds of marriage, even when material hardship is minimized or lessened.  Christ's emphasis on fidelity within this context remains essential for us to understand what loving relationships are, including His emphasis on the goodness of little children.  He knocks down all sense of rank or social status within the context of love and the ways in which He calls upon us to view one another and to treat one another -- even to cherish one another.  It remains our challenge, as we can simply look around ourselves and see how many relationships seem to break down into questions of hierarchy and balance of power rather than love.  From my observation, this applies to modern relationships in all contexts, despite social movements made in the name of equality and gender rights.   Clearly problems of hierarchy and power remain within modern relationships of all kinds, with Jesus' implications over the past few readings remaining firmly in the context of love and fidelity, and against abuse of any kind.   Men and women in marriage are "one flesh" and little children "of the kingdom of God."    Let us remember the spiritual tragedy of abuse, and seek to cherish one another as Christ teaches.