Breaking the Word

19th Week in Ord. Time, Saturday – 19th August 2023 — Joshua 24,14-29; Mt 19,13-15
Being Faithful

In the first reading, at the end of his life of service of God and people, Joshua asks the Chosen people if they will serve the Lord and God alone or they will turn their hearts to one of the multitudes of gods worshiped by the ancestors. As far as Joshua and his family are concerned, they will continue to serve Yahweh. Joshua then publicly makes his own commitment, hoping to elicit a similar commitment from Israel. The people re-affirm what God has done for them and they say they will serve the Lord. He is warning them of their over-confidence. Joshua admits that it is not easy serving God because God demands total fidelity. The Lord God is a jealous God and demands quite a bit from those who would be faithful. However, the rewards of serving the Lord are continued possession of the Promised Land. Joshua renews the solemn covenant made by God with the Hebrew ancestors. He then lays down a statute and ordinances for them in Shechem and sets up a stone as witness. It was the seventh memorial in the land to remind Israel of what the Lord had done for them through his servant.

19^th Week in Ord. Time, Friday – 18^th August 2023   — Gospel:       Mt 19,3-12

Fulfilling God’s intent

This section brings out Jesus’ teachings as a response to the three questions that were put forth. First, there is the lead question by the Pharisees about divorce (19,3). Jesus answers that God the Creator did not include the dissolution of marriage as a viable option (19,4-6). Second, there is the follow-up question about Moses’ permitting people to divorce (19,7). To this Jesus answers that divorce was permitted because of sin, and that divorce is a sin (19,8-9). Third, there is the disciple’s cynical question that it would be better not to marry (19,10). Jesus answers that a special measure of grace is required for people to abstain from marriage (19,11-12).

Jesus’ teaching seems to be counter-cultural even in his own time. He affirms resolutely that marriage, as originally intended by God, was meant to be a permanent, life-long commitment. According to him, the unity of man and woman is a re-enactment of the design of God for creation. Divorce goes contrary to the design of the creator, and it is to be considered either rebellion against or failure to fulfill the will of God. Jesus emphasizes God’s intent “from the beginning,” that is, before sin entered the world.  His words imply that from the beginning God had it one way and never changed it, but then Moses gave another. And now I am going to restore the divine way. The believer should not fall into the trap of a culture that allows divorce for any reason. He should keep in mind the divine will of the creator and try to live life as God intended it.