Breaking the Word – Page 2260 – Rev. Dr. Victor Antonyraj SDB

12.08.11 MARRIAGE AND CELIBACY

Posted under Reflections on August 11th, 2011 by

Some Pharisees approached him, 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, no human being must 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." (Mt 19:3-12 )

In answering the question Jesus falls back to the scriptures. In scriptures Jesus found the will and the plan of God for the humanity. The creation stories say that God created male and female and made in his own image and likeness. Some would interpret this phrase ‘image and likeness’ as only human being of all creatures can relate among themselves and relate with God. Any relationship should be respected and lived for it is and what it is meant to be.

Relationship between a man and a woman in marriage is for unity and oneness. And this unity should be maintained even at the expense of the relationship of the parents and the others. (The relationship between parents and children are time bound and so on) The intention of God for the people in marriage is that they be united and united always without being separated by any human means.

Such a view of marriage does not exclude people living alone. The causes could be natural or man made. These are excusable causes. There is yet another reason for remaining single without marriage and that is for the sake of the kingdom. This is a gift from God. God gives it to few and whoever is offered with this gift ought to accept it. Kingdom takes precedence. Kingdom itself is a gift of God and so also those who work in it or for it.

11.08.11 FORGIVE

Posted under Reflections on August 10th, 2011 by

Then Peter approaching asked him, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. That is why the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.' Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, 'Pay back what you owe.' Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.' But he refused. Instead, he had him put in prison until he paid back the debt. Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?' Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart." When Jesus finished these words, he left Galilee and went to the district of Judea across the Jordan. (Mt 18:21-19:1)

Forgiveness and reconciliation should be the goal of every follower of Jesus. The disciple is not asked to swallow resentment. If confrontation has to happen it must always be with forgiveness in mind, never revenge. Every time you accuse someone else, you accuse yourself. Every time you forgive someone else, you behave like God who has forgiven you hundred percent.

Those who refuse to forgive others will themselves be refused forgiveness. This image of God seems to be strange. Can’t God override our failings at exactly that point? Apparently God won’t. The New Testament speaks with one voice on this subject. Forgiveness is reciprocated. The prayer which Jesus taught his disciples also communicate the same message.

Peter’s question also seems strange. If you are still counting how many times you have forgiven someone then you have not forgiven not really forgiven the at all. You are only postponing taking revenge. Jesus is teasing when he says ‘seventy times seven’. What he really wants to say is ‘stop counting’ and start forgiving. We are asked just to forgive. And nothing more and nothing less.