Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

Gospel Reading: 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.”

 

Did you remember to thank God today for all he has provided? Have you thanked God for all the graces that have overflowed in you? Have you thanked Him for giving you the breath of life? When you awaken in the morning, take 5 minutes to just lay there and think of all the glorious things that God has given you. You have been blessed with life, the ability to breathe yet another breath. You have been given the ability to touch and see God’s presence in this world. We are united with our Father in heaven through the gift of life and most importantly, the gift of baptism. Before we were born we were a spiritual being known to God and placed in the womb of our mother in our earthly body, a body which was formed from the dirt of this earth. Eventually we will be freed from the bonds of this earthly state and we will return to our spiritual life with our Father in heaven. Today’s Gospel talks about the union formed in marriage. In the beginning, we were created “male and female.”  We were one body united with God.  Because of our loneliness, God separated us into two.  Through marriage, we are reunited in this one body; one male and one female.  Through our sacrificial love for each other, we become bound with our Father in heaven.  The Pharisees question God about the legality of divorce. Jesus answers them, “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, man must not separate.” Through our Baptism, through the Eucharist and through Confirmation we form a union with God.  We become united/married to him through our faith and our hope for eternal life.  We are united with God like the marriage between one man and one woman. No man should do anything to separate us from his love and compassion for we are the Bride and Christ is the Bridegroom.  From the beginning of time, we have been linked with our creator. There is no greater loneliness, then that of divorce. When we separate ourselves from God through our sins, we effectively divorce ourselves from the Bridegroom.  He has sacrificed everything for us and we should do everything we can to avoid the separation of divorce from him through our sins.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord Jesus, you are the Bridegroom and I am your loyal spouse.

Like a good spouse, you provide me with everything I need.

May I cherish your love and compassion forever.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon