Since Monday we’ve been reading from Jesus’ most famous sermon, his sermon on the mount. In this sermon, Jesus teaches his followers how to live so that the life of God may take root in their hearts and grow in their lives. In these first verses of his Sermon, the Lord is constantly referencing the law of Moses. He speaks about the need to keep the commandments of Moses to the point where one’s faithfulness to them surpasses that of the scribes and the pharisees. He quotes the decalogue: “You have heard from your ancestors, Thou shall not kill, Thou shall not commit adultery”, but then calls his disciples deeper. Christians aren’t just to avoid adultery, they must avoid any thought, conversation, or behavior which might lead to adultery; they must avoid lustful gazes, per
verted fantasies, and must avoid the situations which might give rise to adulterous temptations.
And not only does the Lord wish us to avoid the physical act of adultery; he wants for us way of life and spirituality which craves chastity and purity.
This morning we hear the Lord’s prohibition of divorce. Again, he quotes the teaching of Moses, and explains how the allowance for divorce by Moses clearly falls short of what God wants for us. Again, he calls Christian disciples to something more. Don’t just avoid divorce, but the sort of behavior which leads to divorce: the great acts of selfishness and sins against fidelity yes, but also the attitudes and behaviors which slowly undermine marriage—the impatience, the cutting remarks, the resentments, the selfish indulgences, the poor communication, the failure to reach out for help when things get rocky.
Christian couples must crave and strive for the attitudes and behaviors which promote healthy marriage, and the prayer life to support it...and we must help them, because the world sure isn't.
To quote our departed Bishop Richard Lennon: “when marriages are centered on God, they will be charged and changed by God’s presence. But when they are centered on false idols of money, pleasure, or the pursuit of the good life as our world understands it, they will reap a harvest of exhaustion and unhappiness.”
It is significant that the Lord speaks about Marriage so clearly in his Sermon on the Mount, for he knows marriages, solid Christian marriages which are filled with His Divine Life, will be fundamental for His Church. Our world certainly does not promote healthy marriages, so our Church and our parish, need to fight for strong, healthy, Christ-centered marriages which surpass the corrupt, empty values of the fallen world.
And may we all seek the life of virtue, prayer, and penance which enables us to be filled with the Divine Life God wants for us, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
- - - - - - - -
That the preaching and teaching and charitable works of the Church will inspire all people to seek to radical holiness and obedience to the commands of God.
That those in public office may govern with wisdom, put an end to all political corruption, and work for a society of authentic justice and peace with special care for the most vulnerable.
For an end to oppression, racism, hatred, addiction and injustice. For the healing of all the sick.
For an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated religious life, for a strengthening of marriages, for all single people who strive to follow Christ, and for the grace to utilize our spiritual gifts for the building up of the Church.
That those who have died may share in the joy of life-everlasting; for our deceased family members, friends, and fellow parishioners, for all the poor souls in purgatory for Earl Kestler, for whom this Mass is offered.
O God, who know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.
No comments:
Post a Comment