Marriage – God’s Remarkable Plan

Following is the prepared text from Bishop Olmsted’s homily for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

October 3, 2021

“Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?”

A good question if asked for the right motive, if really seeking the truth. But the Pharisees asked this question to trap Jesus. They knew divorce was widely accepted at that time but also knew the teaching of the Prophet Malachi that God hates divorce (Cf. Mal 2:16). The Pharisees had no interest in understanding or defending God’s plan for marriage; they just wanted to ensnare Jesus and disgrace Him in the eyes of the people. So, they told Him: Moses permitted a husband to divorce his wife and marry another. Jesus replied, Moses only did that because of their “hardness of heart,” their stubborn refusal to accept God’s plan.

“But from the beginning of 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… Therefore, what God has joined together, no human being must separate.”

Jesus defended marriage as “a great mystery” that is a sign of His love for the Church (Cf. Eph 5:32). The Pharisees were not pleased by Jesus’ answer, and even the Apostles were perplexed. So, as soon as Jesus withdrew from the crowd, they questioned Him further and He replied,

“Whoever divorces His wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery” (Mt 10:10).

Jesus’ words did not end the controversy, but nonetheless they are the truth. Furthermore, they are not just true news, they are good news! Down through history, faithful followers have embraced them, and been blessed. And they have defended them: John the Baptist was martyred for telling Herod it was wrong for him to marry his brother’s wife. 1500 years later, St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher were martyred by King Henry VIII for refusing to approve his divorce. In our own time, an epidemic of divorce has weakened the social fabric so much that many people have given up on marriage, countless children suffer from the primal loss of a united home, and numerous young people are burdened with gender confusion, doubting that God made us male or female.

How important, then, for God’s word today to lift up the beauty and nobility of family life, with confidence that marriage is far more than just a human construct; it is God’s plan, and He gives he grace needed to live it.

Still, I am aware of the cost of fidelity and the pain many experience despite their best efforts to remain faithful. Many doubt that a united family life is within reach. We are all aware that the entrance of sin into our world has damaged and continues to threaten the stability of the family and all relationships. Every family struggles under the burden of sin and the constant attacks by Satan, the father of lies. Nonetheless, the suffering caused by sin, when surrendered to Jesus and united with His Cross becomes redemptive and can be the source of grace and sanctification.

It is certainly providential,  therefore, that our Second Reading today from the Letter to the Hebrews, exhorts us,

“…since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us, while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb 12:1f).

We are not alone in our struggles, “a great cloud of witnesses” surrounds and intercedes for us: and Jesus is our divine intercessor at the Father’s right hand.

We find inspiration, too, from holy married couples like Louis and Zélie Martin, the parents of St. Thérèse, who faced great hardship and piercing grief with the deaths of two infant sons and also two daughters, one in infancy and another at the age of five. Zélie herself died of cancer when Thérèse was only four years of age. This married couple, canonized only a few years ago, achieved great holiness by uniting their pain and sorrows with Jesus on the Cross; let us do the same. In Hebrews 2:10, we read,

“…it is fitting that He, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the leader to their salvation perfect through suffering. He who consecrates and those who are being consecrated all have one origin.”

Dear sons and daughters in Christ, especially all called by God to marriage, whatever may be your doubts or sorrows, I urge you never to lose hope in the power of God’s merciful love. Never tire of saying with St. Faustina, whose feast day we celebrate this coming Tuesday, “Jesus, I trust in Thee.”

Never forget, either, the blessings that derive from keeping the Lord’s day holy. Joshua of the Old Testament told all who would listen (Joshua 24:15), “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Serve the Lord first by giving Him the worship He deserves, in particular by worshipping together at Sunday Mass, listening to the Word of God with your parish family, lifting your hearts to the Lord together with all the saints and angels – these practices provide the graces we need to forgive and encourage one another, and to draw closer each day to Jesus, our Lord and Bridegroom of the Church. This is a great mystery, a mystery of faithful love.