May 25, 2018

Gospel: Mk 10:1-12
Jesus then left that place and went to the province of Judea, be yond the Jordan River. Once more, crowds gathered around him and, once more, he taught them, as he always did. Some (Pharisees came and) put him to the test with this question: “Is it right for a husband to divorce his wife?” He replied, “What law did Moses give you?” They answered, “Moses allowed us to write a certificate of dismissal in order to divorce.” Then Jesus said to them, “Moses wrote this law for you, because you have hearts of stone. But in the beginning of creation God made them male and female; and because of this, man has to leave father and mother and be joined to his wife; and the two shall become one body. So, they are no longer two, but one body. Therefore, let no one separate what God has joined.” When they were indoors at home, the disciples again asked him about this, and he told them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another, commits adultery against his wife; and the woman who divorces her husband and marries another, also commits adultery.”

Reflections
For the Lord is merciful and shows compassion Pope Francis’ papal motto, “miserando atque eligendo” is taken from the homily of Venerable Bede on the call of Matthew. The English monk wrote, “Jesus saw the tax collector, and by having mercy chose him as an Apostle, saying to him, ‘Follow me.’” Pope Francis translates “miserando” as “mercifying”. For Pope Francis, mercy is not just one attribute of God but the very definition of God. If we are created in the image and likeness of God, then we will only become truly human by becoming merciful as God our source and origin is.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2018