The Unbreakable Cord of Marriage and God's Original Design

 

Today, we reflect on a profound teaching from our Lord Jesus about marriage.

But before we delve into the scripture, I'd like to share a story with you – a story of love, struggle, and unwavering commitment.

I once knew a couple, let's call them John and Mary.

They were high school sweethearts who married young, full of dreams and love for each other.

In the early years, their life seemed perfect – they had good jobs, a beautiful home, and were blessed with two children.

But as we know, life often has unexpected turns.

When their youngest child was diagnosed with a severe illness, their world was turned upside down.

The stress of hospital visits, mounting medical bills, and the constant worry began to take its toll.

John and Mary found themselves arguing more, drifting apart, each dealing with their pain in isolation.

One evening, after a particularly heated argument, John stormed out of the house.

As he drove around aimlessly, he found himself at my church.

The doors were open, and he walked in, collapsing into a pew, his head in his hands.

That's where I found him, and he poured out his heart to me.

He said, "I don't know if I can do this anymore.

It's too hard.

Maybe we'd all be better off if Mary and I just went our separate ways."

It was at this moment that the words of Jesus from today's Gospel reading came to my mind.

I said, “do you remember when the Pharisees ask Jesus, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?"

And Jesus responds by reminding them of God's original design:

"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."

And then Jesus adds these powerful words:

"Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate."

I shared these verses with John that night, reminding him that in marriage, God creates something new – a union so profound that it's described as "one flesh."

This bond isn't just a feeling or a legal contract; it's a spiritual reality.

"John," I said, "when you and Mary took your vows, you didn't just make a promise to each other.

You entered into a covenant with God.

And God is with you in this struggle."

We prayed together, and John left with a renewed sense of purpose.

It wasn't an instant fix – John and Mary had a long road ahead.

They sought counseling, both individually and as a couple.

They learned to communicate better, to lean on each other, and to seek support from their faith community during hard times.

Years later, I watched with joy as John and Mary renewed their vows on their 25th anniversary.

Their faces revealed the lines of the struggles they'd been through, but their eyes beamed with a deep love that had been tested and proven true.

As they stood before the altar, Mary turned to the congregation and said,

"There were times when it would have been easier to walk away.

But we chose to walk together, and God walked with us."

Brothers and sisters, this is the kind of commitment Jesus speaks of in today's Gospel.

When the Pharisees tried to trap Jesus with legal arguments about divorce, Jesus pointed them back to God's original design – a union so sacred that it reflects Christ's own unbreakable love for the Church.

Jesus says, "What God has joined together, let no one separate."

This isn't just a prohibition against divorce; it's an invitation to discover the deep, transformative power of committed love.

For those of you who are married, I encourage you to see your spouse through God's eyes today.

Remember that your marriage is not just about your happiness, but about your holiness – it's a path God has given you to grow in love, patience, and selflessness.

For those who are single or in other vocations, this teaching reminds us of the sacredness of all human relationships and the call to fidelity in our commitments.

And for those struggling in your marriages, like John and Mary were, remember that you are not alone.

Reach out for help – to God, to your church community, to professional counselors if needed.

Your marriage is worth fighting for.

Let us pray for all marriages, that they may be strengthened and renewed.

And may we all, whatever our state in life, strive to reflect God's faithful, unbreakable love,

in our relationships,

and with one another.

Amen