The bond of love should be established with God

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Ezk. 16:1-15.60.63, Mt. 19:3-12. Today's first reading presents us with the theme of bond between God and His people being symbolised by the bond between a husband and wife. Ezekiel reviews the history of God with the people of Israel. He used the imagery of a man taking a young girl and caring for her, lavishing her with gifts, establishing a marriage covenant and loving her when she turns away. God is committed to Israel, not just for a lifetime but for eternity. God adds, “I pardon you for all you have done.” Love such as this, divine, exceeding all measure, heroic in its fidelity and forgiveness, is overwhelming for us. It grants us joyful satisfaction and absolute security; we always have a home with God. In today's Gospel, Jesus restates God’s original design for marriage: “A man shall leave his father and mother and cling to his wife, and the two shall become as one.” Here, the unity and indissolubility of matrimony is proclaimed, for marriage is meant to be a permanent, life-long commitment. Jesus once again raises marriage to the level of Sacrament, sanctioned by God. Hence, Jesus presents us reasons to support the indissolubility of the marriage bond: the nature of conjugal love, the good of the children, the good of society and it is the will of the creator which can only be broken by death. Marriage is much more than a social expectation, it is a call to deeper commitment to another person and a gift of God. When marriage is viewed in this way, everything about family life and conjugal duties, the education of children, the struggle for economic security take on a supernatural meaning. The disciples recognise the heroic conditions which Jesus lays down for marriage and reply: “It is better not to marry.” Thus, Jesus explicitly states that such fidelity is possible only for “those to whom it is given to do so.” Fidelity is a divine imperative within the heart of husband and wife, heroic in one sense and usual in another way. He called on men and women to marry for life and went back to the book of Genesis to support His teaching. God’s grace of sacramental marriage, continuously motivating the spouses, transforms this great demand into routine daily affection and dedication. Not only does Jesus go beyond the tradition of Moses to God’s original ideal for marriage, but He also says that, for the sake of the Kingdom, some people are called to celibacy. Some are steered into the single life by birth defects or by other causes; others by a free decision. Yet celibacy can be received and lived as a special grace, liberating one for fuller service to God and fellow human beings, on the example of Jesus. May the Lord hold all families in His love and peace be restored to all broken homes! Amen!! Good morning, peace be with you!!!