27TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 3 / (Green)
Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6
May the Lord bless us all the days of our lives.
1st Reading: Gen 2:18-24
Yahweh God said, “It is not good for man to be alone; I will give him a helper who will be like him.” Then Yahweh God formed from the earth all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air and brought them to man to see what he would call them; and whatever man called every living creature, that was its name.
So man gave names to all the cattle, the birds of the air and to every beast of the field. But he did not find among them a helper like himself. Then Yahweh God caused a deep sleep to come over man and he fell asleep. He took one of his ribs and filled its place with flesh. The rib which Yahweh God had taken from man he formed into a woman and brought her to the man. The man then said, “Now this is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh. She shall be called woman because she was taken from man.” That is why man leaves his father and mother and is attached to his wife, and with her becomes one flesh.
2nd Reading: Heb 2:9-11
But Jesus, who suffered death, and for a little while was placed lower than the angels, has been crowned with honor and glory. For the merciful plan of God demanded that he experience death, on behalf of everyone.
God, from whom all come, and by whom all things exist, wanted to bring many children to glory, and he thought it fitting to make perfect, through suffering, the initiator of their salvation. So, he who gives, and those who receive holiness, are one. He, himself, is not ashamed of calling us brothers and sisters.
Gospel: Mk 10:2-16
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.”
People were bringing their little children to him to have him touch them; and the disciples rebuked them for this.
When Jesus noticed it, he was very angry and said, “Let the children come to me and don’t stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.” Then he took the children in his arms and, laying his hands on them, blessed them.
Lectio Divina
Read: God created man and woman to be helpers to each other, on equal footing. It has been God’s will, from the beginning of creation, that man and woman make a commitment to belong to each other for good. Everything that exists does so through God and for His glory – so do human families.
Reflect: Isn’t it more than sheer coincidence that Mark discusses the indissolubility of marriage following it up with Jesus welcoming children and rebuking those who prevent their access to him, the source of life? Of late, marriage has become a private affair between two individuals focused on furthering their own pleasure and selfish ends to such an extent that having children within marriage becomes unthinkable and an aberration. At best, they are open to having one child, and no more. Whereas Catholics don’t have to breed like rabbits, as Pope Francis rightly pointed out, they must definitely be open to welcoming children as the necessary and noble fruit of their marital bond.
Pray: Pray for Christian families.
Act: Dine together as a family. If you are single, dine with a family today.
Daily Reflection 2018
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Biblical Texts are taken from Christian Community Bible, Catholic Pastoral Edition (57th Edition) The New English Translation for the ROMAN MISSAL
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