Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Mass Readings

• First Reading Genesis 2:18-24
• Responsorial Psalm Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6
• Second Reading Hebrews 2:9-11
• Gospel Mark 10:2-16

Open the Mass Readings on USCCB.org →

Step Into the Story

Deuteronomy 24 let a husband divorce his wife for “something indecent,” and by Jesus’ day the rabbis argued over what that meant. The school of Shammai said serious sexual sin. The school of Hillel, the Mishnah reports, allowed it even if she spoiled a dish. Only husbands could initiate. Herod Antipas had divorced his first wife, a Nabatean princess, to marry Herodias, his brother’s wife, and John the Baptist lost his head for objecting.

1. 63 B.C.Pompey takes Jerusalem
2. 4 B.C.Antipas rules Galilee and Perea
3. 14 A.D.Tiberius becomes emperor
4. c. 28 A.D.Antipas arrests John
5. This week’s scene: c. 29 A.D.A test on divorce

Cross the Jordan with Jesus into Perea, Antipas’s land on the east bank, probably in 29 A.D. Feel the cool of the river ford, then the heat of the valley as you climb toward the hills of Gilead. Crowds gather again, and He teaches them, as He always does. Farther south, in Antipas’s fortress of Machaerus, John had died.

Now watch the Pharisees come forward, testing Him: is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife? A yes or a no, in Antipas’s own territory, could be dangerous. Stand among the crowd and feel the quiet fall. Later, mothers will bring their children to be blessed, and the disciples will try to shoo them away. For now, keep your eyes on Him, and wait for Him to speak.

Encounter the Lord

Picture the Pharisees arriving with their test question. They want Jesus to take sides in a rabbinic argument. Instead, He takes them back to the Garden, to the moment God brought the woman to the man.

Jesus’ teaching on marriage was hard for His disciples, and it is hard in our culture too. But He is not imposing an arbitrary rule. He is revealing God’s original plan for human love: a faithful, lifelong, fruitful communion of persons. Christ restores that plan and gives couples the grace to live it. Every Christian, married or not, is called to fidelity, to keep promises when it costs. And notice how the scene ends: Jesus embracing children, the fruit and joy of married love.

If you are married, do one deliberate act of love for your spouse this week. If not, pray for a couple you know who are struggling, and for the families of your parish.

Know Your Faith

Conjugal Fidelity

Jesus insisted on the original meaning of the union of man and woman as the Creator willed it from the beginning: the matrimonial union is indissoluble (CCC 1614-1615). By coming to restore the original order, He gives the strength and grace to live marriage (CCC 1615).

Divorce

The Lord Jesus insisted on the original intention of the Creator who willed that marriage be indissoluble (CCC 2382). Divorce is a grave offense against the natural law; it claims to break the contract freely consented to (CCC 2384). The Church shows attentive care to the divorced and remarried, who remain members of the Church (CCC 1651).

Fidelity

Marital fidelity is a gift and a witness. By its very nature, conjugal love requires the inviolable fidelity of the spouses (CCC 1646-1648, 2364-2365).

Fidelity of the Baptized

The faithfulness of Christian spouses reflects God’s fidelity to His covenant and Christ’s fidelity to His Church (CCC 1647). All the baptized are called to chastity according to their state of life (CCC 2348-2350).