Image from politicaltheology.com
Hear the devo: https://bit.ly/4enRbKv
View video: https://bit.ly/3TMSp9I
2 Some Pharisees came, and to test him they asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" 3 He answered them, "What did Moses command you?" 4 They said, "Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her." 5 But Jesus said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you. 6 But from the beginning of creation, "God made them male and female.' 7 "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, 8 and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate." 10 Then in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. 11 He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; 12 and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery." 13 People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. 14 But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, "Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. 15 Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it." 16 And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them. (Mark 10:2-16 NRSV Bible)
Has there been an evolution of divorce? I mean, has divorce undergone a change in your perspective or in your family? I know in some and for some, it has; in others not so much. As an example, in my wife's family, her grandmother spoke of a "shameful thing" that happened many years ago, and would not say anything beyond that, until finally Nellie discovered that the shamful thing was a divorce in the family on the part of a family member. In my family, my paternal grandfather and grandmother divorced when I was a child, and the impact of that divorce stayed with the family for a long time. Divorce is a difficult thing for all involved, and should not be entered into unadvisedly. I will say that sometimes divorce is the best solution for come couples.
During the Exodus, as God is forming a nation in those forty years of wandering in the wilderness, some husbands decided that wandering in the wilderness, for them, would be best if done alone. And the custom was for the man to take the woman's possessions and place them outside the tent while she was out fetching water or washing clothes. The woman would come home and immediately see her things outside the tent and wonder what was the meaning behind that action? Soon enough women had been the victim of this act they approached Moses and asked for a ruling. Moses then "allowed for a man (yes women, not fair!) to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her." Sigh. Jesus knew the reason behind the man's heart for He says, "Because of your hardness of heart, he wrote this commandment for you." Boom. We don't know the reasons men were throwing women out of their home, but Jesus seems to sum it up in a brief but powerful "hardness of heart." Jesus goes on to explain (again) that God created creatures male and female and reminds them about the teaching in Genesis, where a man shall leave his father and mother and joins his wife and they become one, and "Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate." So, guess who don't quite understand this? Of course, the disciples. Back at the house they wanted to know more, and Jesus hits them hard with the response about adultery being a part of the equation of those who divorce just for convenience or desire; in other words, marriage is serious business, as it is said, "Until death do us part." Jesus' response highlights the sanctity of marriage, reminding us that what God has joined together should not be separated. He emphasizes that our relationships are grounded in love, fidelity, and respect.
The closing part of the discussion has to be when people started bringing little children to Jesus for His blessing, and it could serve as a reminder that divorce does affect children. I was a child when my Momó and Popó divorced and it impacted me. I had never seen my Daddy cry until then and boy did he cry! So much for what others tried to "teach" me that men don't cry. I knew better. Jesus wants to, and does, accept children brought to Him and says, "For it is to such as these that the Kingdom of God belongs." His embrace of the children in the following verses illustrates the Kingdom of God as one where the vulnerable are valued and welcomed. In Jesus’ words, we see a call to nurture relationships with grace, understanding, and the humility of a child.
As we meditate on this passage, consider the following: Commitment in Relationships: Reflect on your relationships. Are there areas where you can show deeper commitment and love? What steps can you take to strengthen those bonds? Openness to the Vulnerable: How do you respond to the vulnerable and marginalized in your life? Are you willing to extend your arms as Jesus did to the children? Childlike Faith: Jesus invites us to approach God with the simplicity and trust of a child. How can you cultivate a more childlike faith in your daily life?
PRAYER: Loving God, we thank You for the gift of relationships and the beauty of Your design for marriage. Help us to honor our commitments and to nurture love and respect in our interactions. May we learn to embrace the vulnerable with open hearts, just as Jesus welcomed the little children. Teach us to approach You with the faith of a child, trusting in Your love and guidance. In Jesus’ strong name, we pray, Amen
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: This week, reach out to someone in your life who could use encouragement. Whether through a kind word, a gesture of support, or simply spending quality time together, reflect the love of Christ in your relationships.
I love you and I thank God for you!
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr
