Learn by Topic: marriage

In today’s Gospel from the Mass (Matt 9:14-15), Jesus offers yet another reference to the sacredness of traditional marriage:

[14] Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” [15] And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come, when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.”

In past posts, Christ’s insistence on the holiness of marriage have been noted (see here and here).

Today, there are many who are attempting to redefine marriage to include all sorts of distorted options (e.g. alternatives like man/man, woman/woman, multiple men/multiple women, human beings/animals, human beings/inanimate objects).

Jesus Christ continually makes both direct statements that define marriage (Mark 10:7) and many symbolic acts (John 2:1-11) that uphold the only sacred view of marriage; that of one man and one woman.  Today’s Gospel offers yet another:  Jesus is referring to Himself as the Divine Bridegroom and the Church as His bride.  Clearly, Jesus is teaching about marriage in the traditional sense as understood for human history as being between a man and a woman.

Don’t fall for the many confused and perverted ideas about marriage that “moderns” are seeking to promote.

After all, you don’t want to be left at the altar.

In today’s Gospel from the Mass (Mark 7:1-13), Jesus offers a harsh response to the Pharisees who are teaching false doctrine:

[1] Now when the Pharisees gathered together to him, with some of the scribes, who had come from Jerusalem, [2] they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands defiled, that is, unwashed.  [3] (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they wash their hands, observing the tradition of the elders;  [4] and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they purify themselves; and there are many other traditions which they observe, the washing of cups and pots and vessels of bronze.) [5] And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with hands defiled?” [6] And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, `This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me;  [7] in vain do they worship me,teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’ [8] You leave the commandment of God, and hold fast the tradition of men.” [9] And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God, in order to keep your tradition! [10] For Moses said, `Honor your father and your mother’; and, `He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him surely die’;  [11] but you say, `If a man tells his father or his mother, What you would have gained from me is Corban’ (that is, given to God) — [12] then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, [13] thus making void the word of God through your tradition which you hand on. And many such things you do.”

Today, there are many who seek to imply that Jesus Christ would support the idea of homosexual unions.  Often, these activists, argue on a general principle of “love”, suggesting that Jesus would be tolerant and only wish for the happiness of homosexuals who wish to live together.  Other times, those who endorse homosexual unions argue that “Jesus never condemned homosexual behavior in any way”.

Sadly, those who promote such ideas are both wrong and lead other’s astray in their desires to justify their confused views of marriage.   (more…)

In today’s Gospel from the Mass (Mark 6:14-29), there is a powerful story about the importance, and cost, of standing up for marriage:

[14] King Herod heard of it; for Jesus’ name had become known. Some said, “John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; that is why these powers are at work in him.” [15] But others said, “It is Eli’jah.” And others said, “It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” [16] But when Herod heard of it he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” [17] For Herod had sent and seized John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Hero’di-as, his brother Philip’s wife; because he had married her. [18] For John said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” [19] And Hero’di-as had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, [20] for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. When he heard him, he was much perplexed; and yet he heard him gladly. [21] But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and the leading men of Galilee. [22] For when Hero’di-as’ daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will grant it.” [23] And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.” [24] And she went out, and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the baptizer.” [25] And she came in immediately with haste to the king, and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” [26] And the king was exceedingly sorry; but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. [27] And immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard and gave orders to bring his head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, [28] and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. [29] When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.

There is a strong message in the Gospel about the sanctity of marriage and the cost of being a witness to that sanctity: (more…)

My dear brothers,

I am delighted to be with you here tonight, as we pray side by side with our Divine Master, truly present body and blood, soul and divinity in the Blessed Sacrament. We gather as men, fathers, brothers, priests, sons, grandsons, and friends and this s so essential, for who are as social beings; however it is even more important to gather together in this community of faith to worship Him who is the way, the truth and the life for each of us.

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