Dissolution is not the solution
The story is told about a wife who frantically called her husband: “Joe, come home quickly. I don’t know what to do! Your children and my children are fighting our children!”
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In today’s gospel (Mk. 10, 2-16), Jesus takes a clear stand against divorce. While legally divorce is permitted in the Mosaic Law, Jesus points out that beyond the legal, there is a moral aspect to the dictum “What God has joined together, no human being must separate.” Marriage is, and should be, a lifelong commitment between a man and a woman.
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Notice that instead of continuing to discuss the issue of divorce, Jesus focuses His attention on the children being brought to Him. He scolds His disciples, who were preventing the children from coming close to Him. In fact, He goes on to embrace and bless them to show how much He treasures them. His message is clear: It is the children who suffer and are affected most if divorce is allowed.
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Divorce advocates tell us that dissolution is the solution. On the contrary, divorce creates more problems than solutions. With divorce will come broken hearts, and broken lives, and broken homes. Instead of dissolving relationships, let us follow Jesus’ mandate to preserve relationships.
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The problem with divorce is that it focuses on the exit door rather than on the entrance door. If marriage is not seen as a permanent, lifelong commitment, then couples can take the easy way out instead of staying on and deepening their relationship. Somebody put it so well: “Instead of marrying each other for better or for worse, people should marry for good!” And instead of spending time in court, someone suggested that couples in trouble should spend more time courting each other again.
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Take note that there are solutions for difficult marriage situations. Separation and annulment are roads that can be taken. The bottom line is that, at the end of your life, when you face your God, if you can say to your Creator that you have done your very best for your relationship, He Himself will tell you: “I know you have done your very best. Be at peace.”
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We must be vigilant against anyone or anything that destroys or belittles life and family. Destroy life, destroy family, and you destroy a nation, and humanity itself. We must go back to values and institutions that strengthen and enhance life, family, nationhood, and humanity.
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“The family that prays together stays together.” Fr. Patrick Peyton of the Family Rosary Crusade was, and still is, right about prayer as the key to family and world peace. If we listen to God, perhaps we will end up really listening more to one another. Try prayer, especially when everything else fails. It works!
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Next Saturday, October 13, is the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima. In this month of the rosary, let us go back to praying the rosary as individuals, as a family, and as a nation again. Or at least carry a rosary, hold the rosary, if only to be reminded that we have a “gadget” in our hands that helps us to connect to the Divine all at once.
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While I do not advocate divorce in marriage, I strongly suggest that “divorce” should be implemented when it comes to political dynasties in our country. We have at present blatant and shameful cases where three, four, or even five members of the same family are seeking election or reelection at the same time, as if they have the exclusive monopoly or franchise in the political field. Just because of money, they can run. On the same count, it is not farfetched to say, just because of money, they run.
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It is always an inspiring sight to see couples who persevere in marriage, and who remain sweet and loving after all the ups and downs of married life. Only God knows what they have gone through, they who braved the noonday sun and are now in the sunset years, of their lives. “The most impressive evidence of maximum tolerance is a golden wedding anniversary.” Mabuhay po kayo!
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The “rings of marriage”? First is the engagement ring, then the wedding ring. After marriage comes “suffer ring,” then bearing children. Then it can become boring. Husbands should avoid wandering and philandering. Wives should avoid being domineering, and squandering. Husbands and wives should focus on caring, sharing, and persevering, in order for them to end up gathering!
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A moment with the Lord:
Lord, remind us not to give up, but to give our very best, in any relationship. Amen.
