Coffee With God

Reflection: Matthew 19:3-12

Once again, Matthew presents a catechesis to his community on human relationships, marriage and divorce. Perhaps he was witnessing troubles in family relationships in his community and reminds them of the sacredness of marriage. The influence of the Judaisers and pharisees on the Christian community was so strong because most of the believers who accepted Jesus, came from the Jewish faith. Now Matthew reminds them of the teachings of Jesus on marriage. It is not an ordinary union of one man and one woman, rather it is a sacrament – because it is willed by God in his creative plan. The answer given by Jesus “What God has joined together, let no person separate” fails to convince many people even today. That’s why many continue to raise the same question of the pharisees: “Is it legal to divorce?” The Gospel gives the answer – Marriage is a Sacrament – willed by God – and the Sacraments are for life; they are not meant for a short period. Why then does the Church give the provision of annulment of marriage? The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that the exchange of consent between spouses is the “indispensable element that ‘makes the marriage’. If consent is lacking, there is no marriage” and the Church declares that marriage null. I have come across a beautiful layman’s explanation for annulment: All marriages look alike from the outside. But when a marriage ends in a civil divorce, the annulment process tries to look inside the marriage to see what may have been missing from the very beginning of that marriage.” Imagine you hold up a pen with its point covered in your hands. The assumption is that the pen contains a cartridge and is suitable for writing. It is not until you try to write with the pen that you discover there is no ink. While the pen looks like any other writing instrument, it is not until you look inside and discover that something essential is missing.” [Rev. Paul V. Garrity, Diocese of Boston] The fear of the disciples of Jesus is our fear today. They say, “it would be better not to marry!” There are many youngsters who are afraid of making choices in life – choice for marriage and family or choice for religious life and priesthood. They are afraid of failures in their choices. Running away from making choices in life is failure to place our trust in God. Pope St. John Paul II told the youth: “God will not make choices for you, but he blesses the choices you make with Him.” Jesus repeats to us his words of power and encouragement: “Do not be afraid, only believe