In today’s Gospel we are presented with Jesus’ teaching on the indissolubility of marriage. To many people today this teaching might seem overly strict or out of harmony with the modern reality of frequent marriage breakdown.
Sunday Readings' Discussion Questions
Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Oct. 7, 2012 (27B)
From the Center for Liturgy at Saint Louis University
Sunday Readings
Podcast of the Readings
Video of Reflections on Readings
Lecturas y Comentarios
New American Bible
Prayer of the Hours
BQ: Is Divorce a sin according to the Catholic Church?
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Questions on Sunday's Readings for use by discussion groups,
prayer groups, or for individual prayer.
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First Reading
Genesis 2:18-24
1. Adam, one of us, gave each creature its name. Have we cared for the planet and all the life on it? What about environmental problems on the earth? Discuss what you can do in your home or place of work to make changes for the better.
2. Do you think the culture from which this story comes values women the same as men? Why or why not? What would you say to a person who thinks the superiority of men over women is divinely revealed in this text? What would you do if the women and men in your work place were not treated as equals?
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 128: 1-2, 3, 4-5, 6
1. Our psalmist speaks of the benefits of a right relationship with the Lord. Tell of how fearing the Lord has led you to have a better relationshipwith your spouse and your family members.
2. The Psalm asks, "May the Lord bless us all the days of our lives."Recall how you have been blessed by God, both physically and spiritually, and how you have been inspired to walk in His ways.
Second Reading
Hebrews 2:9-11
1. What ideas do you get when you tie the first line of the first reading, “The Lord God said: ‘It is not good for the man to be alone.’ with the first line from the second reading, “He ‘for a little while’ was made ‘lower than the angels.’ ” (For the little while he was with us.)
2. Jesus consecrated himself to his Father and us along with him. He called us sisters and brothers. How does this impact reverence toward our brothers and sisters? Do you treat the bag lady with the same respect that you treat the CEO?
Gospel
Mark 10:2-16 or 10:2-12
1. The Pharisees tried to trick Jesus with their question about divorce. He answered with a question about what Moses allowed. In the light of human weakness do you think concessions like annulments are necessary?
2. All deep bonds with others have a profound effect on our lives. What kinds of things bring people together in the first place? What can you do you to hold those bonds intact? On a scale of 1 to 10, where would you rank communication as a help to hold the bonds intact?
Sunday Bible Study Group
Please share your thoughts online on the Sunday Readings. And please do use these questions for your own Bible study sessions with family and friends.
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“Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
ReplyDeletein the recesses of your home.”
Our psalmist tells us that
a man who has a right relationship
with the Lord will also obtain
a right relationship with his wife
and his family.
And walking in the ways of the Lord
will be reflected in the way a man
treats his wife. A man’s wife is after all,
“bone of my bones, flesh of my flesh.”
(Genesis, 1st reading)
As Christ nourishes the Church,
so a man cherishes his wife,
and nourishes his relationship with her.
And the man’s reward is that his wife
will be like a ‘fruitful vine’ within
his house. This is how a man is blessed
who fears the Lord.
If we have a right relationship with
the Lord, we will know how to treat
our wives and our children, and in turn,
we will discover how blessed we are
in our home and by the presence
of our family. “Just so will they be blessed
who fear the Lord.”
Having been so favored by God,
we understand why, “A man shall leave
his father and mother and be joined
to his wife.” God made them one flesh,
and, “What God has joined, no human
being may separate.” (Gospel)
If we fear the Lord and walk in His
ways, we will receive the blessings
of our labor, prosper in a material way,
and grow old gracefully in the company
of our wife and children.
Amen
“Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
ReplyDeletein the recesses of your home.”
Our psalmist tells us that
a man who has a right relationship
with the Lord will also obtain
a right relationship with his wife
and his family.
And walking in the ways of the Lord
will be reflected in the way a man
treats his wife. A man’s wife is after all,
“bone of my bones, flesh of my flesh.”
(Genesis, 1st reading)
As Christ nourishes the Church,
so a man cherishes his wife,
and nourishes his relationship with her.
And the man’s reward is that his wife
will be like a ‘fruitful vine’ within
his house. This is how a man is blessed
who fears the Lord.
If we have a right relationship with
the Lord, we will know how to treat
our wives and our children, and in turn,
we will discover how blessed we are
in our home and by the presence
of our family. “Just so will they be blessed
who fear the Lord.”
Having been so favored by God,
we understand why, “A man shall leave
his father and mother and be joined
to his wife.” God made them one flesh,
and, “What God has joined, no human
being may separate.” (Gospel)
If we fear the Lord and walk in His
ways, we will receive the blessings
of our labor, prosper in a material way,
and grow old gracefully in the company
of our wife and children.
Amen
"The two shall become one flesh." That is the Genesis take on the situation. The New Covenant takes on a really deeper meaning and in one of the Gospel stories Jesus reminds us that this oneness may never be broken because the bond is in the Realm of the Creator. He even says that this is difficult and that not all are able to abide by it.
ReplyDeleteThe picture at the top of this article captures that spirit of difficulty conquered. Jesus knew when He said what He said that the reward for having conquered the difficulty through a living faith would be great. It is a good thing that it is not only a bond in the flesh, but a sharing of the spirit. It is in the spirit that the "flesh of my flesh..." succeeds and that the reward is found.
Deogracias