October 5 th

Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Mk 10/2-16

There is much debate about the meaning of this passage and indeed about Jesus commands on divorce. Even in the very early Christian community there was an attempt to turn Jesus's words into a law and then find exceptions to the law. It is obviously the case that some marriages do not work. Even more is it true that many marriages never reflect effectively the union between God and his people, between Jesus and his Church which is what makes marriage a sacrament, a revelation of God's love. It is possible to interpret this passage to mean that Jesus is abolishing the double standard of ancient law and demanding equal rights in marriage for men and for women. A man who deserts his wife, Jesus says, is as much an adulterer as a woman who deserts her husband. We take that for granted today, but it does not follow that we are willing to demand equality for men and women, as the recent scandals in the military reveal. Jesus may have abolished the double standard, but the word has not got around yet.

read the padre
read the padre
Keep in touch...
Locally, and Globally! 

Check out
Andrew M. Greeley's Columns for the
Chicago SunTimes'
Daily Southtown.
_

One upon a time a man died suddenly in an auto accident. The doctors tried to save his life in the hospital. He was aware that he slipped out of his body, drifted down the long tunnel, and encountered the figure of light at the end of the tunnel. Well, said the Light, you really goofed up didn't you? What do you mean, the man asked. Your wife, the Light said, I gave you one of the best wives in the world and you never treated her right. What do you mean, protested the man, I was always faithful. You just don't get, the Light said, but then men rarely do. You broke her heart almost every day of your marriage. No, the man protested, I loved her. I never meant to break her heart. You're an insensitive boor, the light said. You didn't deserve. Give me another chance, please. What do you think we're talking about?The light asked. I'm sending you back, whether you want to go back or not because she wants you back. This time around you'd better not goof up.