04/10/2009 - 27th. Sunday in Ordinary
Season - B
Ist. Reading Gen 2,18-24 Psalm 127 IInd. Reading Heb 2,9-11 Gospel Mk 10,2-16
"And lead us not into temptation". What is temptation? The word temptation
is to be seen in the light of putting someone to trail. This prayer could be
understood as such: do not let us fall when we are tempted, do not leave us
to our own strengthens when we are put to test, help us when we want to be faithful
to your love for us. Scriptures say that the friends of God are to be put to
test: our faithfulness is to be showed through deeds, our faith in him is not
trust worthy if we were never tried, challenged; our love for our neighbor is
not sure if we are not challenged by difficulties such as incomprehension and
lack of gratitude. Abram was put to test more than anyone else. Isaac was put
to test, and so Jacob. We know how Joseph, son of Jacob, have overcome his trails,
and how Moses and Elijah had to face solitude to show their faithfulness to
God. A whole book was written which form part of the sacred texts to help us
overcome temptations and difficult and sorrowful trails. This is the Book of
Job. This is what Judith had to say to her people: "Let us thank the Lord
our God who has put us to test, as he has already done with our fathers. Remember
what he did with Abram, what trails he made Isaac go through, all that Jacob
had to go in Mesapotamia of Syria, when he use to pasture the flocks of his
uncle, from his mother side, Laban. Of course he made them go through this only
to come to know their hearts, likewise he wants to do the same with us, but
only to correct us because the Lord chastises those who are close to him"
(8,25-27). The Bible tells us also what it means to be unable to overcome temptation:
David gave in to the temptation of committing adultery, and then to save himself,
he became a killer. Salomon gave in to the temptation of having several women
to the point of supporting even their gods and hence falling into idolatry himself.
And many more others have shown as up to where the human weakness can arrive.
History of Salvation is a mixture of unfaithfulness and punishments with small
or big victories of faith and love of God. The humble is helped to overcome
trails and not to give in into temptation, while the proud falls in it in a
miserable way: wanting to do it on his own, refuse to be helped, wont ask God
to help him, who is the only one that can really come into our help.
"What has Moses ordered you to do?" The argument is very actual. Is
divorce possible? This is a question which, unfortunately, no one puts anymore.
Jesus put back the question: is divorce an action of God? The one who created
marriage can bless divorce? Jesus knows that every man is fulfilled when he
follows God's plans, even if this goes through difficult ways. He himself gives
the example: he will follow the way shown to him by the Father, a way that takes
to the cross, knowing that at the end, he will be glorified with God. The good
of man and woman, and of their family, lies surely in following the intentions
of God the creator, even when going through twisted ways. Jesus know that God's
will is the true good of man and of society in which man lives. The ones who
don't want to suffer, or are not capable to do so, look for all the ways to
make their ways accepted, even when these go against the ways of God. This is
a sign of lack of trust in God. A sign that one does not keep him as the God
of his life, because one holds him as unable to give sure indications, or even
more, that he is a liar. This is the temptation in which Adam and Eve fell:
guess we don't want to repeat the same mistake. Therefore we continue to affirm
what the Church doesn't get tired to repeat, not withstand all the aversion
of the public opinion against her: "Let no one divide what God has united".
It's the enemy of God and man who wants to destroy what God has made for man.
The Spirit of communion which the couple receive as a gift, cost the passion
and death of Jesus. It is thanks to his death that they can promise each other
faithfulness, even though the one and the other are sinners. This is such a
nice and great gift that to destroy it would be an offence against God himself.
It's a gift which is to be constantly appreciated and taken care off. The couple
themselves need to commit themselves not to allow that their feelings, emotions,
or their looks are not addressed towards others outside of them. Relatives and
friends, even the same parents, are to make sure not to intervene between the
couple with pretensions and considerations that can harm the reciprocal trust
and attention of the couple. They will succeed to bring forward God's will if,
submissive to him, they obey the commandments and keep themselves focused on
Jesus. This is what the author of the Letter to the Hebrews tell us, presenting
the Son of God made perfect through sufferings. His suffering saves us. The
couple are invited to unite their suffering with his suffering, when they are
tempted against faithfulness in love. The fact that Jesus blesses the children
is another invitation to the couple: in this way Jesus renews his blessing to
their unity, a unity that is to be safe guard at all cost, not to scandalize
and corrupt the children who won't be able to experience the Father's faithfulness
in love.