This document summarizes the Gospel reading for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time B, which discusses Jesus' teachings on divorce and marriage, as well as his blessing of children. It provides context about the passage from Mark's Gospel. Jesus disapproves of divorce and says that remarriage after divorce constitutes adultery. He affirms the sanctity of marriage. The reading also shows Jesus' tenderness towards children and says that welcoming children is key to entering God's kingdom.
3. (2) The Pharisees approached and
asked, "Is it lawful for a husband
to divorce his wife?" They were
testing him.
(3) He said to
them in reply,
"What did Moses
command you?"
4. (4) They replied,
"Moses permitted
him to write a bill of
divorce and dismiss
her."
(5) But Jesus told them, "Because
of the hardness of your hearts he
wrote you this commandment.
5. (6) But from the beginning of
creation, 'God made them male
and female.
(7) For this
reason a man
shall leave his
father and
mother (and
be joined to
his wife),
6. (8) and the two
shall become one
flesh.' So they are
no longer two but
one flesh.
(9) Therefore what God has joined
together, no human being must
separate."
7. (10) In the house
the disciples again
questioned him
about this.
(11) He said to them, "Whoever divorces
his wife and marries another commits
adultery against her;
(12) and if she divorces her husband and
marries another, she commits adultery."
8. (13) And people
were bringing
children to him
that he might
touch them, but
the disciples
rebuked them.
9. (14) When Jesus saw this he became
indignant and said to them, "Let the
children come to me; do not prevent
them, for the kingdom of God belongs
to such as these.
(15) Amen, I say to you, whoever does
not accept the kingdom of God like a
child will not enter it."
(16) Then he embraced them and blessed
them, placing his hands on them.
10. TEXTUAL CONTEXT OF MARK 10,2-16
Part I The Mystery of the Messiah: Revelation of Jesus' Person (1,14--8,30)
Three sections, each beginning with a summary of the activity of Jesus and a narrative concerning the
disciples and concluding with the adoption of an attitude in regard to Jesus.
A. Jesus and the Crowds 1,14--3,6 (1,14f, 16-20; 3,60)
B. Jesus and his Own 3,7--6,6a (3,7-12.13-19; 6,1-6a)
C. Jesus, the Disciples and the Gentiles 6,6b- 8,30 (6,6b; 6,7-31; 8,27-30)
Conclusion and Transition 8,27-33
Confession of Peter
First Prophecy of the Passion
Correction of Peter
Part II The Mystery of the Son of Man: Revelation of Jesus' sufferings 8,31-16,8
A. The Way of the Son of Man 8,31--10,52
Indicated by 3 announcements of the fate of the Son of Man and 3 instructions on the lot of the
disciples.
B. Jesus in Jerusalem 11,1--13,37
C. Passion and Resurrection 14,1--16,8
The Later Ending 16,9-20
11. Mk 9,33 They
came to
Capernaum.
Jesus was
teaching here.
Immediate Context (Mk 9)
of our Text
Transfiguration
First Prediction of the
Passion
Healing of a Boy with a
Demon
Second Prediction
Greatest in the Kingdom
Another exorcist
Causes of Sin
Mk 10
Marriage
Divorce
Blessing of Children
The Rich Man
Third Prediction
12. COMMENTARY
The gospel text is divided into two parts:
Vv.2-12 On Divorce
Vv.13-14 On Children
In the first part, Jesus disapproves divorce, invoking the text
in Genesis (1st reading).
Jesus adds that those who divorce and marry again commit adultery.
A divorcee is not entitled to marry again.
The second part, Jesus shows tenderness to the children.
Again taking the cue from last Sunday’s reading (children = new converts,
new comers), we should take these people seriously for to them belong
the kingdom of God.
We must be childlike to enter the kingdom of God.
13. REFLECTIONS ON THE GOSPEL
READING
Jesus affirms the sanctity of marriage. To do this, he invokes the
pre-Mosaic law in Genesis (although Gen itself is Mosaic
according to the Jews.)
No human being has the right to separate what God has joined
together. No one should foil his plan in marriage.
Divorce or infidelity is a no-no to his followers. It defeats the
purpose of God.
Equally important in the gospel is how we treat children in our
communities.
These are not useless members, nor are they liabilities.
They represent the excited / fascinated group, eager to learn, to
be nurtured and to discover other people.
They qualify for the kingdom of God; they make us qualified to
enter God’s kingdom.
