Background on the Gospel Reading
Today we continue to read from the Gospel according to Mark. For the past three Sundays, we have been hearing Mark’s reports of conversations between Jesus and his disciples. Recall that in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus uses these private moments to teach his disciples in greater detail about the Kingdom of God. Beginning with today’s Gospel, Jesus returns to Judea, Jewish territory, and resumes his public ministry. The first verse of chapter 10 of Mark’s Gospel tells us that crowds gathered around Jesus, and he taught them, as was his custom. Immediately, the Pharisees approach Jesus to test him.
The Pharisees question Jesus about the lawfulness of divorce. Under specific conditions, divorce was an accepted practice among the Jewish people during the time of Jesus. It was regulated by the Law of Moses, as found in Deuteronomy 24:1-5. This law only permits that a husband may divorce his wife if he finds her to be indecent. This is the justification that the Pharisees reference when Jesus inquires about the commandment of Moses. In reply, Jesus quotes from the Book of Genesis and counters that God’s original intention was that men and women would become one flesh in marriage. Jesus describes the teaching of Moses as a concession made to God’s original intention because of human stubbornness.
In private, Jesus’ disciples question him further about this teaching on divorce. It is to his disciples that Jesus lays out the implications of his teaching by explaining that remarriage after divorce is adultery. Jesus’ teaching was more restrictive than the teaching of the Pharisees, which permitted remarriage. Jesus further distinguished his teaching from the cultural norms of his time by applying his words equally to men and women. Jewish culture permitted only that a husband may divorce his wife. Wives were not permitted to divorce their husband for any reason, including adultery.
At first glance, the final part of today’s Gospel seems unconnected to the previous teaching about divorce. When read together, however, these passages present a strong picture of Jesus’ emphasis on the importance of family. God intended for women and men to be joined together in marriage. Among the purposes of marriage is the raising of children. By welcoming children and fostering their relationship with God, parents and families bear witness to the Kingdom of God.
At the end of today’s Gospel, the people were bringing their children to Jesus, and again Jesus’ disciples show that they just don’t get it. Recall that in the Gospel for each of the past two Sundays, Jesus has taught his disciples the value and importance of these “little ones” in the Kingdom of God. Yet in today’s Gospel, the disciples try to prevent people from bringing their children to Jesus. Jesus reprimands his disciples and welcomes these children. Again Jesus offers these children as an example of the kind of complete trust and dependence upon God that ought to be the attitude of all believers.
Family Connection
Jesus’ teaching about divorce and remarriage can be a challenging one for many people. The Church continues to uphold the strong and positive teaching of Jesus that God intends for a man and woman to make a lifelong commitment to one another in the Sacrament of Marriage. Many of us, however, know people whose marriage has not been a lifelong commitment. The example of Jesus teaches us that we are called to act with compassion and love in our relationships with all, and especially when people are hurting because of difficulties in their relationships. Most importantly, we remember that when marriages thrive, it is a sign of God’s grace at work.
As you gather as a family, talk about what it means to make a promise or a commitment to someone. Offer examples of promises that are fairly easy to keep. Read today’s Gospel, Mark 10:2-16. Talk about examples of promises and commitments that might be more difficult to honor, like the marriage commitment that Jesus is asked about in this Gospel. Talk about how we need God to help us honor our commitment to love and care for each other. Jesus teaches that we should be like children before God, trusting God’s promise to care for us and asking for his help to keep our commitments to love and care for others. Conclude by praying together that God will give his grace to us that we may honor our commitments to one another. Pray together Saint Ignatius of Loyola’s prayer, the Suscipe.
Text courtesy of Loyola Press
We recommend using the Sunday Connections webpage from Loyola Press throughout the year to help you study and engage the weekly gospels with your children. You can click on this link to Sunday Connections and it will take you to a page with all three Sunday readings with background on the Gospel. Then click on the Family tab at the top for reflections for families and activities to do with kids. You may also want to click on the school grade tabs at the top of the page for ideas of age-appropriate activities and topics of discussion.
October Feast Days
In the month October we celebrate the feasts of St. Therese of the Child Jesus (October 1), The Holy Guardian Angels (October 2), St. Francis of Assisi (October 4), St. Faustina Kowalska (October 5), Our Lady of the Rosary (October 7), St. Denis and Companions, St. John Leonardi (October 9), St. John XVIII (October 11), St. Callistus I (October 14), St. Theresa of Jesus (October 15), St. Ignatius of Antioch (October 17), St. Luke, Evangelist (October 18), St. John Paul II (October 22), St. John Capistrano (October 23), St. Anthony Mary Claret (October 24), and Sts. Simon and Jude (October 28).
Check out Francisanmedia.org & young-catholics.com where you will find a collection of resources to help you learn more about these astounding men and women.
The St. Francis Prayer for Peace
The Prayer of St. Francis is a beautiful prayer of peace and abandonment of our own purpose to God’s will. “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.” Check out young-catholics.com.
Below is a bulletin made especially for children. Each week it contains activities like; puzzles, gap-fills, and summaries or explanations related to the Sunday readings. Print out the images below and work with your child to prepare for Sunday’s readings and learn about the saint of the week.
St. Francis of Assisi Peace Prayer
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:where there is hatred, let me sow love;where there is injury, pardon;where there is doubt, faith;where there is despair, hope;where there is darkness, light;where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seekto be consoled as to console,to be understood as to understand,to be loved as to love.For it is in giving that we receive,it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.Amen.
