no separation
"Therefore let no man separate what God has joined." —Mark 10:9
Jesus does not want husband and wife to be separated. Also, He became indignant at His disciples for separating some children from Him (Mk 10:14). Furthermore, Jesus does not want parents separated from their children. Let no overtime, lifestyle, day care, extracurricular activities, school, or other responsibilities separate what God has joined together. Moreover, Jesus does not want family members separated from each other by TV, overwork, communication breakdown, and independent lifestyles. Jesus even refuses to separate Christians from their enemies (see Mt 13:30).
The Lord does not want sexual relations separated from marriage. In addition, Jesus, the Author of Life (Acts 3:15), does not want sperm and egg separated through contraception or sterilization. He does not want marriage separate from childbearing, nor childbearing separated from making these children disciples for Jesus. The Lord abhors the separation of a newly created human being from the womb of its mother. Let no one separate by abortion baby from mother.
Finally, let no one separate Christians from one another. The Lord has joined us to Him and to one another in Baptism (1 Cor 12:13). We are brothers and sisters in Him. We must live in real Christian community and not in worldly isolation and individualism. Let nothing separate what God has joined.
Prayer: Father, by my life may I never choose separation from You forever (see Mt 25:32).
Promise: "Indeed, it was fitting that when bringing many sons to glory God, for Whom and through Whom all things exist, should make their Leader in the work of salvation perfect through suffering." —Heb 2:10
Praise: Praise the Risen Jesus, Whose death and resurrection has enabled us to remain unified!
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 20, 2015
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