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Friday, March 1, 2019

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Sirach 6:5-17
Psalm 119:12, 16, 18, 27, 34-35
Mark 10:1-12

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matrimony and divinity

"Therefore let no man separate what God has joined." —Mark 10:9

If Jesus is not God, He has not saved us by His death on the cross and Christianity is false. Yet we know that Jesus is God because:

  • He rose from the dead by His own power, and only God can do that (see Rm 1:4).
  • Jesus' disciples are living in a holiness, freedom, and purity which is humanly impossible. Only God can make us new creations.

One of the greatest examples of living a new life in the divine Jesus is Christian marriage. For millennia in every culture, it has been obvious that divorce was necessary (see Dt 24:1). However, Jesus announced that divorce was no longer necessary because He would give us a new nature (Mk 10:9ff). Only God could do such a thing.

Therefore, Christian married couples, do the impossible. Love your spouse faithfully and fruitfully "till death do you part." Then give Jesus all the glory for the humanly impossible love and beauty of your marriage. Let your marriage be a sacrament of Christ's divinity. Because of your marriage, may every knee bend and every tongue proclaim that Jesus is God (see Phil 2:10-11). Because of the unity in your marriage, the world will believe in Jesus' divinity (see Jn 17:21). Love your spouse with divine love.

Prayer:  Father, make Christian marriages masterpieces and divine signs.

Promise:  "For he who fears God behaves accordingly, and his friend will be like himself." —Sir 6:17

Praise:  Virginia and Matthew ministered to each other and together to others for fifty years.

Reference:  (For a related teaching on Sacrament of Matrimony, order, listen to, or download our CD 1 B-1 or DVD 1B.)

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 24, 2018

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