TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B, 2024 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

 Genesis 2:18-24; Psalm 128:1-6; Hebrews 2:9-11; Mark 10:2-16

Today’s readings address marriage and family, which are two very important areas of human existence. Marriage and family issues concern every one of us since all human beings come into existence through the union of man and woman; and each person belongs to a family.

The first reading is the story of how God created the first family. The reading concludes, “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). In the gospel, Jesus repeats this line and adds, “Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate” (Mark 10:9). The first reading and the gospel show that the Sacrament of Matrimony is the first of the seven sacraments and that the institution of the family is the most important and the foundation of every other divine and human institution. Whatever affects the family, negatively or positively, affects human existence in the same way.

After creating the union of man and woman, God did not create any alternative to such a union. The prophets did not provide alternatives. Jesus did not suggest any alternative. Instead, he confirmed the union of husband and wife as God made it to be in the beginning. The New Testament epistles do not suggest any alternative. It means that the absence of alternatives to the union of man and woman is not an omission. God made it so. Human biology, physiology, and the reproductive system are naturally designed to enhance the union of man and woman.

However, we do not dismiss the reality in our world today that men and women have alternatives to what the readings of today present to us. For the sake of civility and decency, I will not go into discussing the alternatives, which are, as we know, recognized by some religious bodies and governments of some countries. The recognitions do not change the Catholic teaching on marriage, which is based on the Scripture, morality, and human nature. It is important that we know what the Scripture says and what the Church teaches. Then, we are responsible for the choices we make, and we are accountable to God. 

Another problem affecting the family institution is that some people do not believe that marriage is a covenant. They see marriage as a contract that can be terminated with time or when there are defaults. Jesus says in today’s gospel, “So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, no human being must separate” (Mark 10:8-9). For this reason, the Catholic Church does not encourage or facilitate divorce. Rather, after all necessary inquiries, the Church can annul and void a marriage as if the marriage never existed. This is different from divorce, which means that the marriage existed but ended. It is pathetic how celebrities and some people toy with divorce and belittle family life, and their admirers and social media celebrate the news. This has a huge negative influence on young people.

The gospel concludes with the following, “And people were bringing children to him that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 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. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.’ Then he embraced them and blessed them, placing his hands on them” (Mark 10:13-16). Some countries and some governments do not allow religion to be taught in government owned schools, thereby undermining the importance of faith and religion in children’s development. By doing so, children are taken away from God. Therefore, it becomes the responsibility of parents to teach their children the importance of spiritual life. Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train the young in the way they should go; even when old, they will not swerve from it.”

Unfortunately, some parents are not committed to the responsibility of bringing their children to Jesus. When a parent’s priority for his/her child on a weekend is something else rather than worshipping God, the parent has taken his/her child away from Jesus. There are runaway parents who completely abandon their children. There are parents who have no religious affiliation and have nothing to teach their children concerning faith and religion; which is why we are beginning to have a God-less and faith-less generation.

The readings today call for the protection of the institution of marriage and family, and bringing our children close to God. We pray for a better understanding of the sacredness of marriage and family. We pray for fidelity, love, and respect that enable lasting marriages among couples. We pray that our sons and daughters discern prayerfully and properly before entering into marriage covenants. We pray that parents may embrace the task of training their children in the way of God.

TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B, BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP 2024

Numbers 11:25-29; Psalm 19:8, 10, 12-14; James 5:1-6; Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

A brief background of the first reading will help us appreciate the message the reading has for us. At a point on their journey, the Israelites complained bitterly against God and Moses: “But now we are famished; we have nothing to look forward to but this manna …” “When Moses heard the people, family after family, crying at the entrance of their tents, so that the Lord became very angry, he was grieved.” Moses cried to God, “… I cannot carry all this people by myself, for they are too heavy for me. If this is the way you will deal with me, then please do me the favor of killing me at once, so that I need no longer face my distress” (Numbers 11:1-15).

Then, God directed Moses to appoint seventy elders of Israel. God said to Moses, “I will also take some of the spirit that is on you and will confer it on them, that they may share the burden of the people with you. You will then not have to bear it by yourself” (Numbers 11:16-17).

In the first reading, God took some of the spirit that was on Moses and bestowed on sixty-eight elders who were present, and they prophesied. Two elders “were not in the gathering but … in the camp…. Yet, the spirit came upon them also, and they prophesied in the camp” (Numbers 11:24-26).

I do not stop wondering why God did not confer the spirit on the elders directly from himself. Rather, he took some of the spirit that was on Moses and conferred on the elders. In my wondering, I ask myself: “Do I have the spirit that God can take some and confer on others?” “What can God take from me and give to others which can positively impact their life?” “Can I dispose myself for God to take from me and give to others?” Or do I, jealously, hold all I have to myself? After God had taken some spirit from Moses and conferred on others, Moses still had enough spirit to continue to lead the people of Israel. Givers never lack (Proverbs 28:27).  

Joshua did not want the two men who were absent from the gathering to receive the spirit. Joshua said, “Moses, my lord, stop them.” In today’s gospel, John and some of the disciples of Jesus tried to stop someone who was driving out demons in the name of Jesus because he was not a disciple of Jesus.

In the same way, there are people who hold on to concepts of exclusion and entitlement and deny those who do not belong to their kind or group their deserved rights and privileges. St. Paul scolded the Corinthians, “One says, ‘I belong to Paul.’ Another says, ‘I belong to Apollos.’ Does not that show that you have the spirit of this world?” (1 Corinthians 3:4). While the spirit of this world is partial and factional, the Spirit of God has no boundaries. It blows wherever he wishes (John 3:8).

Also, God can choose and use anyone according to his good purpose. If God chooses and uses someone we do not like, or our enemy, or someone outside our group for his good purpose, then, so be it. Let us not have the spirit of this world that tries to stifle God’s Spirit and God’s plan. St. Paul encourages us, “Do not quench the Holy Spirit. Do not despise prophetic utterances” (1 Thessalonians 5:19).

In today’s gospel, Jesus strongly condemns all forms of abuse and molesting of children and minors. He says, “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea” (Mark 9:42). In the same vein, as we reflected last Sunday, God is displeased with whoever causes hardship on the vulnerable, the voiceless, the powerless, and the defenseless.

The entire second reading condemns those who take advantage of the vulnerable, the voiceless, the powerless, and the defenseless to advance or enrich themselves. “… You have stored up treasure for the last days. Behold, the wages you withheld from the workers who harvested your fields are crying aloud, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts…. You have condemned; you have murdered the righteous one; he offers you no resistance” (James 5:3-6). Helplessly, we see these sins committed around us and around the world. For this reason, St. Paul urges us to offer supplications, prayers, petitions for rulers, and for all in authority, that they may lead with integrity (1 Timothy 2:1-3).

To conclude, Jesus has something for each one of us to reflect and work on. Jesus advises us to cut off hand or feet and pluck off eye if they cause us to sin. We know how important and dear these parts of the body are to us. It means that we must cut off from persons, relationships, associations, occasions, places, and the things we may hold dear, but they lead us astray or lead us to sin and away from God. Such daring and radical action requires a lot of prayer, courage, discipline, resilience, sacrifice, and God’s grace.