Scripture:
Ezekiel 16:1-15, 60, 63
Matthew 19:3-12
Reflection:
The beautiful words of God’s care and love reverberate in these passages. We can even hearken back to Hosea 11 and Jeremiah 29 as further examples. The Lord knows His plans for us; to prosper us and give us hope and a future.
The beginning of the Gospel shakes us. Jesus is approached by some Pharisees and asked, “Can a man divorce his wife for any reason?” The teachable moment allows Jesus to explain God’s intent of marriage through the ages. God created them male and female, and for this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife. The two will become one flesh. Humanity must not separate what God has joined together.
The Passionist family talk often of vocation; the religious men and women who made vows to the congregation. We also must include the laity who make such wonderful contributions through their service and witness in spreading the charism
The Gospel spoke last week of Jesus’ trajectory. The disciples were put in a hard place to say who Jesus was in Caesarea Philippi, and then accept what Jesus meant as messiah.
In our own lives, we are given trajectories and projects to fulfill. God has plans for our prosperity, hope and future.
Fr. Phillip Donlan, CP, is the Associate Director of Ministry at Christ the King Passionist Retreat Center, Citrus Heights, California.