"Divorce brings pain to everyone involved, and it’s a pain that can scar a family for generations. In Jesus’ day, divorce could be used by men who simply wanted a younger, prettier, wealthier or more fertile wife: all a man had to do was write out a piece of paper for the divorce to be legal. This left the divorced woman disgraced, penniless and in effect sentenced to death by starvation in the patriarchal first-century Jewish society. Jesus teaches us to honor the vows we make and the relationships we pledge ourselves too, especially in marriage. He understood that in the society of his day, divorced women were viewed as chattel to be discarded and devalued. Jesus also understands that all human beings are imperfect and make mistakes, and that is why he gives himself on the cross, so that God will forgive those mistakes. A marriage defined by abuse, violence, fear and insecurity is already broken; if both partners don’t honestly desire to heal themselves and the relationship, then Jesus reminds us that in him we may find healing grace, even in divorce. There is nothing God cannot forgive, through our baptism into Jesus Christ. If you struggle with reconciling a past or present divorce, please contact me and let me share with you the love of Christ, who accepts you and loves you, just as you are."
Mark 10:2-16
