On serious topics like marriage and divorce, it’s essential to avoid being simplistic or judgmental. Divorce is prevalent, affecting nearly half of marriages today. While some find freedom in divorce, most experience trauma, heartache, and pain.
In Jesus’ time, Jewish law from Deuteronomy allowed a man to divorce his wife for “indecency.” One interpretation restricted this to adultery, while another expanded it to include trivial reasons like bad cooking. A man could divorce a woman almost at will, but it was nearly impossible for a woman to divorce a man. Jesus challenged this, affirming that women are not property, but persons deserving of stability and security in marriage.
In the Gospel, Jesus condemned treating women as lesser. Marriage should be a partnership, not a hierarchy. Consider the story of the woman caught in adultery. The religious leaders tried to trap Jesus by demanding her execution, knowing Roman law prohibited capital punishment by Jews. If Jesus opposed the stoning, He would be seen as contradicting Mosaic Law. If He agreed, He would undermine His message of love and could face charges from the Romans.
Jesus, refusing to let law overshadow compassion, responded by saying, “Let the one among you who has not sinned cast the first stone.” This highlighted the hypocrisy and double standards of her accusers. Jesus offered forgiveness to the woman, calling her accusers sinners, who then left one by one. This shifted the focus to equality and justice, placing compassion above tradition and law.
In a similar way, Jesus used a child to teach His disciples. At that time, children had no rights and were considered property. Jesus’ statement, “Whoever welcomes a child such as this for My sake welcomes me,” was revolutionary, emphasizing the importance of valuing all people.
Erma Bombeck, a humorist, once observed a small child smiling in church. The mother reprimanded the child, telling her to stop smiling and pray. Bombeck wished to tell the child about a joyful, understanding God. When the priest read the Gospel where Jesus said, “Become like this child,” Bombeck felt validated.
These stories illustrate that Jesus prioritized compassion, love, and equality over strict adherence to tradition and law. His teachings encourage us to value service, kindness, and genuine relationships above all else.
Jesus’ message suggests that a child’s joy and innocence are closer to Heaven than a somber, rigid religion.
