When we think of the teachings of Jesus we might be inspired
and grateful that Our Savior, who knows us so well, thinks so
highly of us. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus repeatedly
refers to what was taught before giving what He came to teach
and to make possible. For example, His teaching that we
should love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us
is a teaching that is a beautiful one. It also is a very
challenging one. Jesus says that it isn't such a big thing
for us to love those who love us. Yet, when we think about
it, we might notice that even loving those who love us can be
beyond our usual practice. Jesus came to teach us a new way
and to give us what we need to live according to it. His
teachings are more than ideals, they identify the way we
should and can live. Are they inspiring or intimidating?
This weekend we find Jesus responding to the Pharisees who
have approached Him with a question designed to "test Him."
The gracious Jesus patiently answers their question. As a
pastor, I wonder if I would be as patient if I knew I was
being asked a question to test me. Of course, Jesus is love
incarnate so He has patience with them because He loves them.
He takes the opportunity to teach. His disciples, hearing
this exchange, listen and learn. Then, later, they ask Him
follow-up questions. The discussion on that day was about
marriage, divorce and remarriage. It is interesting to note
that such questions abound even now. Jesus makes the point
that Moses permitted divorce, permitted husbands to dismiss
their wives, because people had hard hearts. Then, in that
context of what once was permitted, Jesus said these familiar
words: "But from the beginning of creation, God made them
male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father
and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall
become one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, no
human being must separate."
The passage from the Gospel of St. Mark does not indicate
what response the Pharisees gave to Jesus' answer. The
disciples clearly wanted clarification. Why? Because Jesus
was teaching a new standard, a new attainable and beautiful
ideal for marriage between a man and a woman. Imagine the
shock waves such news would send through the society Jesus
was trying to reach. They might say: "He believes divorced
people who remarry are adulterers." or "Does He really expect
that people can live up to such standards?" The scene is very
familiar, actually. In our own day it is common for people to
call for the church to adjust, update, modernize, change its
teachings. Such thinking is one reason that Pope Francis is
popular to many people. It is a recurring theme, generation
after generation - will this be the moment when the church
finally teaches according to what people really want to be
taught? So goes the thinking and questioning. Yet, the pope
and the church and Jesus remain steadfast. And God's grace
remains real.
Most parish priests work with engaged couples. Most would
agree that the best engaged couples are "engaged" engaged
couples. The grammar check doesn't want to recognize the word
engaged right after the word engaged. In a way, popular
culture doesn't seem to want to recognize it either. But an
engaged couple that is truly engaged on the point of what
marriage means will find that the teachings of Jesus are, in
fact, inspiring. It may be that they are at first
intimidating. But young and not-so-young couples find that it
is better to strive to live out the call to holiness that
marriage is than it is to accept the lower standard of
morality and life so prevalent all around. Inspired or
intimidated? When we approach Jesus today in prayer it would
be right to bring to Him the questions we have in our minds
and hearts. It would be right to approach Him as His
children, for so indeed we are. Pray with imagination.
Imagine the heart and reaction of Jesus to children asking
real questions. Imagine how much more He can say and teach to
His willing inspired child-like sons and daughters who don't
want to test Him.
Fr. Zuberbueler is pastor of St. Louis Church in Alexandria.