27th Sunday in the Ordinary

Time BOctober 7, 2012

From Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM

Gospel Reading:

Mk 10:2-1627th Sunday of Ordinary Time B

(2) The Pharisees approached and asked, "Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?" They were testing him. (3) He said to them in reply, "What did Moses command you?"

(4) They replied, "Moses permitted him to write a bill of divorce and dismiss her."

(5) But Jesus told them, "Because of the hardness of your hearts he wrote you this commandment.

(6) But from the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female. (7) For

this reason a man shall leave his father and mother (and be joined to his wife),

(8) and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two but one flesh. (9) Therefore what God

has joined together, no human being must separate."

(10) In the house the disciples again questioned him about this.

(11) He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; (12) and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."

(13) And people were bringing children to him that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them.

(14) 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.

(16) Then he embraced them and blessed them, placing his hands on them.

(15) Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it."

Part I The Mystery of the Messiah: Revelation of Jesus' Person (1,14--8,30)Three sections, each beginning with a summary of the activity of Jesus and a

narrative concerning the disciples and concluding with the adoption of an attitude in regard to Jesus.

A. Jesus and the Crowds 1,14--3,6 (1,14f, 16-20; 3,60)B. Jesus and his Own 3,7--6,6a (3,7-12.13-19; 6,1-6a)

C. Jesus, the Disciples and the Gentiles 6,6b- 8,30 (6,6b; 6,7-31; 8,27-30)

Conclusion and Transition 8,27-33

Confession of Peter

First Prophecy of the Passion

Correction of Peter

Part II The Mystery of the Son of Man: Revelation of Jesus' sufferings 8,31-16,8A. The Way of the Son of Man 8,31--10,52

Indicated by 3 announcements of the fate of the Son of Man and 3 instructions on the lot of the disciples.

B. Jesus in Jerusalem 11,1--13,37C. Passion and Resurrection 14,1--16,8

The Later Ending 16,9-20

TEXTUAL CONTEXT OF MARK 10,2-16

Mk 9,33 They came to Capernaum.

Jesus was teaching here.

Immediate Context (Mk 9) of our TextTransfiguration First Prediction of the PassionHealing of a Boy with a DemonSecond PredictionGreatest in the KingdomAnother exorcistCauses of SinMk 10MarriageDivorceBlessing of ChildrenThe Rich ManThird Prediction

The gospel text is divided into two parts:Vv.2-12 On Divorce

Vv.13-14 On ChildrenIn the first part, Jesus disapproves divorce, invoking the text in Genesis (1st reading). Jesus adds that those who divorce and marry again

commit adultery.

A divorcee is not entitled to marry again.The second part, Jesus shows tenderness to

the children. Again taking the cue from last Sunday’s reading

(children = new converts, new comers), we should take these people seriously for to them belong the kingdom

of God.

We must be childlike to enter the kingdom of God.

COMMENTARY

Jesus affirms the sanctity of marriage. To do this, he invokes the pre-Mosaic law in Genesis (although Gen

itself is Mosaic according to the Jews.)No human being has the right to separate what God has joined together. No one should foil his plan in

marriage.Divorce or infidelity is a no-no to his followers. It

defeats the purpose of God.

Equally important in the gospel is how we treat children in our communities.

These are not useless members, nor are they liabilities.

They represent the excited / fascinated group, eager to learn, to be nurtured and to discover other people.

They qualify for the kingdom of God; they make us qualified to enter God’s kingdom.

REFLECTIONS ON THE GOSPEL READING