Mark 10:1-12
Divorce. What were you taught about divorce when you were a child? Do you remember? Or were you taught anything at all about it? Maybe the answers to those questions depend upon your age.
I was taught that divorce was sinful. People who married did so “til death do us part,” and they meant that. And most people stayed married. I cannot know for certain whether that was for the best or not, but I am glad I grew up with two parents. Most of my peers did as well. People talked in hushed tones about people getting divorces.
When I was five, a couple whom I loved dearly where going to get a divorce. It was Mom’s job to explain it to me. When she told me I cried and cried. I was inconsolable. I did not understand the entire thing, but I did realize that I was not going to be able to see one of my friends again. That was in 1946. To this day I still love the husband who remarried. But I never saw his first wife again nor did I ever know what happened to her. And to this day, I don’t know. It is as if she disappeared off the face of the earth. For me, she has died.
And then I got married when I was 29. I loved my husband, and he loved me. But he went into rages and became physically abusive. He said he would kill me. I knew through experience that he was capable of doing so. Therefore, I divorced him. He stalked me for six weeks. Some friends stayed with me and did not let me out of their sight for an instant.
Once again, I cried and cried and cried. I thought I was the only person on either side of the family who had ever been divorced. I thought I had brought disgrace upon everyone’s name. And I had sinned as well…big time. Then I remembered one other person in the family who was divorced. But to this day our family marries to stay married.
I am distressed when I hear someone say that he/she isn’t too certain whether to get married, but if it doesn’t work out, he/she can get a divorce. What a way to think!
In Jesus’ time women’s liberation had not taken place, but He valued women as much as He valued men which was quite different from Moses’ time.
It is a curious thing that some of us think we are fine upstanding Christians who don’t break commandments. However, just look at how many people commit adultery as defined by Jesus: “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery. (Mark 10:11-12)
God help us all.
Carol
Bible Breath: Forgive and help / Oh, my God
