Reflection for October 6, 2024

Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

Genesis 2:18-24 | Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6 | Hebrews 2:9-11 | Mark 10:2-12

There's a lot of low-hanging fruits in our readings this Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, which of course are always the most tempting to grab. But if we dig a bit deeper into the texts, the message becomes clear: we’re called to live in harmony with others, walk in the ways of our merciful God, and support families going through tough times.

Mikaela had attempted suicide, and though her injuries were life-threatening, she miraculously survived and sought therapy with Dr. Jimmy. Over time, their sessions covered significant ground, and Dr. Jimmy believed he had gained deep insight into her pain, which Mikaela seemed to acknowledge. One day, while driving, Dr. Jimmy saw Mikaela chatting with a friend. Feeling compelled, he pulled over to greet them. The three spent about half an hour talking, laughing, and enjoying each other’s company. As their therapy sessions neared completion, Mikaela had made remarkable progress, reaching a place of healing and restoration. Curious, Dr. Jimmy asked her what she believed had been the turning point in her recovery. Expecting her to mention profound insights from their sessions, he was surprised when she referred to the day he sat with her and her friend, simply talking and visiting. Perhaps his willingness to engage with her outside the clinic had strengthened their therapeutic bond, but something more occurred that day. In their shared presence, they connected on a deeper level, and the power of Christ brought healing.

It is not good for human beings to be alone. While the physical world — with its plants, animals, landscapes, and various creations of the earth — can be fascinating, none of them can fully satisfy the deep ache of human loneliness. In today’s First Reading from Genesis, God tenderly removes a rib from the man’s side and shapes it into another human being, similar to him yet wonderfully different, like two puzzle pieces made to fit together. Upon awakening, the man exclaims, "At last! Bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh!" We need each other to live fully, for we are relational by nature. When our connections with others are disrupted, we feel the pain and emptiness of isolation. Humans are hardwired for relationships; God created us not for isolation, but to live in community with others. It is part of our nature to be kind and compassionate, to bear with one another and forgive, to submit and build each other up, to be welcoming and encouraging, to offer both correction and comfort, to pray for one another, and to bear each other’s burdens. Even when we are vastly different, we remain united — bone of each other’s bones, flesh of each other’s flesh.

Back in my high school days, we used to form human pyramids and towers during SANGKAN, an inter-seminary sports event for high school seminarians. To build a human pyramid, we would kneel on each other's backs, creating five levels, with some students standing in circles on the shoulders of those below them. Typically, the stronger and heavier students were positioned at the base, while the lighter, more agile ones took the higher, more precarious positions that demanded greater body control. At that time, I weighed 215 pounds, so I was always at the bottom of the formation. This cheer stunt taught me a valuable lesson: no one can reach the top of the pyramid without stepping on those below. The lowest row must endure pain, pressure, and discomfort to allow someone else to ascend to the top.

In the "pyramid of eternity," God takes on the hardest work at the base, allowing us to rise to the top. The second reading from the Letter to the Hebrews reveals that Jesus became incarnate, briefly becoming “lower than the angels” to suffer alongside us — and more than that, to suffer for us. He could have chosen a different path to save the world, but in His wisdom, He made suffering the royal road to glory. Ultimately, it comes down to compassion — the willingness to suffer on behalf of others. The word "compassion" comes from the Latin "cum" (with) and "passio" (to suffer), meaning "to suffer with." God’s primary way of showing compassion to the world is through Jesus' entry into it. God's compassion is revealed in Christ's suffering. He is not a distant God, indifferent to the world’s struggles, but one who steps in and takes on the burdens of humanity. When we are afflicted with disease or pain, He cares. When we grieve the loss of loved ones, He cares. When we are lost and confused, searching for direction, He has compassion for us. When we face injustice, He feels our pain. Even when we fall into the depths of sin, He grieves over our suffering. And when, in our hardness of heart, we oppose Him, He continues to love us. He always has, and always will, show profound care and concern for us. As German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, "God is not a God who rules from above, but who carries from below." We are called to follow in the footsteps of this compassionate God.

Eduardo went to church one day but forgot to turn off his phone, which rang during the prayer. The priest reprimanded him, and after the service, the congregation chastised him for disrupting the silence. On the way home, his wife continued scolding him for his carelessness. His face showed the shame, embarrassment, and humiliation he felt. After this, Eduardo never set foot in the church again. That same evening, still shaken and nervous, he went to a bar. While there, he accidentally spilled his drink. The barista quickly apologized and handed him paper towels to clean up, the janitor mopped the floor, and the manager offered him a complimentary drink. She even gave him a hug and reassured him, saying, “Don’t worry, man. Everyone makes mistakes.” From that day on, Eduardo became a regular at that bar.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus is questioned by the Pharisees about divorce. His response takes us back to the Book of Genesis, where marriage is presented as the fulfillment of God’s design, with gender differences and the unity of man and woman being part of the created order before the fall of Adam and Eve. Yet, Jesus indicates that something fundamental has changed in humanity, suggesting that divorce is no longer a necessity. This is a challenging topic, particularly in our modern society, which does not always uphold this vision of lifelong marital commitment. Human love can fail, and sometimes marriages end in divorce, leaving families broken. In fact, on May 22, 2024, the House of Representatives approved the bill that would reinstate absolute divorce as a legal option for dissolving marriages on third reading. It’s a painful reality that many have experienced conflict in their marriages that they neither expected nor wanted. As we hear Jesus’ difficult words, we must also remember his compassionate embrace of those who fall short of the ideal, his mercy toward those in need. Pope Francis continually reminds us that Jesus is the face of the Father’s mercy, and the Church is called to reflect that mercy to the world. In his Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love), the Pope encourages pastors to listen with sensitivity and understanding to those in complicated marital situations, aiming to help them live better lives and find their rightful place in the Church. Unfortunately, what often happens is that people focus on the negatives—saying, “They cannot receive Communion,” or “They cannot serve in the Church,” enforcing rules rather than showing understanding. This echoes the very drama Jesus faced with the Pharisees. While the Church upholds the indissolubility of marriage and the protection of family life, it must also welcome, accompany, discern, and integrate families in difficulty. Only then will the doors truly open for them.

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