Gospel Reading for June 13, 2025 – Matthew 5: 27-32
GRAVE INJUSTICE
Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into Gehenna.
“It was also said, Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce. But I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”
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If a married man or woman looks at others with lust, it is already an act against the 6th Commandment of not committing adultery, because this commandment is meant to keep sacred a lifetime relationship that God has put together, where couples make vows of being faithful to each other for better or worse, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer until death. Jesus is also giving emphasis on the importance of preserving and safeguarding the FAMILY.
When parents fight in the presence of their children, the children tend to feel worried and insecure. This is because a healthy FAMILY is a haven of peace and security for the children.
Divorce is even worse, because it ends the relationship of their parents legally. If their parents each have new partners, the children are forced to adjust to this new situation where they are not given a choice. This is why when parents are divorced, in most cases, the children develop emotional and behavioral problems, as well as poor performance in school. They experience sadness, anger and anxiety. Some also feel guilty, thinking that they caused their parents to divorce. The bigger problem is if the children are not given guidance, they can be criminals in the making or those who will cause a lot of societal problems in the future.
Children are not given a choice to pick the parents they wish to have. They are born into, and not outside a FAMILY. It is a GRAVE INJUSTICE if parents make life miserable for them. If we look at ourselves and see that we are incapable of being good spouses, of keeping a permanent relationship, of being a good parent, then the Sacrament of Matrimony is not for us. Better be single than be thrown into Gehenna!
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, help us make our family like yours in Nazareth!
