Jesus does not believe in divorce, and He never will (see Heb 13:8). In fact, Jesus hates divorce (Mal 2:16). Of course, this does not mean that He hates those who are divorced. The very reason He hates divorce is because He loves those who are divorced and did not want to see them hurt by divorce.
The Church, as the Body of Christ, has always been true to Jesus, the Head of the Body, and has opposed divorce. In recent decades, some denominations, not in full communion with the Catholic Church, have ignored Jesus' words forbidding divorce and second marriages. The Catholic Church has recognized that divorce is sometimes not the fault of divorced persons, but something imposed on them by their spouses. In this case, those divorced are not rejecting Jesus' prohibition of divorce but are victims of injustice. The Catholic Church has also realized that not every marriage is a marriage by God's standards. Therefore, some second marriages are actually first and only marriages by God's standards. However, individuals should not discern that for themselves. The Church alone has that responsibility.
Taking into account these clarifications, as Christians we must oppose divorce and second marriages. We must say, do, and love as Jesus does.
| PRAYER: | Father, thank You for the divorced who have unilaterally been faithful to their marriage vows. |
| PROMISE: | "You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and have seen what the Lord, Who is compassionate and merciful, did in the end." –Jas 5:11 |
| PRAISE: | Joseph met his wife in a support group for divorced persons after their first marriages were annulled. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College