19th Friday in Ordinary time, yr. 1, August 18, 2023
Jos 24:1-13; Ps 136:1-3, 16-18, 21-22, 24; Mt 19:3-12
We have a wonderful story from the prophet, Joshua, today. Joshua recounted all the things God did for His people, from before Abraham, all the way to where the Israelites were in the Promised Land and eating the fruits of those who possessed the land before them. On the surface, one might think it was about the Israelites boasting how they fled Egypt and took back their land. You can also see the work of God in how He protected them and conquered their enemies. But if you read closely, you can also see how God formed Israel into a people and led them out of bondage, how God provided for them throughout all of history. The story is not so much about the conquering, or boasting, as it is about how God takes care of all of us throughout time, not just the Israelites.
And then we hear the story of how Jesus was tested by the Pharisees, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?” So, Jesus starts at the beginning, where God made man, male and female, so they could cling together and explains the truth. It was out of the hardness of their hearts that Moses permitted them to divorce, but now that Jesus is there, no more.
It is difficult for us to understand God’s laws and desires sometimes through all the noise we hear in the world. Jesus does His best to explain them, but even Jesus knows that sometimes it will fall on deaf ears. “Whoever can accept this, ought to accept it.” This statement is not an out that we can ignore God’s laws or natural laws, but of a statement to wake us up and realize the truth. Are we willing to accept it? Or are we one of the ones that cannot accept it and cannot hear God’s word? I would hope we do not have hard hearts and are willing to hear and accept the truth. It is only through the truth we can hear through the noise and accept. There is a great song out there called “God only knows.” Well, I hope that we too can hear and know, that His mercy endures forever, from the beginning of time, when God made us, male and female, to right where we are today.
Saint James Catholic Church 