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The Catholic Calendar for Friday, May 24, 2002 Seventh Week in Ordinary Time Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word: James 5:9-12 Psalm 103:1-4,8-9,11-12 Mark 10:1-12 A Reflection on today's Holy Scripture . . . Jesus is quite emphatic today as He speaks to the crowd that has gathered. In response to their question about divorcing one's spouse, Jesus answered them with another question about what Moses said to them on the same subject. Our Lord made it quite clear that it was the stubbornness of the people that led Moses to say divorce is permitted. Sadly today, statistics show one out of every two marriages end in divorce. Something has gone awry with the marriage vows. As I pondered these statistics, it came to me that one phrase could sum up the cause of the trouble and that is: lack of commitment! Whatever happened to the meaning behind the marriage vows? For better or worse for richer or poorer, in sickness or in health, till death do us part! It seems that these words cover every eventuality in the lives of two people pledging their lives to each other in the presence of Almighty God! What is the solution? Thinking back to our own childhood may help. We gathered as a family every evening after supper to pray the rosary. This practice became a vital part of our lives and one that carried through to our individual families. Our Blessed Lady had an important role in our lives, she has led us and our children into a deeper and more personal relationship with our Lord, her Divine Son. We depended on her prayers for us, always. In the reading from St. James, we receive clues about having a good working relationship with one's spouse. That is: don't grumble; be patient as you suffer hardships and inconveniences; be compassionate and merciful just as the Lord is; never take the name of the Lord in vain! We can do nothing that is good without the Lord's help. He is as much a partner as is our spouse in our marriage. O Lord, Let your Spirit be activated again to bring new life to all those who have pledged their lives to you and one another. AMEN! Deacon Bill Powers ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) [editor's note: Deacon Bill and his wife Tatty celebrated 48 years of marriage this year in January] YOU CAN HELP to evangelize the Word of God: Please recommend our website to your friends and Catholic webmasters. The meditations are in English & Spanish at http://www.borg.com/~joachim/DailyMeds.html (case sensitive). ARCHIVED Meditations: http://www.abcsoffaith.com/quiet/quietplace.html and at: http://www.mail-archive.com/dailymed%40saturn.nibcomp.com For ALL communications, including subscribe/unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (c)2002 The Way, The Truth, The Life. Permission granted to make reprints of the meditations or to post on any web page, except for profit. All scripture quotes are from the Douay-Rheims edition of the Catholic Bible. Full text from the New American Bible: http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/index.htm Lives of the Saints: http://www.christdesert.org/public_texts/martyrology/ |
Title: Meditation: Friday, May 24, 2002
