Gospel: August 14, 2026
August 14, 2026 (Friday)
19th Week in Ordinary Time
Psalter: Week 3 (Red)
St. Maximilian Kolbe, priest & martyr
Is 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6
You have turned from your anger.
1st Reading: Ezekiel 16:1-15, 60, 63*
Gospel: Matthew 19:3-12
Some Pharisees approached him. They wanted to test him and asked, “Is a man allowed to divorce his wife for any reason he wants?”
Jesus replied, “Have you not read, that, in the beginning, the Creator made them male and female? And the Creator said: Therefore, a man shall leave father and mother, and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one body. So, they are no longer two, but one body. Let no one separate what God has joined.”
They asked him, “Then why did Moses command us to write a bill of dismissal in order to divorce?” Jesus replied, “Moses knew the hardness of your hearts, so he allowed you to divorce your wives; but it was not so in the beginning. Therefore, I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, unless it be for immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.”
The disciples said, “If that is the condition of a married man, it is better not to marry.” Jesus said to them, “Not everybody can accept what you have just said, but only those who have received this gift. There are eunuchs born so, from their mother’s womb. Some have been made that way by others. But there are some who have given up the possibility of marriage, for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who can accept it, accept it.”
Reflection:
The richness of selfless love in any vocation.
Jesus’ teaching on marriage and divorce invites us to reflect on the sacredness and enduring nature of the marital covenant. When the Pharisees question Him about divorce, Jesus redirects their attention to God’s original plan for marriage—a union so profound that the two become one flesh, bound together by divine will. He emphasizes that this bond is not to be broken by human decision, underscoring the call to fidelity and self-giving love.
This teaching challenges us to view marriage not merely as a human arrangement but as a sacred vocation that reflects God’s unwavering love for His people. While Jesus acknowledges human frailty in permitting divorce under certain conditions, His words inspire us to strive for more profound commitment, forgiveness, and grace in our relationships.
For those called to marriage, this teaching serves as a guide to nurture unity and faithfulness. For others, including those embracing celibacy, it reminds us of the richness of selfless love in any vocation, a love that mirrors God’s eternal covenant with humanity.
******
Get real-time news updates: inqnews.net/inqviber
