HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE FOURTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR II. 10.07.2020.

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Readings: Hosea 14:1-9; Psalm 51 and Matthew 10:16-23. 


ARE YOUR REASONS GOOD ENOUGH FOR DIVORCE? 

 

While some divorce may be necessary, many marriages can be repaired. Sometimes, the present issues between you and your spouse or between community members may appears difficult, but in the long run, couples who are able to manage their differences ends up happier than many who goes in for divorce. The liturgy of today indicate to us that there is no perfect marriage, perfect family nor perfect community. What we have are family who are ready to love and forgive, despite the offences, rejection or hostility that comes from family members.

 

In the first reading, we have a wonderful chapter to be at the end of the book of the prophet Hosea. The prophet in this chapter prefigures the words of St. Paul who said, “Where sin abound, grace abound the more” (Rm 5:20). As we have seen within this week, is a chapter that is so rich in mercy as it illustrate the infidelity of Israel and the mercy of God, using the imagery of the wife of Hosea as a prostitute in their worship to the gods of their hands. As regards the mercy and love of God, Hosea’s pure and lofty ideals for marriage would not permit him to divorce his wife, despite her repeated infidelities. He condemns the life of infidelity but evokes God’s mercy and compassion when he said, “I will heal their faithlessness; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them…” God’s judgment on Israel was tempered with mercy and love. There were thousand and one reasons to leash out his anger and judgment on Israel, but being a compassionate and merciful God, he makes them realize they can start anew if they return to Him. Again, the patient of Hosea towards the wife bore abundant fruits as described in the passage: “We shall dwell under his shadow, we shall flourish as a garden, and we shall blossom like the vine.” It shows us things that are restored to us when we return to God.

 

As we observe the unfaithfulness of Israel towards the covenant they had with God and God’s anger on them which was tempered with mercy, many of us face similar challenges in our daily lives within our biological or religious families. The cry of infidelity threatens so many marriages, families and religious/priestly vocation. Many are suffocating in their marriage and religious commitment; they cannot breathe freely anymore and some at the verge of giving up in their marriage/vocation. Dear friends in Christ, the prophet Hosea suffered this emotional trauma as some of us are passing through today, but the last chapter of this prophet gives us hope. As this chapter speaks on restoration. We should first reflect on the repentant heart, returning to your spouse or community as the case may be, not just literally but with repentant heart as demanded by God to the Israelite. Again, we can learn from God on how to exercise love and mercy on those who have offended us. This way, we will begin to experience restoration of that dream family life we always hoped for. Remember, there is no perfect family, but a family or community that knows how to love and forgive.

 

When we turn to God and live in love and mercy, we become capable of defeating the wolves that attacks our marriage with the idea of divorce, disunity in family as described by Christ in the gospel and have a happy and fruitful mission in our religious vocation. May the good Lord continue to bless His words in our hearts in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen! Peace be with you!

 

Fr. Ken Dogbo, OSJ

Location: Papalanto, Nigeria

Comments

  1. PriscamarieJuly 10, 2020 at 2:01 AM

    When we turn to God and live in love and mercy, we become capable of defeating the ideas of divorce and disunity threatening our homes.
    Thanks Padre

    ReplyDelete

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