Hard Teachings

When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. Large crowds followed him, and he cured them there. Some Pharisees came to him, and to test him they asked, ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause?’ He answered, ‘Have you not read that the one who made them at the beginning “made them male and female”, and said, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh”? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.’ They said to him, ‘Why then did Moses command us to give a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her?’ He said to them, ‘It was because you were so hard-hearted that Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but at the beginning it was not so. And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for unchastity, and marries another commits adultery.’ His disciples said to him, ‘If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.’ But he said to them, ‘Not everyone can accept this teaching, but only those to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.’ Matthew 19:1-12

The commercial holidays have already begun, yet the church is not in Advent season. The last days of Pentecost, always bring out harder and end times teachings of Jesus. We don't like to hear about those who divorce are hard-hearted, because we know life is not so simple. I imagine there was a specific incident that brought forth these questions and the hard answers that follow. We all learn and grow differently, with some learning easy and others very hard. We are reminded, as this church year comes to an end, that facing the hard things in life is fully necessary before we can open our hearts to celebrate and welcome the living God in the Christ child. The coming season of waiting grows our hearts and our spirits.

Wondrous Creator, you came among us

walking holy streets and hidden alleys

you faced punishment, betrayal and death

so we might all live fully in your love.

Often we want to look away from danger

we hide from hard truths and teachings

our desire for easy and simple hardens hearts

and keeps us from embracing love completely.

Help us to be tender and open of heart

let your love and teaching pour over us

help us to walk holy and dangerous roads

so we might be your people once again. Amen.