Location: San Fernando Cathedral
Dear sisters and brothers in Christ; today’s readings invite us to reflect on God’s plan for marriage and family. From the beginning, God designed marriage to be a community of life and love, where man and woman would find joy, companionship, and shared responsibility. In Genesis, we see that God created woman as a partner for man, not as a lesser being, but as an equal. Together, they become “one flesh,” which in Hebrew thought means they form one person, one unity. This is the Creator’s desire for marriage: a bond of love that reflects the unity of God.
However, throughout history, we have seen the breakdown of this vision. Human hearts have often become hard, and relationships have suffered as a result. Divorce, inequality, and brokenness have crept into the human experience. Jesus, in today’s Gospel, reminds us of the original plan. When the Pharisees challenge Him about divorce, Jesus points them back to the beginning: “from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. … and the two shall become one flesh.”
Jesus acknowledges that Moses allowed divorce because of human hardness of heart, but He calls us to something greater. He calls us to return to God’s original design, where love is faithful, enduring, and life-giving. Jesus’ response is not meant to condemn those who struggle or suffer in marriage, but to remind us of the dignity and beauty of God’s plan for family life.
In the second reading, we hear about Jesus, who, “‘for a little while’ was made ‘lower than the angels…’” becoming one of us to redeem us. Jesus shares in our struggles and sufferings. He understands the pain and difficulty that families face. Yet, He also shows us the way to true happiness and fulfillment: through love, sacrifice, and faithfulness.
As we reflect on these readings, let us remember that marriage and family are gifts from God. They are meant to be a source of joy, not just for those involved, but for the whole community. When families live in love, they reflect the love of God for the world. Let us strive to support and uplift each other, trusting in God’s grace to heal, strengthen, and guide us in our relationships. In this way, we live out the true meaning of marriage and family as communities of life and love.
Pope Francis teaches that, (quote) “A marriage is not successful just because it endures; quality is important. To stay together and to know how to love one another forever is the challenge for Christian couples.” (end of quote). So, let us entrust to the care of Our Lady of Guadalupe your own marriages, those of your parents or children, and all those of people we love, for them to keep growing in love with the help of the Holy Spirit.
