Jesus Teaches Exegesis
Oct. 6: Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
I didn’t have time yesterday to write a complete set of reflections for today’s readings, but since it’s Sunday, I wanted write something, even if it’s late. Plus, today’s first reading inspired possibly the grossest Tomics comic ever—
Reading I
Gn 2:18-24
The LORD God said: "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a suitable partner for him."
So the LORD God formed out of the ground various wild animals and various birds of the air, and he brought them to the man to see what he would call them; whatever the man called each of them would be its name. The man gave names to all the cattle, all the birds of the air, and all wild animals; but none proved to be the suitable partner for the man.
So the LORD God cast a deep sleep on the man, and while he was asleep, he took out one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. The LORD God then built up into a woman the rib that he had taken from the man.
When he brought her to the man, the man said: "This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called 'woman, ' for out of 'her man’ this one has been taken." That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one flesh.
It should always be remembered, when we read Genesis, that Biblical literalism is a Protestant heresy invented in the 19th century. That has never been the Catholic view. Origen of Alexandria, back in the 2nd century, said “What intelligent person would fancy, for instance, that a first, second, and third day, evening and morning, took place without sun, moon, and stars; and the first, as we call it, without even a heaven? Who would be so childish as to suppose that God after the manner of a human gardener planted a garden in Eden towards the east, and made therein a tree, visible and sensible, so that one could get the power of living by the bodily eating of its fruit with the teeth; or again, could partake of good and evil by feeding on what came from that other tree?”
Arguing about the biology of Adam’s rib is about as sensible as debating whether a vampire cop can enter a home with a warrant.
There’s a moral lesson to be learned, not an anatomical one.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6
R. (cf. 5) May the Lord bless us all the days of our lives.
Blessed are you who fear the LORD,
who walk in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
blessed shall you be, and favored.
R. May the Lord bless us all the days of our lives.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
in the recesses of your home;
your children like olive plants
around your table.
R. May the Lord bless us all the days of our lives.
Behold, thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.
The LORD bless you from Zion:
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
R. May the Lord bless us all the days of our lives.
May you see your children's children.
Peace be upon Israel!
R. May the Lord bless us all the days of our lives.
The Bible isn’t a book. It’s a collection of books. Some are historical, but some are fables, collections of wise sayings or even poetry and songs. Yet, somehow no one tries to take today’s Psalm literally, like some might with the story of Adam and Eve.
Reading II
Heb 2:9-11
Brothers and sisters: He "for a little while" was made "lower than the angels, "that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
For it was fitting that he, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the leader to their salvation perfect through suffering. He who consecrates and those who are being consecrated all have one origin. Therefore, he is not ashamed to call them “brothers.”
Paul is quoting the 8th Psalm,1 which early Christians interpreted as a messianic prophesy (as we still do today). Jesus, who is God, became a human, which is a “lower” form than angels. He wants to assure the reader that Jesus’ death and resurrection doesn’t make Him any less divine.
I have no idea what this has to do with the rest of today’s readings.
Alleluia
1 Jn 4:12
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
If we love one another, God remains in us
and his love is brought to perfection in us.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God is Love, and wants us to share His love with one another.
Gospel
Mk 10:2-16
The Pharisees approached Jesus and asked, "Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?"
They were testing him. He said to them in reply, "What did Moses command you?"
They replied, "Moses permitted a husband to write a bill of divorce and dismiss her."
But Jesus told them, "Because of the hardness of your hearts he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female.
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, no human being must separate."
In the house the disciples again questioned Jesus about this. He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."
And people were bringing children to him that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, "Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it."
Then he embraced them and blessed them, placing his hands on them.
Jesus cites the first reading in his debate with the Pharisees. Notice He’s not bothering with questions of literalism or physicality. He’s extracting the point of the story of Adam and Eve, and preaching the lesson found therein—marriage isn’t just two people who really, really like each other. It’s a permanent bond, consecrated by God.
The “optional” reading for today cuts off the part with the kids, which I think is a mistake. It reminds us that marriage is the beginning of a family. As Fr. Mike puts it, marriage is a love so strong, you have to give it a name nine months later.