First Reading (Ezekiel 16:1-15, 60, 63)
Reading from the Prophecy of Ezekiel.
The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, show Jerusalem her abominations. Say, ‘This is what the Lord God says to Jerusalem: By your origin and birth you are from the land of Canaan. Your father was an Amorite, and your mother was a Hittite. And how was your birth? When you were born, your umbilical cord was not cut, you were not bathed in water, nor were you rubbed with brine, nor were you wrapped in swaddling clothes. No one pitied you or did any of these things out of compassion. On the contrary, on the day you were born, they left you exposed in the open field, for they despised your life. Then I passed by you and saw you struggling in your own blood. And while you were in your blood, I said to you, ‘Live! I made you grow like a wild plant.’ You grew and developed, and you reached puberty. Your breasts became firm and your hair grew, but you were completely naked. As I passed by you, I saw that you had reached the age of love. I spread my cloak over you to cover your nakedness. I swore an oath and made a covenant with you, declares the Lord, and you became mine. I bathed you in water, washed the blood from you, and anointed you with perfume. I clothed you with embroidered garments, put sandals of fine leather on you, girded you with linen, and covered you with silk. I adorned you with jewels, putting bracelets on your arms and a necklace around your neck. I put a ring in your nose, earrings in your ears, and a magnificent crown on your head. You were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was made of fine linen, silk, and embroidery. I fed you with fine flour, honey, and oil. You became more and more beautiful and became a king. Your fame spread among the nations because of your perfect beauty, because of the splendor with which I covered you, declares the Lord. But you trusted in beauty and played the harlot for the sake of your fame. And you shamelessly offered yourself to every passerby. But I will remember my covenant with you when you were still young, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you. So that you may remember and be ashamed, and in your shame you will no longer open your mouth, when I have forgiven you for all that you have done, – declares the Lord God.”
– The word of the Lord.
– Thanks be to God.
Gospel (Matthew 19,3-12)
Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew.
— Glory to you, Lord.
At that time, some Pharisees approached Jesus and asked, to test him: “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?” Jesus answered, “Have you never read that from the beginning he who created them made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no man separate.” The Pharisees asked, “How is it then that Moses commanded you to give a certificate of divorce and to divorce your wife?” Jesus answered, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wife because your hearts were hard. But it was not so from the beginning. Therefore I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife—except for the case of illegitimate marriage—and marries another commits adultery.” The disciples said to Jesus, “If this is the case between a man and a woman, it is not worth marrying.” Jesus answered, “Not everyone can understand this except those to whom it is given. For there are men who are incapable of marriage because they were born that way, but there are those who are not capable of marriage because they were born that way. others, because men made them so; and others, still, made themselves incapable of this for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whoever can understand, let him understand.”
— Word of Salvation.
— Glory to you, O Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Imagine with me a scene: an abandoned child, left to die in an open field, dirty and despised. Now, imagine that same child being rescued, washed, dressed in the finest clothes, adorned with precious jewels, and elevated to the position of royalty. This is the powerful image that the prophet Ezekiel uses to describe God’s love for His people, for us.
Today’s reading from Ezekiel presents us with one of the most vivid and moving metaphors in the Bible. God speaks through the prophet: “I passed by you, and saw you trampled in your own blood, and I said to you, ‘Live!'” What an extraordinary declaration of love and grace! The Creator of the universe stoops to rescue the most helpless and helpless.
This is our story, dear brothers. Each of us was that abandoned child, helpless in our sin, incapable of saving ourselves. But God, in His infinite mercy, did not leave us in that state. He rescued us, cleansed us, clothed us with His own righteousness.
Ezekiel goes on to describe how God not only saved His people but elevated them to a position of unparalleled honor and beauty: “I clothed you with embroidery… I shod you with fine skins… I girded you with fine linen… I covered you with silk.” What a picture of meticulous care and extravagant love!
But the story doesn’t end there. Our hearts break when we read, “You trusted in your beauty and played the harlot.” What a sad turn of events! God’s people, blessed beyond measure, turned to other “lovers,” other gods, other sources of meaning and purpose.
How often do we do the same? Blessed abundantly by God, we still turn to the idols of our day—money, status, pleasure, power. We forget who rescued us and who we truly are.
But here’s the good news, my beloved: the story doesn’t end with our unfaithfulness. God declares, “But I will remember the covenant I made with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you.” What an incredible promise! Despite our unfaithfulness, God remains faithful. His love is stronger than our rebellion, His grace more powerful than our sin.
It is in this context of faithful love and everlasting covenant that we turn to today’s Gospel. The Pharisees approach Jesus with a question about divorce, trying to corner Him into a legal debate. But Jesus, as always, goes beyond the superficial question to get to the heart of the matter.
He reminds them of God’s original plan for marriage: “Have you not read that the Creator 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’”? Jesus is pointing to something profound here—the marriage union as a reflection of God’s covenant with His people.
Marriage, in God’s view, is not just a contract that can be broken when it becomes inconvenient. It is a covenant, a commitment of faithful love that reflects God’s own love for us. It is a union so profound that Jesus declares, “What therefore God has joined together, let no man put asunder.”
This may seem like an impossible standard in our society today, where divorce is common and relationships are often treated as disposable. And indeed, Jesus acknowledges that because of human “hardness of heart,” Moses permitted divorce. But He calls us back to the divine ideal, challenging us to live a love that reflects God’s faithful and forgiving love.
Now, this does not mean that those who have experienced divorce are outside of God’s love. Far from it! Remember the promise in Ezekiel: “I will establish an everlasting covenant with you.” God’s love is greater than our failures, His grace more powerful than our weaknesses.
For those struggling in their marriages, this is an encouraging word: Just as God never gives up on us, don’t give up on each other. Seek the grace of God, which can heal, restore, and renew. For those who are single or divorced, remember: your value is not in your marital status, but in being loved unconditionally by God.
Jesus also speaks of those who “made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven.” He is referring to those called to celibacy, dedicating their lives entirely to God. This reminds us that, whether married or single, our ultimate calling is to love and serve God with our whole being.
My dear brothers and sisters, the central message today is about faithfulness—God’s unwavering faithfulness to us and our calling to reflect that faithfulness in our own lives and relationships.
We are like that abandoned child in Ezekiel, rescued and raised by God’s love. Despite our unfaithfulness, God remains faithful. He keeps calling us back, offering us an “everlasting covenant.”
How can we respond to such extraordinary love? First, by recognizing and marveling at God’s grace in our lives. Take a moment now to reflect: How has God been faithful to you, even when you have not been faithful to Him?
Second, let that love transform the way we relate to others. In our marriages, families, friendships, may we love with the faithfulness and forgiveness with which God loves us. May our relationships be a reflection of God’s covenant with us—patient, persevering, ever hopeful.
For those of you struggling in your relationships, remember: the same God who rescued you “from the open field” has the power to restore and renew. Don’t be afraid to seek help, whether through prayer, counseling, or community support.
And for all of us, married or single, may we live as witnesses to God’s faithful love in a world that desperately needs to see that love in action. May our lives be a living testimony to the “everlasting covenant” God has made with us.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all, now and forever. Amen.
