Mark 10:2-16

7 Oct    Mark 10:2-16      JustLiving

 "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner." (Genesis 2:18)  When Jesus is challenged about divorce, he ignored his current cultural norm that allowed a man to divorce his wife (but not the other way around) if she turned out not to be “fruitful” or “faithful.”  Jesus reminded his challengers, and us, that the core issue is relationship.   Genesis says that the relationship with each other is a partnership, which the dictionary defines as common interest, equal status, mutuality, allies in a common enterprise.   Being created for relationship with God and each other rejects relationships that are one-sided or that use one partner as a tool or instrument to accomplish the purpose of the other.  Jesus’ rejection of divorce was a rejection of using people as a means to an end.

Reminding ourselves that we were created for relationship, for community, challenges us as a Christian community.  Are we modeling equal status, mutuality, allied in a common enterprise in our own households?  In our parish community?   How can we stand for relationship in the face of our culture’s focus on romance (or networking for success) as a means to an end; as permission to take up or set aside another human being like a toy or a prop? (The Quakers have a discernment process that culminates in a couple marrying “under the care of the community” – an interesting concept.)    How can we stand for relationship as a measure of success and speak out when we see people being used as tools?    How can we be intentional about ensuring that everyone in our congregation is welcomed into relationship with the rest of us, especially those who are single?