The phrase "nobody's perfect" has become a cliché, losing its original meaning because instead of using it to acknowledge our shortcomings and use to propel our personal growth, we often use it as an excuse to avoid confronting our faults.
The same goes for couples who later realize they aren't meant for each other after exchanging vows to love and honor each other all the days of their lives, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, until death parts them-- all these promises made before God as their witness.
Yes, I’m referring to House Bill 9349, or the proposed "Absolute Divorce Act," which seeks to legalize divorce in the Philippines, adding it to the existing options of Legal Separation and Annulment. However, rather than delve into the technicalities of this bill which can be easily found on the internet, I want to express my dismay towards my fellow Christians who seem to forget Jesus' teachings on marriage and divorce. They disregard the wisdom they’re supposed to uphold from the seminars they attended before deciding to get married and ultimately the sacredness of the Holy Matrimony.
Some Pharisees came to Jesus, testing Him and asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?” And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and his 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 person is to separate.” They *said to Him, “Why, then, did Moses command to give her a certificate of divorce and send her away?” He *said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way. And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for unchastity, and marries another woman commits adultery. -Matthew 19:3-9
Note that the line "except for unchastity" is often misinterpreted as a valid cause for divorce. In the original Greek, "porneia," translated as "unchastity," refers to sexual unlawfulness where two spouses are not validly married or, in modern language, a "live-in partner."
From the Bible Passage above, the Pharisees and the those who are pushing for legalizing Absolute Divorce Act are somehow similar. The Pharisees believed that they justly uphold the Law of God but felt disrespected when Jesus emphasized the spirit and intent behind the Law of God.
Should this bill be legalized, it will only further play down the Sacrament instituted by Jesus Christ. It's like winning a prize beyond anything this world can offer but refusing to accept it. Yes, legal separation and annulment are already in place, and some might consider them as breaking God's commandments as well, but with deeper understanding, one can see that both have moral acceptability compared to divorce. Divorce is like a subscription-based phone application where you can unsubscribe whenever you feel uninterested, while the existing legal remedies are like asking for a refund, which follows a strict policy: it must be within the allowable timeframe, supported by evidence, and undergo an investigation.
What I found to be the common reason for wanting to legalize divorce is to give each party the freedom to start afresh, as if marriage is like playing The Sims, where you can delete a household and start anew when things don't go as planned. They also argue that their child will greatly benefit if this bill is approved. While there are studies showing how divorce can have a positive impact on a child, there are also studies highlighting its potential psychological effects. The former might be achievable, but avoiding the latter seems like a long shot.
Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. -1 John 4:8
Yes, I am not blind to the issues of domestic abuse, fornication, incestuous rape, addiction, and other immoralities that can occur within married life. But are they really supposed to happen if God is the center of it all? When God is at the heart of a marriage, His principles of love, respect, and commitment should guide every aspect of the relationship, making such issues less likely to arise, if at all. We've heard about married couples, rich or poor, who remained loyal despite all the challenges they've faced.
Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. -Matthew 26:41
What happened to dating? Isn't that supposed to be a prerequisite for discerning a lifelong partner? Or has it also been taken for granted by focusing solely on the desires of the flesh instead on building a deep emotional connection and understanding of each other's qualities?
From my observation, couples who draw closer to God are the ones who keep the family tree vibrant and flourishing. Some may not subscribe to specific religious practices or may even be non-believers, yet they often instinctively follow God’s commandments without realizing it.
The disciples *said to Him, “If the relationship of the man with his wife is like this, it is better not to marry. -Matthew 19:10
Therefore, if we are unsure or haven't fully realized how a marriage life will be, it may be better not to marry as entering into such a commitment without a clear understanding can eventually lead to challenges and difficulties for both partners that might end up separating what God has joined together.
I might sound as preachy, and some may say that bringing God into this discussion is out of touch. However, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, it was God who created marriage, not humans. While we often hear "my life, my rules," and indeed, we have the absolute freedom to make choices and God cannot intervene to stop us. But...
For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. - Matthew 16:25
May God send His Holy Spirit to guide our politicians in discerning what’s best for our country, aligning their decisions with God’s will rather than their own desires. Also, may God intensify the Sacrament of Matrimony for couples who have received it, granting them additional strength to overcome challenges, extra guidance to make wise decisions, and increased wisdom to navigate the complexities of married life.
 |
| This artwork titled 'Religious Art for Adult Children of Divorce' is by Dr. Daniel Meola & Michael Corsini and can be found at Restored Ministry. |
0 Comments