Our Gospel for this first Sunday of October is all about relationships.

We should not forget that the month of October is the month of the Holy Rosary. It is the time we should consider praying for our families. In the gospel Jesus converses with the Pharisees about the sanctity of marriage . He reminds the words of Genesis when He confirms that in marriage a man leaves his family, as the woman also does, to become one flesh. In this gospel Jesus continues his teaching and healing ministry. Jesus teachings are all about relationships. He reminds us the unity and love of a happy marriage are very important.

As man and woman submit themselves into marriage it means they are ready for it. They leave their families and become one and create their own family, with marriage where they both know their roles and responsibilities to carry. Jesus, knowing that the Pharisees’ question is a trap, elevates the discussion from the realm of legality to the most important of all considerations: God’s will. Jesus exposes the truth that Moses reluctantly wrote the commandment because the people insisted on having their own way in defiance of divine intention for marriage. The commandment, in fact, favors only the husband as if marriage was a career that can be abandoned and replaced when one does not succeed or derive it clear that marriage is a vocation, a calling from God addressed equality to man and his wife.

Mark’s Gospel puts the issues of the value of marriage and the care for children side to side with one another. In this Gospel passage, Jesus explained God’s intention for man and woman who decide to enter into marriage that they shall become one body [cf Gn2;24]. The certificate of dismissal in order to divorce [cf Dt 24;1-4] was allowed by Moses due to the stubbornness of the people. Moreover, Jesus showed how much he would care for the little children. In every broken marriage, the first ones to suffer are children. Undoubtedly, Jesus placed so much importance on family life. Let’s pray for all married couples. Let’s us pray for all the families that God continue to be with all couples in every moment of life and in every event.