Mark 10:9
9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.’
Let’s return to Mark’s report in Chapter 10. Jesus is moving south towards Jerusalem. During Lent, we travel with him, listening to his teachings and pondering how they speak into our reality today. As Jesus heads south, he enters Judea where he now works with questions given him by the Pharisees who are testing him, trying to trip him up and trying to find weakness in him, I suspect. They ask if it is legal for a man to divorce his wife? Today we would wear the shoe on either foot. Is it legal for a wife to divorce her husband? My mother would say, “It takes two to tango!” It’s never a one-way street in relationships.
The Pharisees are teachers of the law and they know what Moses said and all the interpretations that had been spun through the ages. Even we hire lawyers when we come to issues like this! Interestingly Jesus throws the ball back into their court. He asks them to declare themselves. What does Moses say? How we define words is important. “I’m fine,” can mean a lot of things. The Pharisees respond that a man need only write a certificate of divorce and send her away. Some might agree that it’s fair but others would respond, “That’s harsh!” Jesus names it, “hardness of heart.”
Jesus goes to an authority greater than Moses. He goes to God. God created men and women to be helpers. God desires that we come together, not separate, However we define “male” and “female” we can agree there is some sort of difference when two people meet and seek to understand each other and live together. Misunderstandings and tensions tensions always arise. How we handle differences is important. God’s desire was that we help each other using our differences to strengthen each other and tackle the tasks of life. He does not desire we drive people apart.
So as I look at my heart during Lent, I must ask myself if I am working as hard to see the good that can draw me to another as I do to see differences and things that irritate. God calls us not to be hard of heart but to work together. Lord, Help!!!!
On the Way to Wonder 