[Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Part 2 of Sermon for Epiphany 7A

[joeparrish]

Forwarded Part 2: 


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-------- Original message --------From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org> Date: 2/18/17  7:55 PM  (GMT-05:00) To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org> Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Epiphany 7A 


Dear Friends,

 

This Sunday’s sermon is entitled “Jesus and Divorce”
or “WWJD?” and deals with last Sunday’s gospel (Matthew 5:21-37).  Last Sunday we read the Bp. Todd Ousley’s
pastoral letter.  Here it is: (Part 2)


It was easy for a man to divorce his wife.  In some periods of history, all he had to do
was say three times- “I divorce you” and that was it.  By Jesus’ time, a written statement that you
are not my wife and I am not your husband was all that was required.There was no welfare system- no safety net- in Jesus’
time.  Divorce was extremely cruel to
women and children, as is pointed out in the Old Testament book of Malachi (2:13-16)
God said, “You cry noisily and flood the LORD'S altar with your tears, because
he isn't pleased with your offerings and refuses to accept them.  And why isn't God pleased?  It's because he knows that each of you men
has been unfaithful to the wife you married when you were young.  You promised that she would be your partner,
but now you have broken that promise....The LORD God All-Powerful of Israel
hates anyone who is cruel enough to divorce his wife. So take care never to be
unfaithful!”  How was divorce cruel?  A woman had to be under the care of a man all
her life or she and her children had no means of support.  When a husband divorced his wife, she had five
choices: she could try to get her father, brother, or other male relative to
take her and her children into their home; she could prostitute herself; she
could steal; she could sell herself and her children into slavery; or they
could starve to death.  No wonder Jesus
prohibited divorce!  I would too!  It was a justice issue! What about today?  An internet pastor-friend wrote to say that a
member of his congregation came to him in tears.  She had endured an extremely abusive marriage
for years, but now her husband had started to abuse their small son as
well.  Looking for a friendly shoulder to
cry on, she confided in her sister that she was planning on divorcing him.  “Oh!” said her sister in horror.  “You can’t do that- you’ll go to hell!”  My friends, my question to you is not what
did Jesus say in those ancient circumstances when women were just about
owned.  My question to you is what WOULD
Jesus say to do in today’s circumstances? 
I cannot believe he would expect women and children to stay in abusive
situations, because women can now care for their children- alone if
necessary.  It’s not the best way, but
better than being continually mistreated. 
Don’t get me wrong.  There is no
such thing as a good divorce.  Divorce
causes pain, disunity, confused children, economic hardship all around.  But when hardness of heart causes the death
of a relationship with the accompanying back-biting, sharp tongues, disloyalty,
and potential violence; divorce is often the best of a bunch of bad
choices.  Is it what God intends for our
marriages?  No.  Is it often the result of living is a
sin-sick world?  Yes.  Is there life in Jesus after divorce?  Most certainly. May God bless us all as
we continue to allow his Spirit to turn our hearts of stone into the heart of
his beloved Son; and may we live our lives asking, “What WOULD Jesus do this
time?” For anyone who is
interested, this sermon and updated African-American wisdom statements are
posted on our parish’s web site under “Sermons & Stuff”. The address is: http://www.stpaulsepisag.org . Blessed preaching,Judy BoliSt. Paul's Episcopal ChurchSaginaw, Michigan



































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