ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHING
April 5, 2022
As Jesus was approaching his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, there were still conversations to have and teachings to offer. Among them, was a response to a question by some of the religious leaders of the day (Matthew 19) on the topic of divorce. Now a lot has come from this chapter in regard to the conflict Jesus had with the Pharisees. I could see how one might read it in those terms, especially as Christian teaching has made the Pharisees the villain in a first century melodrama. But the question posed and the response of Jesus were not outside the usual interpretive debates on religious topics. This was not some ugly fight, but a good conversation in which Jesus was casting a vision of the Kin(g)dom of God/Kin(g)dom of Heaven. Like many of his teachings, Jesus presented a high ideal, a holy paradigm of what it meant to live in the Kin(g)dom of God. Relationships, in every manifestation, should resemble and reflect the fullness of God’s love made real in Jesus. But this is where I join the discussion between Jesus and the Pharisees in asking whether a divorce is the more faithful response when an unhealthy marriage does not reflect the ideal of Kin(g)dom of God? This is what happened on a regular basis in first century debates. A question was asked, thoughts were offered, then another question was presented and the conversation continued. It was as if God showed up, not in the answers, but in the actual exchange of ideas. We all want answers, and the more straightforward, the better. But let’s be real honest – Jesus was not in the business of providing easy answers. He hoped to engage and inspire, provoke and expand people’s thinking on what faithfulness looked like for those seeking to live the Kin(g)dom vision in the here and now.
Let me not simply come to scripture looking for easy rules to follow, O Lord, but for your vision of the Kin(g)dom to which I am called to live. Amen.
