November 20, 2022
Gospel – 6/12/20 – Matthew 5:27-32
Jesus said to his disciples:
“You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery.
But I say to you,
everyone who looks at a woman with lust
has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
If your right eye causes you to sin,
tear it out and throw it away.
It is better for you to lose one of your members
than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna.
And if your right hand causes you to sin,
cut it off and throw it away.
It is better for you to lose one of your members
than to have your whole body go into Gehenna.
“It was also said,
Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce.
But I say to you,
whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful)
causes her to commit adultery,
and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”
In reading today’s Gospel, Jesus turns the table on the patriarchal society. Once again, he puts man and woman, morally equal.
Just like the woman accused of adultery, Jesus places the moral responsibility on both. In this case, he condemns the objectification of women.
This is not, I believe, about the sexual act itself, but rather how the woman can so easily be discarded – not for good reason. She simply has to displease the husband for any myriad of reasons.
Ultimately, this is about moral inequality – the woman is believed to be inferior.
No one is morally superior by birth – we are equal in the eyes of God.
At least that’s what I heard Him say…
What I Heard Him Say 