It's All Performance Art 88

More from the Sermon on the Mount in Spanish.  This is about divorce. Stand by your lawyer:

"Se ha dicho: El que repudia a su esposa debe darle un certificado de divorcio.  Pero yo les digo que excepto en casos de infidelidad conyugal, todo el que se divorcia de su esposa la induce a cometer adulterio. Y el que se casa con la divorciada comete adulterio, también."

In English:

It has been said: He who wants to get rid of his wife should give her a document of divorce.  But I am telling you that except for cases of conjugal unfaithfulness, everyone who divorces their wife makes her commit adultery.  And he who marries a divorced woman also commits adultery.

For many Christians who have divorced and remarried, this can be a tricky passage, and the words are simply neither comfortable nor comforting.  I am aware that until fairly recently the Anglican Church didn't sanction the remarriage of divorced persons.  Now it is quite common including among our incredible progressive and non-celibate clergy, and no one seems to mind.  The Catholic Church, as in many other things, still remains in the nineteenth century about these matters, but what else is new?

Marriage, divorce and remarriage are subjects that I really do not feel qualified to weigh in on, for the simple reason that, though I have cohabited (who would have even guessed?), I have never been married, divorced or remarried.  Likewise the argument about abortion, choice and life.  I am not a woman.  It doesn't personally touch me (though, since you're just salivating to know, I will tell you this much: I am pro-choice)

I think what we do need to look at in Jesus' words and teachings is the way he brings the matter from how it affects you personally, to make us consider how our choices are going to affect others.  He does not mention women, and sometimes men, who have to leave an abusive marriage to save their mental health and sometimes their lives.   But he is particularly concerned here with the welfare and wellbeing of the woman who has just been repudiated and rejected and divorced by her husband, that it isn't simply a matter of what's in it for me, but what's in it for everyone, especially the most vulnerable, and in Jesus' day, if anyone was marginalized and vulnerable it was the women in his community, and he really did know this.

In terms of divorce and remarriage, I think there is a legitimate and honored place for those who, after leaving a bad marriage, or being rejected by their partner, opt to live their lives fully consecrated to the Lord, which also includes going completely celibate, as part of consecrating their lives.  Yes, married people can also lead consecrated lives, but with spouse and often with children in the bargain it can get very tricky balancing everything.  There is room for both expressions, and probably for others, as well.

All for now, Ducks!