Morality or Convenience?

Friday, February 28, 2025

Sir 6:5-17; Mk 10:1-12

Today’s Gospel highlights the difference between the law of morality and the law of convenience. 

The Gospel clearly mentions that the Pharisees were testing Jesus with their question on divorce. 

While their intention was to trap Jesus if he ever contradicted the Mosaic law, their question led to their embarrassment when Jesus reminded them that union, not separation, was God’s original intention for wedlock.

Through his argument, Jesus helps them realize that the law of morality that God intended was in total contrast to the law of convenience that they sought. 

When God intended an inseparable union between a man and his wife, divorce became a customary practice because people preferred convenience over God’s command. 

Hence, instead of clearing the spousal misunderstandings and differences, they were stubborn to hold on to divorce as the only possible solution.

Jesus could see that the Pharisees turned the convenience principle into a moral norm, all in the name of God. 

Thus, when the Pharisees were making God a partner in their crime through their argument, Jesus reclaimed the intention of God through his corrective.

Jesus helps us understand that we cannot overlook the ethical imperative for the sake of ease and convenience. 

The Divine Will for humanity ensures human flourishing and aims at the common good. 

Let us pray that our lives and conduct may be shaped by the Divine Will.

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar