Jeanette Renouf

My dear friends,

This gospel lesson for today from Mark, condemning divorce, was problematic from the beginning.

It was probably thought to protect women and children from being cast aside and into poverty but, over time, it became a way for the Church to keep women in very abusive marriages.

It seemed to give men, and sometimes women, free rein on bad behavior without suffering the consequence of the loss of a marriage.

I divorced my first husband but, even after remarriage, I experienced a tie to him through our children and shared memories. So in some ways we were never truly separated. We remained friends, and I was present in the hospital when he died.

It could very well be that once married a couple is tied forever—just perhaps not legally.

We know Jesus forgives us when we repent, and this must be true of broken marriages, as well. Usually both parties in a divorce need repentance.

We know we are loved regardless of the sins we may have committed if we ask God for forgiveness.

May all of us rejoice in the love of God and never be separated from that blessing.

Love and peace,

—Jeanette