Today’s epistle reading is from St. Paul’s first letter to Timothy, chapter 5, verses 11 through 21.

But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully. For some have already turned aside after Satan. If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows. Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear. I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality.

About today’s epistle reading, St. John Chrysostom writes:

The title of true widow is not a title of calamity but of honor, even of the greatest honor. “Heavens!” Cried a sophist teacher, “What women there are among the Christians!” So great is the admiration and praise enjoyed by widowhood, not only among ourselves, but also among those who are outside the Church. And being aware of all this, the blessed Paul said, “Let not a widow be enrolled under three-score years of age.” And even after this great qualification of age, he does not permit her to be ranked in the sacred society, but mentions some additional requisites: She must be well reported of for good works. If she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work. Heavens! What testing and scrutiny! How much virtue does he demand from the widow, and how precisely does he define it. He would not have done this had he not intended to entrust to her a position of honor and dignity.

Today’s gospel reading is from St. Mark, chapter 10, verses 2 through 12.

The Pharisees came and asked him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” testing him. And he answered and said to them, “What did Moses command you?” They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to dismiss her.” And Jesus answered and said to them, “Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. But from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female.’ For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, ‘and the two shall become one flesh’; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

In the house his disciples also asked him again about the same matter. So he said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

About today’s [gospel] reading, the ancient Christian writer, Tertullian, wrote:

Where are we to find language adequately to express the happiness of that marriage which the Church cements? The oblation confirms, the benediction signs and seals, the angels celebrate, and the Father holds as approved. For all around the earth young people do not rightly and lawfully wed without their parents’ consent. What kind of yoke is that, of two believers who share one hope, one desire, one discipline, one service? They enjoy kinship in spirit and in flesh. They are mutual servants with no discrepancy of interests. Truly, they are two in one flesh. Where the flesh is one, the spirit is one as well. Together they pray, together they bow down, together perform their fasts, mutually teaching, mutually entreating, mutually upholding. In the Church of God, they hold an equal place. They stand equally at the banquet of God, equally in crises, equally facing persecutions, and equally in refreshments. Neither hides anything from the other, neither neglects the other, neither is troublesome to the other.

Let us fear the one who holds all things in the palm of his hand. Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly, above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us: to him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.