Today’s Gospel gives us some fundamental ideas about committed marriage and family life. God never wants any of us to walk alone. Not only is He walking beside us, He has sent people to walk with us as well. Married life is without doubt related to this truth. We are meant to be together for the good of each other in the kingdom. Indeed we all need each other and God has given us the great desire to give of ourselves to each other. We need to receive others into our lives in order to be human. With all of the troubles, anxieties and difficulties going on in our world today, we need all the support that we can get. In reality not all relationships are lasting, but it certainly is the way that the Lord wanted it to be.

In today’s Gospel Jesus points out a distinction between human law and God’s Law. Commitments always require sacrifices, but that is a part of love. Whether we are married, single, or vowed in religious life we have a real human challenge to follow through and we  must remember that God is always with us. Even this is true when life seems to deal us a serious blow, a ruptured relationship and result in loneliness. That is why we have support groups even within  our parishes because so many are faced with extra ordinary difficulties. We should put others before ourselves. Although this may be difficult, there are always many rewards.