Living in Right Relationship: Message for Seventh Sunday after Epiphany 2011

February 20, 2011 Sermons by James Ravenscroft Edit
The portion of the Sermon on the Mount about anger, adultery and oaths can feel disconnected to 21st century ears but when put into a 1st century Palestinian context, Jesus' words take on new meaning as a teaching on living in right relations, especially between men. Jesus invites all of us to live more cooperatively and to consider the impact of our actions, especially on our families. Read more at sermon.110220.pdf or listen at sermon 110220.mp3. To comment click on the message title for this Sunday.

Comments 

 
# Evelyn 2011-02-22 20:17
t was also said, “Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.” 32But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

OK - we heard James discuss this passage in terms of 2000 years ago, but I wonder how this is to be interpreted for 2011? James?
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# james.ravenscroft 2011-03-07 22:25
We need to remember that Jesus' teaching was a way of underscoring the seriousness of divorce. Because of the unfair way women were treated in the system divorce should be a last resort. Jesus believed the men weren't taking seriously enough the poverty they were putting their wives into following the divorce.

Note how Jesus considers both the woman and the man as committing adultery. Jesus was teaching equal rights for women as for men. I believe that's the message for 2011, rather than the focus on divorce. In our context someone who in good faith divorces and remarries is not committing adultery.
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