Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: August 14,2026

LECTIO - Read Scripture Text:   Matthew 19:3-12

Pharisees came to Jesus, seeking to test him, and said to him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause?” He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that in the beginning, He made them male and female and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and they shall be one flesh’? Therefore, they are no longer two, but one flesh. What God has joined together, let no man separate.”

They said to him, “Why did Moses then command that the man give the woman a bill of divorce and dismiss her?” He said to them, “Because of the hardness of hearts. Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning, it was not so. I tell you, whoever divorces his wife, unless the marriage is unlawful, and marries again commits adultery.”

His disciples said to him, “If this is the case for a man and his wife, it is better not to marry.” He answered, “Not everyone can accept this word, only those to whom it is granted. Some are not capable of marriage because they were born so, some because they were made so by others, some because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it.”

MEDITATIO - Meditate on text, allow the LORD to touch us with His Word:

Do I keep my promises to the LORD and to others? Or do I try to renegotiate the terms when things get difficult?

BREAKING OPEN THE TEXT:

Today’s gospel reading recounts Jesus’ response to the Pharisees who were trying to test him. While the topic is the nature of marriage as understood from Genesis 2, Jesus’ response is broader than the topic of marriage. He speaks to us of our hardness of heart and our desire to renegotiate when our covenants become difficult. Jesus also addresses the problem of vows made by those who are unable to fully understand or fully uphold.

ORATIO – Lifting our minds and hearts to the LORD in prayer:

LORD, Almighty Father, break our hearts of stone and give us hearts of love so that we might more wholly and faithfully live as You call us to live. Send your Spirit to give us the grace we need to become the ones You created us to be and the disciples your Son call us to be. Grant that we may strive daily to keep our promises to You and to our loved ones. Amen.

CONTEMPLATIO – Sitting with the LORD in silence for a minute or more