Gospel text (Mathew 19,3-12): Some Pharisees approached Jesus. They wanted to test him and asked, «Is a man allowed to divorce his wife for any reason he wants?». Jesus replied, «Have you not read that in the beginning the Creator made them male and female, and he said: ‘Man has now to leave father and mother, and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one body’? So they are no longer two but one body; let no one separate what God has joined».
They asked him, «Then, why did Moses command us to write a bill of dismissal in order to divorce?». Jesus replied, «Moses knew your stubborn heart, so he allowed you to divorce your wives, but it was not so in the beginning. Therefore I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, unless it be for concubinage, and marries another, commits adultery».
The disciples said, «If that is the condition of a married man, it is better not to marry». Jesus said to them, «Not everybody can accept what you have just said, but only those who have received this gift. Some are born incapable of marriage. Some have been made that way by others. But there are some who have given up the possibility of marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who can accept it, accept it».
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