Pod Apostle presents Father Michael O'Connor. This homily is based on the Twenty Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. October 7, 2018.

Reading 1 Gn 2:18-24

The LORD God said: "It is not good for the man to be alone.I will make a suitable partner for him."So the LORD God formed out of the groundvarious wild animals and various birds of the air,and he brought them to the man to see what he would call them;whatever the man called each of them would be its name. The man gave names to all the cattle,all the birds of the air, and all wild animals;but none proved to be the suitable partner for the man.So the LORD God cast a deep sleep on the man,and while he was asleep,he took out one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh.The LORD God then built up into a woman the ribthat he had taken from the man.When he brought her to the man, the man said:"This one, at last, is bone of my bonesand flesh of my flesh;this one shall be called 'woman, 'for out of 'her man' this one has been taken."That is why a man leaves his father and motherand clings to his wife,and the two of them become one flesh.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6

R. (cf. 5) May the Lord bless us all the days of our lives.Blessed are you who fear the LORD,who walk in his ways!For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;blessed shall you be, and favored.R. May the Lord bless us all the days of our lives.Your wife shall be like a fruitful vinein the recesses of your home;your children like olive plantsaround your table.R. May the Lord bless us all the days of our lives.Behold, thus is the man blessedwho fears the LORD.The LORD bless you from Zion:may you see the prosperity of Jerusalemall the days of your life.R. May the Lord bless us all the days of our lives.May you see your children's children.Peace be upon Israel!R. May the Lord bless us all the days of our lives.

Reading 2 Heb 2:9-11

Brothers and sisters:He "for a little while" was made "lower than the angels, "that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.For it was fitting that he,for whom and through whom all things exist,in bringing many children to glory,should make the leader to their salvation perfect through suffering.He who consecrates and those who are being consecratedall have one origin.Therefore, he is not ashamed to call them “brothers.”Alleluia 1 Jn 4:12

R. Alleluia, alleluia.If we love one another, God remains in usand his love is brought to perfection in us.R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mk 10:2-16

The Pharisees approached Jesus and asked,"Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?" They were testing him.He said to them in reply, "What did Moses command you?" They replied,"Moses permitted a husband to write a bill of divorceand dismiss her."But Jesus told them,"Because of the hardness of your heartshe wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and motherand be joined to his wife,and the two shall become one flesh.So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together,no human being must separate." In the house the disciples again questioned Jesus about this. He said to them,"Whoever divorces his wife and marries anothercommits adultery against her;and if she divorces her husband and marries another,she commits adultery."And people were bringing children to him that he might touch them,but the disciples rebuked them.When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them,"Let the children come to me;do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs tosuch as these. Amen, I say to you,whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a childwill not enter it."Then he embraced them and blessed them,placing his hands on them.or Mk 10:2-12

The Pharisees approached Jesus and asked,"Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?" They were testing him.He said to them in reply, "What did Moses command you?" They replied,"Moses permitted a husband to write a bill of divorceand dismiss her." But Jesus told them,"Because of the hardness of your heartshe wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and motherand be joined to his wife,and the two shall become one flesh.So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together,no human being must separate." In the house the disciples again questioned Jesus about this. He said to them,"Whoever divorces his wife and marries anothercommits adultery against her;and if she divorces her husband and marries another,she commits adultery."