Ezekiel 16:1-15, 60, 63 / Matthew 19:3-12
There are many ways to describe the power of love.
In the Bible, the power of love is described as this: "For love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away.”
As much as there is the power of love, there is also the power of unrequited love, or love that is not reciprocated, or love that is not returned, or simply, love that is rejected.
In the first reading, the Lord God describes His deep love for Israel, and how He had blessed His people abundantly.
Yet, the people became vain; they became infatuated with their own beauty and glory, and they became unfaithful and turned away from God.
So Israel rejected God’s love, but God remembered His covenant with them, forgave them and offered to love them again.
God could have given in to His anger and unleashed the power of unrequited love on His people.
But the power of His love for His people was much much stronger that His anger at His people.
In the gospel, the Pharisees questioned Jesus about marriage and divorce.
Essentially, Jesus reiterated that husband and wife are no longer two but one body, and what God has united, man must not divide.
So whether in marriage, or in any relationship, the power of love unites, but the power of rejected love will divide.
When we know that God is the source of love, then the power of His love will keep married couples united, families united, and communities united.
For where there is love, there is God.