Love That Doesn’t Walk Away

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Today’s Gospel begins with a question that wasn’t really about marriage. The Pharisees approach Jesus and ask, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatsoever?” They weren’t looking for wisdom; they were trying to trap Him. At the time, there were different schools of thought about divorce. Some rabbis allowed it only for serious reasons, while others permitted it for almost any inconvenience. Jesus refuses to enter their debate. Instead, He takes them back to the beginning – to God’s original plan. “From the beginning it was not so.” Marriage was never meant to be a temporary arrangement or a contract of convenience. It was meant to reflect God’s own faithful love, a love that does not abandon, even when it becomes difficult.

That is why Jesus’ words sound so demanding. He reminds His listeners that love is more than a feeling; it is a decision, a covenant, a gift of oneself. Real love always costs something. The disciples are so surprised by His teaching that they say, “If that is the case, it is better not to marry.” They realize that Jesus is asking for something greater than human strength alone can accomplish. Faithfulness is not sustained merely by emotion but by grace. Whether in marriage, priesthood, religious life, or friendship, every vocation asks us to keep choosing love when it would be easier to walk away.

Today the Church also remembers St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe, whose life gives life to this Gospel. In the darkness of Auschwitz, a prisoner was chosen to die of starvation. The man cried out in despair, thinking of his wife and children. At that moment, Fr. Maximilian stepped forward and quietly said, “I am a Catholic priest. I wish to take his place”. He was not obligated to do that. It did not benefit him. But he understood something the world often forgets: real genuine love always gives itself away. The same Christ who calls a husband and wife to remain faithful also gave St. Maximilian the strength to remain faithful to love until his last breath.

Perhaps that is the question this Gospel leaves with us today: Where am I tempted to walk away? Maybe not from a marriage, but from a promise, a relationship, a calling, or even my daily commitment to Christ. We live in a world that tells us that when love becomes hard, we should find another path. Jesus says something different. He reminds us that love is proven not when everything is easy, but when we remain faithful through the struggle.

The Holy Spirit does not promise that love will always be easy, but He does promise that with God’s grace, it is always possible. The saints show us that the greatest witness to Christ is not extraordinary talent but extraordinary fidelity.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You have loved us with a love that never gives up and never walks away. When faithfulness becomes difficult, remind us that Your grace is greater than our weakness. Through the example of St. Maximilian Kolbe, teach us to love with courage, to forgive with humility, and to remain faithful to the promises we have made. May our lives reflect Your unchanging love, so that others may see You in us. Amen.

– Homily by Rev Fr Patrick Agbeko