27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Date: October 4, 2009

First Reading (Genesis 2: 18-24)
A reading from the book of Genesis.
The Lord God stated, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make an appropriate friend for him." Therefore, the Lord God summoned out of the ground various 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 the wild animals; however, none proved to be the appropriate match for the man. Therefore, 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 rib that he had taken from the man. When he brought her to the man, the man stated, "This one, at last, is one of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called 'woman' for out of 'her man' this one has been taken." And that is why a man leaves his father and mother and embraces his wife, and the two of them become one flesh.

Second Reading (Hebrews 2: 9-11)
A reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Hebrews.
Brothers and sisters: We do see Jesus "crowned with glory and honor" because he suffered death, he who "for a little while" was made "lower than the angels," that by the grace of God he might experience 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 consecrated all have one origin. Therefore, he is not ashamed to call them, "brothers".

Gospel (Mark 10: 2-16)
A reading from the goly Gospel according to Mark.
The Pharisees approached and questioned Jesus, "Is it legal for a husband to divorce his wife?" They were testing him. Jesus stated in reply, "What did Moses command you?" They replied, "Moses allowed him to write a bill of divorce and release her." However, Jesus told them, "Whereas of this hardness of your hearts, he wrote you this commandment. However, from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother [and be joined to his wife], and the two shall become one flesh. Therefore they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate." In the house, Jesus' disciples questioned Jesus about this. He answered them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, then she commits adultery." People were bringing their little children to Jesus to have him touch them, and the disciples rebuked them for this. When Jesus noticed the commotion, he was furious and told his disciples, "Let the children come to me and do not stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it." Then he took the children in his arms and laying his hands on them, he blessed them.