ACC ~ Luke 16 v18

IMMORALITY IS NOT A CONDITION FOR DIVORCE

AUGUSTINE: Who are we to say that someone commits adultery in taking another woman after he puts away his wife, and that another who, in doing this, does not commit adultery? The Gospel says that everyone who performs such an act commits adultery. If everyone who marries another woman after the dismissal of his wife commits adultery, this includes the one who puts away his wife without the cause of immorality and the one who puts away his wife for this reason. ADULTEROUS MARRIAGES 9. [1]

[1] FC 27:73**.

MARRIAGE REFLECTS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHASTE AND LOVING CHURCH

AMBROSE: He had above proposed that the kingdom of God should be preached. When he had said that one tittle cannot fall from the law, he added, “Everyone who puts away his wife, and marries another, commits adultery.” The apostle rightly admonishes, saying that this is a great sacrament concerning Christ and the church. [1] You find a marriage that doubtlessly was joined by God, when he himself says, “No man comes to me, unless my Father who sent me has drawn him.” [2] He alone could join this marriage. Solomon mystically said, “A wife will be prepared for a man by God.” [3] The man is Christ, and the wife is the church that is a wife in love and a virgin in innocence. Do not let him whom God has drawn to the Son be separated by persecution, [4] distracted by extravagance, ravaged by philosophy, tainted by Manichaeus, perverted by Arius, or infected by Sabellius. [5] God has joined; let not a Jew separate. All who desire to defile the truth of faith and wisdom are adulterers. … Come, Lord Jesus, to find your bride not tainted or polluted. She has not defiled your house or disregarded your commandments. Let her say to you, “I found him whom my soul loved.” [6] Let her lead you into the house of wine. Wine makes glad the heart of man. [7] Let the Spirit saturate her. Let her recognize the mystery and speak the prophecy. [8] EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 8.9-12. [9]

[1] See Eph 5:32.

[2] Jn 6:44.

[3] Prov 19:14.

[4] See Rom 8:35.

[5] These were the names of infamous heretics from the early church; cf. Col 2:8.

[6] Song 3:4.

[7] Ps 104:15 (103:15 LXX); Song 5:1.

[8] See Joel 2:28-29.

[9] EHG 333-35**.