It has been said before that the devil’s first line of attack is the family unit.  The family unit has been distorted and denigrated and the world is seeing the effects of this in society.  There is a breakdown.  The readings today remind us to defend the institution of marriage.  The family unit distorted means now marriage is not exclusively between a man and a woman.  There are other arrangements the world proposes.  From the beginning God created them male and female, and now even when it comes to defining what gender has become problematic to some people.  Jesus defends and defines what marriage should be like based on Sacred Scripture and what was ordained from the beginning.  The family unit has been denigrated as well when people marry and remarry.  Divorce is a common practice.  Jesus reminds that whoever divorces a person and marries another, commits adultery.  There is a difference though between divorce and annulment.  The Gospel of Matthew gives this dispensation.  However, people are not even marrying through the Catholic church but keep on marrying civilly one after another.  This is what is called serial monogamy, and while this happens, the family unit suffers.   Because of so many divorces, the institution of marriage is denigrated.  A person is called to live a good married life and defend the institution of marriage for their own sake but also for the sake of the children. It is necessary to have a stable marriage for it is not good for children to be alone. It is not good for children to suffer from the decision of the adults who are only looking after themselves.  It is not good for children to be mistreated while adult marry and remarry.  It is not good for children to suffer from instability in their formative years. And perhaps the first line of the first reading can be amended to say this: it is not good for children to be alone.  Before deciding to separate it is good to ask for spiritual and professional help to resolve some ongoing issues.  Before breaking the bond of marriage, it is good to work some of the issues with guidance from the bible.  There are comforting biblical passages, such as the responsorial psalm that gives a good image of what marriage should be like.  Before going separate ways, change the mentality of what marriage life should be about.  The readings are not about the man being greater than the woman, but equal in dignity, the two becoming one flesh.  In many places there is still the machismo that damages the family. Before breaking the family, think about the children.  Overall, the readings flow well in the realization that there needs to be strong families to have strong children in the faith.  The readings are not about who is greater in the marriage, but the gospel ends by saying “Let the children come to me, and do one prevent them.”  Let not the actions of adults [who get married in] prevent children from coming closer to God. Let us pray for families to stay together in prayer.  Let us pray for marriages that they be long-lasting. Let us pray for couples (men and women) who can stay together in faith until the end, leading their children to the Kingdom of God.