Not everyone can accept this

The text from the Gospel of Matthew in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today recounts Jesus response to the questions of the disciples about divorce. The phrase "Let anyone accept this who can" is used in two variations in the passage. The text from the Book of Joshua and the praise of the psalmist reveal the steadfast love and unrequested generosity of God to Israel. The history shows this gracious support to be received without gratitude, at times, by the Israelites. The "marriage" of God and Israel in Covenant is the model of marriage that Jesus is showing as Moses example for the people. Today, those who seek to live intimately with God and marriage partner have the model of Jesus. The model of Christian marriage is the intimate relationship of Jesus and the Church, the Body of Christ. This is the relationship which  is the goal that people married in union with God in the Body of Christ try to accept. The "success" of the relationship is only as possible as the daily acceptance of the gracious prompting of the Spirit to listen to the will of the Father as it becomes expressed in the married lives of the disciples.