Week 22 - The Gospel of Mark

In this episode, David and Sophie explore the tightly linked passages in Mark 10 where Jesus is tested by the Pharisees about divorce and then immediately welcomes children into his arms. They reflect on how Jesus refuses to be trapped in a legal debate and instead redirects the conversation toward the condition of the heart. Jesus takes us back to Genesis 2 and the original vision of mutual partnership before patriarchy and the fall distorted human relationships in Genesis 3. They consider how Jesus' reference to "hardness of heart" isn't a condemnation but a recognition of the need for both healing and growth. This shapes our understanding of divorce, what the process of softening the heart may look like and what this means for remarriage. Next they encounter a living parable of softness: children who embody the openness, trust, humility, and attunement that define the kingdom of God. Together, these stories challenge us to consider what it means to live with softened hearts and receive the kingdom like a child.