Jesus surprises his followers in the gospel today by putting forward such high standards regarding marriage. Jesus sees human beings as being made in God’s image and likeness, so that all forms of human love, including the love between husband and wife, are a reflection of the perfect, faithful and steadfast love which is the essence of God’s nature. It’s our vocation as God’s creatures to express that love as completely as possible. The imagery used is so beautiful, as the Book of Genesis paints a picture of the birth of Woman as springing forth from the very side of man. Is it any wonder that as human beings we feel so much more complete when we have found our “other self” in the person whom we give our hand to for life in marriage?