Gospel

God does not want any of these little ones to be lost.

Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew 18:12-14

At that time, Jesus said to his disciples:

“What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheeps, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.

So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.”

The Gospel of the Lord

Pharisees or Shepherds.

There is a significant contrast between the attitude of the Pharisee who dismisses the sinner, accusing and despising him, and the attitude of the Good Shepherd, who leaves the righteous to go in search of the lost sheep. The question is: When I am lost, with whom would I like to meet? With the Pharisee or with the Good Shepherd? I have a clear answer. So when it is my spouse who is lost, may I go in the name of the Good Shepherd and not in the name of the Pharisee.

Applied to married life:

Matt: I notice that my love for you is maturing. Before, it was swayed by emotions, and now it is much more stable.

Sarah: More stable in what sense?

Matt: Well, before, it depended on the consolations I received from you in order to pay back as you deserved. That is, I used to love the consolations I received from you, not yourself, as I should. Of course, loving the consolations and not yourself has serious consequences for our union.

Sarah: Now I understand. Of course, that’s why, when there is no maturity in love, it is impossible to love the other when they are in sin. Because loving is not kicking someone when they are down but helping them recover, as Christ would do.

Mother,

Stay with us in this precious wait. Thank you, blessed Mother.