Gospel

From the Gospel according to Matthew
Mt 11:16-19

Jesus said to the crowds:
«To what shall I compare this generation?
It is like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another,
‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance,
we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.’
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said,
‘He is possessed by a demon.’
The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said,
‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard,
a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’
But wisdom is vindicated by her works.»

The Gospel of the Lord

Spouses who dance.

If I don’t live according to what I believe, I end up thinking according to how I live. In marriage, when I don’t respond to the call to holiness that God makes to me, I immerse myself in constant complaint because I don’t experience a satisfying life. So, I blame my dissatisfaction on my spouse. I cannot settle for a superficial faith or a marriage of «living under the same roof and sharing children.» My faith is meant to be lived in my marriage and in my family. My faith must energize that marriage that isn’t dancing and fill it with hope and charity.

Saint John Paul II sets high goals for us; he speaks, for example, of «the fullness of the intimacy of persons.» Are we working to know each other in the light of the Holy Spirit, in the truth of what we are, to reach the fullness of that intimacy? There, we will find peace, stability. We want that! We have been created for that. Spouses! Saint John Paul touches, and yet we do not dance.

Applied to married life:

Peter: Oh! Don’t talk to me about holiness in marriage; I’m not cut out to be a saint. That’s not for me. I’ll take it slowly, at my own pace.

Martha: Paco, we are all called to holiness. You and I too. Let’s not lower the bar, let’s not reduce our vocation to mere coexistence loaded with daily tasks. God calls us to something great, creative, exciting. Demanding, yes, but because it has immense value.

Peter: You’re selling it to me very well, but then, let’s see who has the courage to live it…

Martha: If you close yourself off, we certainly won’t live it. Let’s open ourselves to the power of the Spirit! Let’s believe that it’s possible for Him! Let’s allow ourselves to be transformed.

Peter: We help each other, okay?

Martha: Deal. Full throttle, both of us trusting in Grace.

(Peter and Martha ended up living what they had never imagined was possible. It was God’s beautiful plan for them.)

Prayer:

Lord, send us your Spirit. May Your flesh give us strength, and Your blood purify us. Light our hearts! We don’t want to live a substitute for marriage. We want to be «disciples of wisdom.» Saint John Paul II, pray for us.