GOSPEL
Isn’t this the son of the carpenter? Then, where does he get all these things?
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew 13:54-58
Jesus came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue.
They were astonished and said,
“Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds?
Is he not the carpenter’s son?
Is not his mother named Mary
and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?
Are not his sisters all with us?
Where did this man get all this?”
And they took offense at him.
But Jesus said to them,
“A prophet is not without honor except in his native place
and in his own house.”
And he did not work many mighty deeds there
because of their lack of faith.
The Word of the Lord.
The closeness of God in becoming man, in becoming bread, in being within us… should not confuse us and lead us to treat Him irreverently. He is a man, but He is also God; He comes to serve us, but He is the King of kings. He offers Himself for us, but He is the owner of everything. He is merciful, but He also makes His commands known to us and is a just judge. It is not easy to maintain this balance in our minds and hearts, but we must make an effort to understand that in this infinite mystery of becoming so small for love of us, lies precisely our greatest admiration and His greatest greatness.
Relating to Married Life:
Jaime: Only God is God. I am so amazed by His love… He is capable of renouncing His divine condition to approach me.
Marta: I am amazed too, because then I take all my abilities and use them to ensure I am not below the consideration that I think I deserve.
Jaime: I am beginning to understand that true Love makes us place ourselves below the other always. To truly love you means I am willing to even give up my abilities if that will help you feel me more by your side.
Marta: Saint John Paul says that from mutual submission in the fear of Christ, a precious confluence is born.
Jaime: I want to experience that.
Marta: So do I. Should we make it a plan for the summer?
Jaime: Okay.
Mother,
To how many did You submit, Queen of the Universe, to be able to reign today alongside Your Son? Teach us the attitudes of God, Mother.