And who is my neighbor?
From the Gospel according to Luke
LK 10:25-37

There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test Jesus and said,
“Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?”
He said in reply,
“You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”
He replied to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.”
But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Jesus replied, “A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction,
‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’
Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?”
He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.”
Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

The Gospel of the Lord

Marital Mercy

Mercy can stop when your spouse is no longer in need. As long as he/she is getting knocked around by life and temptations… he/she needs me. So what should I give him/her? A piece of advice? Nah. I need to give what can really help him/she recover. Maybe some affection, a word of encouragement, or maybe even offer myself to God for them.

Putting it into a marital context:

John: Today, my wife woke up all anxious because she says things aren’t going well between us. I’ve tried to cheer her up, but that hasn’t worked. I made her breakfast and did some chores, but that didn’t calm her down. Lord, I offer myself for her. Give her peace and let me take on her nervousness. I’ll try to recognize what she feels it´s my fault, even if I don’t see it or understand it. Hopefully that helps.

Mother,

Show us the way of merciful love between spouses. Thanks, Blessed Mother.