A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew
At that time: Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every infirmity. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.’ And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.
These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, ‘Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.’
Jesus begins delegating the mission entrusted to Him by the Father to His disciples because the harvest is abundant, but the labourers are few. He continues to do this today through our vocations. The first and most important mission He entrusts to me is to bring the Kingdom of Heaven to my spouse. His instructions are clear: Heal them, revive their soul when it is weakened, cleanse their sins, and cast out the demons that trouble them.
Nowhere in His instructions does it say: Accuse them, criticise them, reproach them, do the same to them to provoke a reaction, or distance yourself from your spouse. If I say or do something that does not heal, revive, cleanse, or help them cast out their demons, I must tell myself: Stop! Don’t do it again! Instead, I must carefully seek the path of love to be a true disciple and labourer in the Lord’s harvest.
Applied to Married Life:
Matthew: Darling, forgive me. Recently, I haven’t been helping you draw closer to the Lord. Instead, I’ve been making it harder by criticising you and demanding perfection in how you relate to me. Forgive me, Lord, for not being Your disciple in helping You reign in my wife’s heart. Instead, I’ve provoked her to anger by burdening her with heavy loads.
Myriam: It’s true you haven’t made things easy for me these past few days. But I appreciate you acknowledging it because I need you to be my support so we can reach marital charity together, which is what I long for and what God wills for us. I’ve also seen it as a trial from the Lord to strengthen my love for you. My response hasn’t been good, which shows me my own smallness. The only thing I’ve been able to do is offer it up for you and ask God for His help, because I love you and only want what’s best for you.
Matthew: Thank you, my love. I’m also asking the Lord to help me be your true partner and support next time. May His love become ever more present between us.
Mother,
I want to work on Your side against evil, always advocating for my spouse. We ask You to keep us in Your Heart so that we may share Your feelings in difficult moments. Praise be to the Lord, who entrusts us with the precious and noble mission of safeguarding our spouse’s soul.