GOSPEL OF THE DAY
From the Gospel according to Matthew 9:35–10:1, 5a, 6-8
Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” Then he summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, “Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”
Little Shepherds for the Harvest
“Freely you have received; freely give,” says the Lord. We have received freely from the Father all that we are and all that we have, beginning with life itself, baptism which has made us children of God, faith, my spouse, our marriage… freely we have been healed of our blindness, deafness, spiritual leprosy… freely we have received the Good News of the Kingdom of Heaven in our marriage, freely we have been born into a new life… how many, many marriages are being raised to new life through Proyecto Amor Conyugal!
Yet it is enough to look around us to see that there are still many marriages who do not yet know the beauty and greatness of marriage as God intended it. Like the crowds, they are weary and abandoned because they are unaware of the Covenant the Lord has made with them and with their marriage, pouring out even the last drop of His Blood to save them.
Husbands and wives, today Jesus Christ calls us, and just as He went through all the towns and villages, He now sends us to all these “lost” marriages so that we may proclaim with our testimony this Good News: the beauty and greatness of our sacrament. The Lord wants to count on us and urges us to give freely what we have freely received.” Husbands and wives, will you take up the work in the Lord’s harvest?
To Apply in Married Life
John: Virginia, I was praying and I remembered how we were before doing the Proyecto Amor Conyugal retreat, and I compare it with how we are now. Isn’t it amazing?
Virginia: Absolutely. It did us so much good. We’ve changed and grown so much. Each of us, and as a couple.
John: Yes, the truth is that since we’ve persevered in going to the marriage group meetings and to the adorations, the change must have been remarkable, because even our parish priest has noticed.
Virginia: The parish priest? Has he said something?
John: Yes, he asked me, wanting to know what had happened to us. And afterwards he mentioned the possibility of opening a marriage group in our parish.
Virginia: That would be wonderful, John. We’ll have to talk it over with the little shepherds of our group, to see how it’s done.
John: He hinted that we could be the little shepherds. Do you feel up to it?
Virginia: Us?
John: Yes. And praying today’s Gospel, I see how the Lord is asking us to work for His harvest, because there is much to be done and few labourers. And the truth is that this transformation in our marriage has been a gift the Lord has given us, freely. And He asks us to give freely what we have freely received.
Virginia: Well, I wouldn’t dare on my own, but if I go with you… Together for the Lord!
Our Mother ,
Teach us to have a grateful heart like Yours, and to give ourselves to others. Blessed and glorious are You, Mother! Praised be the Lord for ever!