The Only Glory. Reflection for married couples. John 5:31-47

Gospel

‘There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope.’
John 5:31-47

At that time: Jesus said to the Jews: ‘If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. I do not receive glory from people. But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?’

The Gospel of the Lord

The Only Glory.

Today the Lord asks us: “How can you believe if you accept glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the one and only God?” We may claim belief and proudly call ourselves Christians, but if I seek glory from my spouse, then I’m not seeking God’s glory. That means I don’t truly believe in Him, because if I genuinely did, I would understand that He alone deserves all honour, glory, and praise. Lord, may I never attempt to take Your glory for myself.

Applied to Married Life:

Martha: You don’t love me, because if you did, you would admire me.
Raymond: That’s not true. I do love you, and I admire you greatly—not just for your achievements or talents, but most of all for the dignity God has bestowed upon you.
Martha: You’re right. Everything dignified in me truly comes from God. Forgive me, Lord, for falling into the temptation of expecting my husband to glorify me. Forgive me, my husband.
Raymond: See? I knew you would end up giving glory to God. Recognising Him is what makes you great in His eyes, and that’s exactly what I see in you. I love you.

Mother,

To Him be all honour and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Things Would Be Different. Reflection for married couples. John 5:17-30

Gospel

‘For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.’
John 5:17-30

At that time: Jesus answered the Jews, ‘My Father is working even now, and I am working.’ This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
  So Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgement to the Son, that all may honour the Son, just as they honour the Father. Whoever does not honour the Son does not honour the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word, and believes him who sent me, has eternal life. He does not come into judgement, but has passed from death to life.
  ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgement, because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for the hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgement.
  ‘I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgement is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.’

The Gospel of the Lord

Things Would Be Different.

The communion between spouses reflects the communion within the Holy Trinity. We have much to learn from this Gospel: The Father shows the Son everything He does, because He loves Him. The Son does everything the Father shows Him, and the Father entrusts all judgment to the Son, but the Son judges according to what He hears from the Father because the Son does nothing by Himself.
Obviously, there are actions here that don’t apply to spouses, such as judging. However, attitudes of trust, submission, and ultimately communion between the Father and the Son can teach us a great deal.

Applied to Married Life:

Caroline: Our solicitor certainly emphasised caution when we signed power of attorney for each other.
Michael: That’s his job—to ensure we fully understand that we’re placing our lives into each other’s hands regarding earthly matters. What he doesn’t realise is we’ve extended this trust spiritually, as much as we’re able.
Caroline: Exactly, like last Saturday when someone said to me: “Since you seem to make the decisions, we’ll ask you.”
Michael: And what did you say?
Caroline: That even though it might seem that way because I have a more decisive nature, I don’t make any decision without praying about it with you first. We both seek God’s will and trust each other completely.
Michael: Absolutely. I don’t understand why people find this surprising since we’re one. If married couples fully realised this unity, things would certainly be different.

Mother,

We belong to each other and desire to dwell in each other. Do whatever is necessary in our hearts to make this a reality. Amen.

Have Mercy, Lord. Reflection for married couples. John 5:1-3, 5-16

Gospel

At once the man was healed.
John 5:1-3, 5-16

There was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
  Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of the sick — blind, lame, and paralysed. One man was there who had been sick for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, ‘Do you want to be healed?’ The sick man answered him, ‘Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and, while I am going, another steps down before me.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Get up, take up your bed, and walk.’ And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.
  Now that day was the Sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, ‘It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.’ But he answered them, ‘The man who healed me, that man said to me, “Take up your bed, and walk.”’ They asked him, ‘Who is the man who said to you, “Take up your bed and walk”?’ Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place.
  Afterwards Jesus found him in the Temple and said to him, ‘See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.’ The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath.

The Gospel of the Lord

Have Mercy, Lord.

Lord, I’ve been waiting a long time for You to heal certain attitudes in my heart that continue hurting my husband, making it difficult for him to unite fully with me and, consequently, hindering his path to holiness.
I want to support my husband, but I can’t, Lord. I’ve tried repeatedly and unintentionally keep hurting him.
Have mercy on me, Lord, for I cannot heal myself.

Applied to Married Life:

Natalie: You corrected me again in front of our friends. Do you enjoy making me look foolish?
Frank: Well, you said we’ve been praying together for four years when it’s only been two. It just came out automatically, but I don’t think it’s such a big deal.
Natalie: It is a big deal because it looks like I’m exaggerating, and you know I’m not good with dates.
Frank: I’m sorry, it wasn’t intentional.
Natalie: I know, but I’ve told you many times, and you still keep doing it. You know how insecure I am, and these things really affect me. When will you change?
Frank: I’m sorry, I don’t realise it at the time. But I promise, I’m not trying to hurt you. I’ll try harder not to do it again, and above all, I’m asking the Lord to help me. Lord, have mercy on me.

Mother,

Ask the Lord to have mercy on me. Amen.

Because I Believe, I See. Reflection for marriages. John 4:43-54

Gospel

‘Go; your son will live.’
John 4:43-54

At that time: Jesus departed Samaria for Galilee. (For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honour in his own hometown.) So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast. For they too had gone to the feast.
So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. So Jesus said to him, ‘Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.’ The official said to him, ‘Sir, come down before my child dies.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your son will live.’ The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, ‘Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.’ The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, ‘Your son will live.’ And he himself believed, and all his household. This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.

The Gospel of the Lord

Because I Believe, I See.

Saint John speaks of signs rather than miracles. The word “sign” refers to something visible to my eyes, yet whose deeper meaning is revealed only through faith. Faith acts like an X-ray, allowing me to discover what is hidden to the naked eye, which turns out to be the deepest truth—the heart of God. My attitude should not be: “I believe because I see,” but rather: “Because I believe, I see.” The official in the Gospel “believed Jesus’ word and set out on his journey.” This is today’s key phrase. Do not doubt, do not fear, believe in Jesus’ word and set out on your journey. You will witness great miracles. We are living proof of this.

Applied to Married Life:

Paul: (Praying with Martha) Lord, please, don’t let me lose my job.
Martha: Lord, I ask you to watch over Paul’s job…
(The next day)
Paul: Lord, please protect me from losing my job. Things look dire; how could I find another job at my age?
Martha: Lord, what will we do if Paul loses his job? How will we manage? Please, Lord, protect us. But let Your will be done, not ours.
(A few months later, Paul is let go from his job)
Paul: I’m disappointed with God. We’ve asked Him so many times, and He hasn’t listened.
Martha: Don’t worry, Paul. God will provide.
(The next day, Martha and Paul meet their friend Theresa in the street)
Theresa: Hey! What are you lovebirds doing here?
Martha: Paul’s lost his job, so we’re taking advantage by having a stroll together.
Theresa: I heard about Paul’s job already. But do you remember when you prayed for unity because Paul was very stressed? God answered your prayers. Lewis was just mentioning the other day—we’ve never seen you two so close.
Martha: Actually, you’re right. Maybe it wasn’t the right job, and we needed this.
Theresa: Trust in the Lord; He never abandons you.
(Now Paul has a new job, yet he and Martha remain closer than ever. Praise be to the Lord.)

Mother,

Mother, we are not afraid because You guide this ship. God’s Spirit leads our lives, and no one loves us more than Him. Open our eyes of faith so we may see the heart of God. Let us participate in divine providence. Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

With What Joy. Reflection for marriages. Lk 15:1-3, 11-32

From the Gospel according to Luke
Lk 15:1-3, 11-32

Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,
but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying,
“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
So to them Jesus addressed this parable:
“A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father,
‘Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’
So the father divided the property between them.
After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings
and set off to a distant country
where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation.
When he had freely spent everything,
a severe famine struck that country,
and he found himself in dire need.
So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens
who sent him to his farm to tend the swine.
And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed,
but nobody gave him any.
Coming to his senses he thought,
‘How many of my father’s hired workers
have more than enough food to eat,
but here am I, dying from hunger.
I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him,
“Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
I no longer deserve to be called your son;
treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’
So he got up and went back to his father.
While he was still a long way off,
his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion.
He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.
His son said to him,
‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you;
I no longer deserve to be called your son.’
But his father ordered his servants,
‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him;
put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Take the fattened calf and slaughter it.
Then let us celebrate with a feast,
because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again;
he was lost, and has been found.’
Then the celebration began.
Now the older son had been out in the field
and, on his way back, as he neared the house,
he heard the sound of music and dancing.
He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean.
The servant said to him,
‘Your brother has returned
and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf
because he has him back safe and sound.’
He became angry,
and when he refused to enter the house,
his father came out and pleaded with him.
He said to his father in reply,
‘Look, all these years I served you
and not once did I disobey your orders;
yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends.
But when your son returns
who swallowed up your property with prostitutes,
for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’
He said to him,
‘My son, you are here with me always;
everything I have is yours.
But now we must celebrate and rejoice,
because your brother was dead and has come to life again;
he was lost and has been found.'”

With What Joy.

Lord, when I read this Gospel, I can focus on how despicable the younger son was for being so selfish in asking for his inheritance, and how despicable the older son was for being so ungrateful and lacking mercy toward his brother. But You, instead, emphasize the eagerness to find what was lost and the immense joy of being able to rescue it.  

It fills me with hope to know with what joy You wait for me with open arms when I stray from You, and with what joy You go out to seek me, rejoicing in having rescued me. Thank You, Lord, for loving me so much. How great You are. You are Holy, Lord. **Praise be to You!

Applying This to Married Life:

Alfonso: Can you imagine that if you distanced yourself from me, my only joy would be to go out with love to bring you back?  

I believe that attitude would truly make me more like God.  

Marta: Only with God’s love could you react that way. Especially when, in that moment, I would likely not welcome you but continue to reject you.  

Alfonso: Wow! Now I clearly see that only God’s love is capable of responding with such love. I see that I need to be very close to Him. No, not just close—I need to **be in Him**. He can love you this way through me.

Mother,  

Even if I am lost, welcome me into Your Heart so that I may be in His Heart and in the heart of my husband or wife. Thank you, Blessed Mother.