Should We Believe Just Anyone? Reflection for marriages Mark 16:9-15

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From the Gospel according to Mark 16:9-15

When Jesus had risen, early on the first day of the week,he appeared first to Mary Magdalene,out of whom he had driven seven demons.She went and told his companions who were mourning and weeping.When they heard that he was aliveand had been seen by her, they did not believe.
After this he appeared in another formto two of them walking along on their way to the country.They returned and told the others;but they did not believe them either.
But later, as the Eleven were at table, he appeared to themand rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heartbecause they had not believed thosewho saw him after he had been raised.He said to them, “Go into the whole worldand proclaim the Gospel to every creature.”

The Gospel of the Lord

Should We Believe Just Anyone?

Jesus challenges the Apostles for doubting the women’s message. But how important is a testimony? Should we trust every account we hear? Not necessarily. True testimony is inspired by God and meant not only for the person receiving it, but to be shared with others. The women were sent to tell the Apostles that Christ had risen—something Jesus had already foretold, as the Scriptures say.

So, a genuine testimony must be in harmony with the Gospel truth. If it’s not, then it’s not a true witness. And such experiences should be validated by the Church, through the Bishop, who helps determine whether they come from the Holy Spirit.

Applied to Married Life:

Lourdes: I read in some private revelations that the end of times will come in 2030.Juanjo: And do you believe it?Lourdes: I tend to believe everything, but I think that until the Church speaks on the matter, I should be cautious.
Jhon: Wise decision.
Lourdes: Meanwhile, I’ll keep preparing my heart to love you better and not get distracted by other stories.
Jhon: You truly are a testimony to me.


Mother,

Today we reaffirm our creed. Praised be God, one and Triune.

The Secret to It All. Reflection for marriages John 21:1-14

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From the Gospel according to John 21:1-14

Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias.
He revealed himself in this way.
Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus,
Nathanael from Cana in Galilee,
Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples.
Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”
They said to him, “We also will come with you.”
So they went out and got into the boat,
but that night they caught nothing.
When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore;
but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?”
They answered him, “No.”
So he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat
and you will find something.”
So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in
because of the number of fish.
So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.”
When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord,
he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad,
and jumped into the sea.
The other disciples came in the boat,
for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards,
dragging the net with the fish.
When they climbed out on shore,
they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread.
Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.”
So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore
full of one hundred fifty-three large fish.
Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.
Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.”
And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?”
because they realized it was the Lord.
Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them,
and in like manner the fish.
This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples
after being raised from the dead

The Gospel of the Lord

The Secret to It All

When we, as spouses, stay attentive, listen to God, and follow His will, He does amazing things in our lives. As we fall deeper in love with Him, we start to notice His presence more clearly—and we’re moved to run to the Eucharist and thank Him. 
Sounds like a good path, right? Well, it all begins with truly listening to Him and choosing to do what He asks.

Applied to married Life *ñ

David: Mary sometimes it’s hard to admit when we’ve messed up, and that can create some distance between us—or at least difficults our union.  What if, in those moments, we asked each other, “Do you think this is God’s will?” 
Mary: I really like that idea, David. That way, we’re not criticizing or blaming each other—we’re just gently helping each other keep our focus on God and what He wants. 
David: Awesome. I really believe God will bless our marriage with abundant beautiful fruit if  we do that.


Mother,

We love the Lord and want to see Him in every moment and every person. Please help us, Mother—show us where He is. Thank you, blessed Mother. 

Those Who Witnessed Him Reflection for marriages Luke 24:35-48

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From the Gospel according to Luke 24:35-48

The disciples of Jesus recounted what had taken place along the way,
and how they had come to recognize him in the breaking of bread.

While they were still speaking about this,
he stood in their midst and said to them,
“Peace be with you.”
But they were startled and terrified
and thought that they were seeing a ghost.
Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled?
And why do questions arise in your hearts?
Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself.
Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones
as you can see I have.”
And as he said this,
he showed them his hands and his feet.
While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed,
he asked them, “Have you anything here to eat?”
They gave him a piece of baked fish;
he took it and ate it in front of them.

He said to them,
“These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you,
that everything written about me in the law of Moses
and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.”
Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.
And he said to them,
“Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer
and rise from the dead on the third day
and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins,
would be preached in his name
to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
You are witnesses of these things.”

The Gospel of the Lord

Those Who Witnessed Him

This Gospel is crucial because it marks the moment when the eleven disciples become firsthand witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection. After His death, He still has a human nature—His body is glorified, yet He can even eat. Their witness is the foundation of our faith. They had to see Him risen with their own eyes to truly affirm that what we believe is real.

This moment also gives clarity and purpose to everything in the Old Testament. The prophets were pointing toward this exact moment in the story of salvation.

This account anchors and supports all of Scripture. Because of it, our entire faith has meaning. Praise God for that!

Applied to married Life:

Martin: Why are you so confident in our marriage as a Sacrament?
Helen: Because Christ rose from the dead.
Martin: But what does that have to do with us?
Helen: It means we follow Him through everything—even suffering. If we carry our crosses with Him, we’ll also share in His resurrection. That’s not just wishful thinking—it really happened, and people actually saw Him.
Martin: Thank God He showed Himself to the Apostles so they could share that truth with us.

Mary,

Thank God for choosing to reveal Himself to the Apostles and making them witnesses to His resurrection—so they could pass on the truth that sustains our faith. Glory to Him forever.

 

The way home. Reflection for marriages Luke 24:13-35

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From the Gospel according to Luke 24:13-35

That very day, the first day of the week,
two of Jesus’ disciples were going
to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus,
and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred.
And it happened that while they were conversing and debating,
Jesus himself drew near and walked with them,
but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.
He asked them,
“What are you discussing as you walk along?”
They stopped, looking downcast.
One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply,
“Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem
who does not know of the things
that have taken place there in these days?”
And he replied to them, “What sort of things?”
They said to him,
“The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene,
who was a prophet mighty in deed and word
before God and all the people,
how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over
to a sentence of death and crucified him.
But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel;
and besides all this,
it is now the third day since this took place.
Some women from our group, however, have astounded us:
they were at the tomb early in the morning
and did not find his Body;
they came back and reported
that they had indeed seen a vision of angels
who announced that he was alive.
Then some of those with us went to the tomb
and found things just as the women had described,
but him they did not see.”
And he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are!
How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke!
Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things
and enter into his glory?”
Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets,
he interpreted to them what referred to him
in all the Scriptures.
As they approached the village to which they were going,
he gave the impression that he was going on farther.
But they urged him, “Stay with us,
for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.”
So he went in to stay with them.
And it happened that, while he was with them at table,
he took bread, said the blessing,
broke it, and gave it to them.
With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him,
but he vanished from their sight.
Then they said to each other,
“Were not our hearts burning within us
while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?”
So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem
where they found gathered together
the Eleven and those with them who were saying,
“The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!”
Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way
and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

The Gospel of the Lord

The Way Home

There are times when, looking at the cross through our own logic and perspective, we fall into discouragement. We retreat into ourselves, turning inward and drowning in self-pity.
But what brings us back? Turning our eyes to the Lord and understanding everything in light of Sacred Scripture. With the Spirit’s help, if we interpret things rightly, our hearts will be set on fire again. That fire leads us back to community, and from there, we can become true witnesses of God’s work within us.

Applied to married life

Marta: When you hurt me, even unintentionally, I feel let down and start pulling away. I just can’t understand how you, the one I love, could be the one causing me pain.
Michel: But what if my intentions aren’t what you assume? What if God is using these emotions to purify you, to help you grow?
Marta: So maybe I’m judging this moment of suffering by my own standards, and that’s why I can’t see God in it.
Michel: Exactly. And while you’re pulling away, I’m still here trying to love you—even if I mess up sometimes. But when you turn away, you stop seeing me as God’s gift to you.
Marta: Maybe you’re right. I’ll pray about it and see what God says in the Gospel.
(She read about the disciples on the road to Emmaus. Her heart was set on fire, she believed again, and she was reunited with her husband in love.)

Mother,

May our hearts burn as we learn to see our marriage through the light of Scripture. Praise be to the Lord who reveals His truth to us.

Would you like it adapted for a particular use—like a talk, article, or reflection?

 

The greatest Joy. Reflection for marriages. Jhon 20:11-18

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From the Gospel according to John 20:11-18

Mary Magdalene stayed outside the tomb weeping.And as she wept, she bent over into the tomband saw two angels in white sitting there,one at the head and one at the feetwhere the Body of Jesus had been.And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”She said to them, “They have taken my Lord,and I don’t know where they laid him.”When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there,but did not know it was Jesus.Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?Whom are you looking for?”She thought it was the gardener and said to him,“Sir, if you carried him away,tell me where you laid him,and I will take him.”Jesus said to her, “Mary!”She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,”which means Teacher.Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me,for I have not yet ascended to the Father.But go to my brothers and tell them,‘I am going to my Father and your Father,to my God and your God.’”Mary went and announced to the disciples,“I have seen the Lord,”and then reported what he had told her.

The Gospel of the Lord

The Greatest Joy

I can only imagine the joy Jesus must have felt when He told Mary Magdalene that His Father had now become our Father too. Has there ever been a greater joy in all of human history? His joy was so overwhelming, He didn’t even wait to return to the Father before sharing it with us.
This was Christ’s ultimate victory—His glory: that we became children of God. What an incredible accomplishment! What a triumphant entrance He must have made into heaven! The Blessed Virgin surely looked upon Him with immense pride.

Applied to married life:

James: This Holy Week helped me understand how someone can go from deep sorrow to overwhelming joy in just one day.
Teresa: I’m guessing you mean the shift from Holy Saturday to Easter Sunday?
James: Exactly. It’s like watching our marriage move from a place where we didn’t see God as our Father to one where we do. Without Him, it felt impossible—like we were stuck, unable to grow, making an effort that led nowhere… But with God as our Father, everything changed: we have hope, we have joy, and we can actually see grace working in us.
Teresa: It’s a total transformation. Knowing that God is truly our Father means He cares for us and is always there to help. That’s so different from just being His creatures.

Mother,

Christ’s generosity is astonishing—He came into the world and endured humiliation just to make us His brothers and sisters. Amazing. Who is like God? Praise be to Him.