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GOSPEL

The grain grew and became a tree.

Reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 13:18-21

Then Jesus asked:

“What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.”

Again he asked, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Grandma’s Stew

God gives us the grace to become saints. On one hand, there is permanent grace, and in times when we especially need it, there is actual grace. Let’s say there is a supernatural virtue that drives any natural virtue we acquire.

Therefore, we have no excuse not to reach holiness.

However, impatience has no place here. Holiness is a slow process that is achieved through a deep union with God and our continuous efforts. Through these efforts, we accumulate the necessary merits and receive God’s reward, allowing us to advance to the next level in love.

We are like a good stew cooked slowly by the Holy Spirit, absorbing all the flavors of the supernatural ingredients that God instills in us through the merits of the Blood of Christ.

Applied to married life:

Nacho: I love it because when I look back, I see the wonderful action of God in you. There has truly been a transformation. You used to be very materialistic, but you have changed. You used to be critical, but now you are merciful. You used to be fearful, but now I see you filled with confidence in God. Your religious practice used to be superficial, but now you are in love with the Lord. You used to walk your own path and only demanded what you needed from me, but now you truly love me and strive to surrender yourself to me and build communion with me. And many more things like that.

María: And you, you were very superficial before, but now you have become so much deeper. You had a bad temper before, but now you are much more gentle. You used to be more selfish, but now you dedicate yourself more to others. You used to approach our sexual relationship for pleasure, but now you are so tender and cherish the sacredness of our marital union. And many more things like that.

Nacho: All by the work of the Almighty.

María: These are the wonders of the Lord’s mighty hand.

Mother,

Blessed is the seed that God has planted in us, allowing us to become one with each other and with God. Praise Him forever.

To see upcoming RETREATS AND MISSIONS click HERE

GOSPEL

This daughter of Abraham ought she not to have been set free on the sabbath day

from this bondage?

From the Gospel according to Luke 13:10-17

Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath. And a woman was there who for eighteen years had been crippled by a spirit; she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect. When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said:

“Woman, you are set free of your infirmity.”

He laid his hands on her, and she at once stood up straight and glorified God. But the leader of the synagogue, indignant that Jesus had cured on the sabbath, said to the crowd in reply:

“There are six days when work should be done. Come on those days to be cured, not on the sabbath day.”

The Lord said to him in reply:

“Hypocrites! Does not each one of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger and lead it out for watering? This daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now, ought she not to have been set free on the sabbath day

from this bondage?”

When he said this, all his adversaries were humiliated; and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by him

The gospel of the Lord.

Patience…

Today, this Gospel reminds us of the importance of being patient. How important patience is in our loving relationships when dealing with each other’s imperfections (bondages) and how crucial it is to maintain patience with the flaws within our own hearts: I don’t settle, and even though I put in my best effort, and even though I put forth our best efforts, I don’t despair and remain at the Lord’s disposal for Him to decide the timing of my healing and that of my spouse. As Saint Paul wisely noted, love is patient. Do I truly love my spouse? Do I genuinely love God? Well, then, patience…

Applied to married life:

Steve: I recognize the pride in my wife, Lord, because she is determined to have her way and imposes herself with great strength. Yet, Lord, I begin by questioning my own judgment, and if I am right, I trust that You will heal her as I offer You my honor.

Natalie: Lord, I observe a great deal  of selfishness in my husband, but I place my hope in You to address this disorder, just as I hope You will heal me of my own pride. Meanwhile, I will continue to work on fighting against my sins, as I know he is also fighting against his.

Mother,

I see in this Gospel that the Lord will not delay our healing us unless He deems it necessary for us. In Him, we trust. Praise the Lord.

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GOSPEL

You shall love the Lord, your God, and your neighbor as yourself

From the Gospel according to Matthew 22:34-40

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a scholar of the law tested him by asking:

“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”

He said to him:

“You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

The gospel of the Lord.

Huge.

We are not only made in God’s image, but everything in our lives finds its meaning in God. My marriage has completely changed as I now see it from a divine perspective. I have learned to venerate my spouse! Can there be a more profound transformation?

Applied to married life:

Ethan: The Lord has greatly blessed our marriage. He looks at us and reveals His mystery between us.

Helen: Everything changes when we look at it in alignment with God’s plans. Seeing you as a gift and support, allows me to partake in His love with every selfless act, making even the small things incredibly fruitful, embracing our role as parents…

Ethan: Everything becomes huge when we are born of the Spirit. Thank you, Lord.

Helen: Praise be to You.

Lord,

That by embracing my husband and my family, I may welcome You; that by I giving myself to them, I may give myself to You. By loving them, I may love You. Mother of marital Love, pray for us. Amen.

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GOSPEL

From them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles.

From the Gospel according to Luke 6:12-16

Jesus went up to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God.

When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew,

James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called a Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

The gospel of the Lord.

Contemplate the moment.

I picture the day when, as the Father conversed with the Son, they, in the presence of the Holy Spirit made the decision to create my husband and me, choosing us to be an image of Themselves and be part of Their Family. I contemplate that moment in the Holy Trinity with astonishment.

Applied to married life:

Ethan: One of the things that truly helps me appreciate you as a gift is knowing that God designed you for me, and He created me for you.

Mary: It’s a marvel to realize that our union is the result of God´s divine plan. He, in all His wisdom, chose us for each other.

Ethan: We must continue to explore the depths of the mystery of the Sacrament that unite us.

Mary: It’s truly something magnificent, isn’t it?

Mother,

I love to think about that moment when God thought of us. Praise be to Him forever.

GOSPEL

You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

From the Gospel according to Luke12:54-59

Jesus said to the crowds,

“When you see a cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain–and so it does; and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to be hot–and so it is. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

“Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate, make an effort to settle the matter on the way; otherwise, your opponent will turn you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the constable,

and the constable throw you into prison. I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”

The gospel of the Lord.

“You too.”

We often struggle with making judgments, especially about our own actions. We tend to make excuses, but how good and necessary it is to discover the real origin of our sorrows, as Saint John Paul has pointed out. The Lord greatly appreciates a contrite and humble heart! It seems that acknowledging our sins is a form of humility, but in reality, failing to do so leads to arrogance.

God unveils His mysteries to the humble, so let’s become small and modest rather than trying to appear great in the eyes of others.

Applied to married life:

Ryan: I have tried several times to follow the advice of Saint Teresa of Jesus, and not defend myself when I feel hurt by you, but I can´t seem to do it. It’s hard for me to stay silent, especially when I’m not guilty.

Isabelle: It is true that surrendering one’s honor is quite a difficult challenge…

Ryan: The problem is, I also make excuses when I make a mistake, and I start looking for situations where you haven’t done well just so I can say the classic, “you too.” Oh! I wonder what the Lord will do with me…

Isabelle: Thankfully, He is merciful; otherwise, who could be saved?

Ryan: Yes, we are fortunate that God is so merciful.

Mother,

We struggle to recognize where wrongdoing can take us. Please help us to perceive it, so we can reject it and maintain our love for each other forever. Praise be to God, who chooses the humble.