GOSPEL

The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath.

From the Gospel according to Mark 2:23-28

As Jesus was passing through a field of grain on the sabbath, his disciples began to make a path while picking the heads of grain. At this the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?” He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry? How he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest and ate the bread of offering that only the priests could lawfully eat,and shared it with his companions?” Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath. That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

More than Self-Love.

Understanding is the faculty of intellectual knowledge. Essentially, it allows us to discern, to choose what is central, what is essential. Understanding is also affected by concupiscence, making it difficult for us to discern the best choice, something that should be automatic. But our understanding is conditioned by educational, sensual, and and various experiences that make us look without truly seeing, hear without fully understanding.

Therefore, our understanding must be purified. This purification is done with the light of the Holy Spirit in prayer and by forming our consciences based on the Church’s doctrine and teachings, where the Holy Spirit has illuminated numerous saints over many centuries, providing profound insights. With this awareness, should I rely on my own criteria? That’s what the Pharisees did, sought to correct the Son of God. Let us not be like them; let us be more humble.

Applied to married life:

James: Every action throughout my day should be subject to the law of love. If I think we shouldn’t buy something, it’s not the right time for a home renovation, or if the priority is to eat (because it’s mealtime) instead of doing laundry, but you have a different opinion, shouldn’t I be delighted to please you out of love even against my own judgment?

Anne: Well, it’s true that if we love, our actions should contribute to a common good. That’s what needs to be discerned.

James: I have to admit that most of the time it’s my stubbornness that prevents me from yielding. So, if my stubbornness is stronger than my love for you, I’m on the wrong path. That’s why I want to change my behaviour. I love you too much to let my self-love prevail. I want to be able to say to you: I love you more than I love myself!

Anne: Well, that sounds intense, but it’s true that it happens to us. To me too, and I’m not willing to allow self-love to be more than my lover for you and, therefore, my love for the Lord.

Mother,

May our love for God and our spouse truly be the first and foremost priority in our lives.  Praise the Lord whom we love so much.

GOSPEL

From the Gospel according to Mark 2:18-22

The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were accustomed to fast.
People came to Jesus and objected, “Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?”
Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day. No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak. If he does, its fullness pulls away, the new from the old, and the tear gets worse. Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are ruined.
Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.”

The Gospel of the Lord

Without patches.

We have been designed by God with specific talents and for a particular purpose. We cannot pull in a different direction than what God has planned for us, because that would be like patching things up in our own way, and we would eventually, burst. May our body and soul be well disposed, in harmony with His plan for us, when we receive the Lord’s wine.

Applied to married life:

Peter: I sense a hesitancy in your prayer. It seems like you’re not surrendering to the Lord, not allowing Him to lead you.

Sarah: Yeah, I’m scared of what He might ask me. He’s very demanding, and I’m comfortable and stable as I am.

Peter: Sarah, avoid clinging to the things of this world or to your own judgments. Don’t be afraid. Trust in the Lord who loves you so much and trust in His plan. You are created for Him.

Sarah: Thank you, Peter. That gives me peace.

Mother,

We entrust ourselves into your hands. Thy will be done!

Gospel

We have found the Messiah

From the Gospel according to John. Jn 1:35-42

John was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God.”
The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them,
“What are you looking for?”
They said to him, “Rabbi” — which translated means Teacher —,
“where are you staying?”
He said to them, “Come, and you will see.”
So they went and saw where Jesus was staying, and they stayed with him that day.
It was about four in the afternoon.
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus.
He first found his own brother Simon and told him,
“We have found the Messiah” — which is translated Christ —.
Then he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said,

“You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Cephas” — which is translated Peter.

The Gospel of the Lord

What am I searching for?

Lord, what am I seeking in my relationship with you? What am I seeking from life? I know that being a Christian is a full commitment, and it’s not easy. Frequently, I come across my reluctance, making my cross difficult to bear. I don’t fully trust You and Your plan for me. I struggle to accept the daily crosses. I find myself willing but not much beyond that. I need you, Lord. I know you live in me, and I need to rely on you.

Applied to married life:

Andrew: This morning, once again, over a trivial matter, we argued, and now the whole day is ruined. We were doing so well…

Christine: You often say nice things to me, but when it comes down to it, you’re not there for me. I don’t feel really loved.

Andrew: I try to steer away from conversations that don’t come from God. And that’s what I did this morning. But I admit I wasn’t by your side and didn’t respond to your need for me at that moment. You started saying negative things about me, and I got scared that we would ruin the good atmosphere we had achieved. In the end, I didn’t succeed, and you were disappointed with me. All I can say is: Forgive me, my wife.

Christine: We need to talk, Andrew. You can’t run away every time. I understand that I might not be looking at you with kind eyes, and that hurts you. I apologize for that, but our relationship needs to be honest. Let’s show each other what’s in our hearts, no matter how ugly, or we won’t build anything together.

Andrew: We are too limited for that, Christine. I don’t feel capable; I know we will hurt each other and break communion. We can’t rely on our fallen nature. We need God to intervene in all of this. I suggest we do it in prayer, speaking to God about what’s in our hearts while the other listens. This way, we ensure that the Spirit will be among us.

Christine: Okay. In prayer. Sounds good.

Mother,

How many experiences of the Gospel would you have lived alongside Jesus? It was like dealing directly with the Word. How many things did you experience that you kept in your Heart? How many unforgettable experiences. Today, Mother, we want to sit around you, so you can tell us all those experiences of God that marked your life. We would love to hear from you. Praise be to the Messiah, the Christ, who calls us to follow him.”

Gospel

I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.

From the Gospel according to Mark. Mk 2:13-17

Jesus went out along the sea. All the crowd came to him and he taught them. As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed Jesus.
While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples;
for there were many who followed him.
Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with sinners
and tax collectors and said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
Jesus heard this and said to them,
“Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

The Gospel of the Lord

Who can resist?

Lord, only You can call me in such a way. Your call makes me leave everything and follow You, and my life changes completely.

I see you interacting with sinners. You do not focus on their past actions and what they may deserve as a consequence, but rather, You look at how to heal them, trusting in them and their abilities to change the course of their lives.
Therefore, I should not keep an account of the offenses my husband has done to me, considering that the Lord could do the same with me, and then I would be lost. Instead the psalm continues,”But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.”How important it is! I have the opportunity to instill respect in my husband by forgiving him.
I am grateful to God for granting me the privilege of being His instrument, fulfilling His desire to forgive my husband as I extend forgiveness to him.I manage His respect. Thank you Lord

Applied to married life:

Anna: Charles, the Lord has made it clear to me in prayer, and from now on, I will not bring up any of the wounds you caused me in the past. I realized that I held you responsible for them, and I was the one keeping them open by licking my wounds. That’s how I kept them fresh. Everything is forgiven and forgotten. And if the memory of any of them comes back to me, I will push that thought away out of respect for you.
Charles: I really appreciate that, Anna. It was a ghost I couldn’t fight against, and it was seriously affecting our love. I feel liberated, and now, I feel loved by you, not for what I did but for who I am. I feel like I’ve regained my dignity in your eyes. Praise the Lord.
Anna: Praise the Lord.

Mother,

How joyful it is to have received the Lord’s call. It’s truly wonderful that He loves me and has set me apart from my previous life.

GOSPEL

The Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth

From the Gospel according to Mark. Mk 2:1-12

When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home. Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them. They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to him,
“Child, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves, “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?” Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth” –he said to the paralytic, “I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.” He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”

The Gospel of the Lord

Through the roof.

The faith and determination of those who lower the paralyzed man by opening a hole in the roof capture attention. The homeowners might not be very pleased, but well… In our faith, we call determination Hope. Hope nourishes faith, and faith is guaranteed by charity. These are the three theological virtues that are very present in the stretcher-bearers.
Hope comes from waiting. Yes, we have to learn to wait, but without ceasing to fight. However, we fight with determination precisely because we hope, through faith, that charity will inundate our marital relationships.

Is everything not going as you would like? Wait. Still waiting that communion you long for? Wait. But wait while giving it your all, like the stretcher-bearers in our story. They don’t tell the paralyzed man to fend for himself; they don’t blame him for not being able to walk… They get deeply involved and start the house from the roof if necessary. Let’s do the same with our spouses: Let’s fight cleverly to help each other and practice Hope. Leave the rest to the Lord.

Applied to married life:

Harry: What are you doing, Evie?
Evie: I’m making a list of all the virtues you have.

Harry: Oh! It seems quite long, I see. And why?

Evie: To help you. Because I’m sure God has given you everything you need to be holy, so I’ll help you make the most of each of your virtues so that you can become holy.

Harry: Wow! That’s quite an original plan. I’m looking forward to starting.

Evie: Me too. I got the idea from today’s Gospel, and I’m going to be your stretcher-bearer.

Harry: Can I kiss my stretcher-bearer?

Mother,

We live our marriage with Hope because we know it will be God’s work and that He will make it possible. Praise the Lord for being on our side.