GOSPEL

“When the bridegroom is taken away from them, they will fast.”

From the Gospel according to Matthew 9:14-15

The disciples of John approached Jesus and said, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?”
Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.”

The Gospel of the Lord,

Time and time.

In our spiritual journey, God’s timing is crucial. Currently, we find ourselves in a time of fasting from the Bridegroom. It is important to appreciate and endure this time of sacrifice, to later enter into glory with Him. Often, we get used to have Him and lose awareness of the value of His presence. Now, we need to prepare ourselves to “lose” Him and recover Him in glory after three days, to lose sight of Him physically and redirect our worship to Him in Spirit and truth.

Applied to Married Life:

Sophie: The more I delve into Lent and enter that spiritual desert, the more profound I experience glory with the Lord. During this time, I also put myself in the situation of losing you, my husband, to recover you later in Christ.

Andrew: Living through this time with intensity is crucial, you’re right. It is true that it’s challenging, but without this time of dryness, we don’t appreciate the Living Water that we are about to receive. These days, I am also delving into what our marriage would be like without the sacrament, to collect our sacrament from the side of Christ and relive our union with the truly sacred and fulfilling dimension it has.

Sophie: There is no glory without the cross. Many are deterred by asceticism, struggle, effort, and suffering, but it is the path God has established for accessing union with Him.

Andrew: There is no glory without the cross. There is no marriage without the cross.

Mother,

How did you experience the time when Jesus prepared for His Passion? Take me into Your Heart, Mother.