Gospel

I say to you, one of you will betray me. The cock will not crow before you deny me three times.

From the Gospel according to John. Jn 13:21-33, 36-38

Reclining at table with his disciples, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, “Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”
The disciples looked at one another, at a loss as to whom he meant. One of his disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus’ side. So Simon Peter nodded to him to find out whom he meant. He leaned back against Jesus’ chest and said to him, “Master, who is it?”
Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I hand the morsel after I have dipped it.” So he dipped the morsel and took it and handed it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. After Judas took the morsel, Satan entered him.
So Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” Now none of those reclining at table realized why he said this to him. Some thought that since Judas kept the money bag, Jesus had told him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or to give something to the poor. So Judas took the morsel and left at once. And it was night.

When he had left, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him at once. My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. You will look for me, and as I told the Jews, ‘Where I go you cannot come,’ so now I say it to you.”

Simon Peter said to him, “Master, where are you going?”
Jesus answered him, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, though you will follow later.”
Peter said to him, “Master, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”
Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

I promise to be faithful to you.

So many unfulfilled promises. So many shattered commitments… Starting with our marriage vow: “I promise to accept you as you are and give myself to you every day of my life!”  However, how many days have I not kept my promise… Knowing that I made it before the Lord, before the altar representing His daily commitment in our lives. He, indeed, does not fail. Based on that, how could I demand anything from my husband/wife? How can I demand anything from God?.

Applied to married life

Alfred: I believe there are more days when I haven’t fully devoted myself to you than days when I have. 

Lou: I feel the same. Sometimes I find myself more focused on what you give me than on what I give you. 

Alfred: Well, that’s an indication that we’re not allowing the Holy Spirit to work among us, and that’s why we’re not faithful to the Sacrament. We need to pray more and be more humble. Shall we help each other? 

Lou: Sure! I shall be grateful “forever.”

Mother,

Help us to be faithful to our marriage promise. We made it to God. We cannot let Him down. He never fails. Praise be to Him forever.