GOSPEL

“Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day”

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

Humans forever.

The eschatological human is destined to have a body as well. From the beginning, we will be soul and body, and we will continue to be so for eternity. God believes that the body is important for us, which is why Jesus shows his disciples that he is not a ghost; it was important for Him that they see he still has flesh and bones.

And why have a body for eternity? Because now and for eternity, we will express with our bodies the love that resides in our souls. We will still need to embrace each other, look at each other… because we are definitively, human.

Applied to Married Life:

Martin: Laura, do you love me?

Laura: Yes, I love you.

Martin: Then why don’t you show it?

Laura: Well, I express it to you in many ways.

Martin: Yes, but I mean with hugs, kisses, caresses…

Laura: Well, you know I’m not used to that, and it’s difficult for me. Although I understand I need to overcome it. Love should be demonstrated physically, or it’s not genuine. I recall a wife I was counseling to mend her relationship with her husband. She agreed with all the suggestions I gave her until I mentioned giving her husband a hug. Then, she outright refused.

Martin: Exactly, because deep down, she didn’t truly love her husband. I need to feel your love through those physical gestures. That’s how the grace of the sacrament is also transmitted between us.

Laura: Come here, you deserve a warm hug, my dear.

Mother,

We sanctify ourselves by expressing love with our bodies. Let us not forget that we were created human. Praise be to the Lord who also chose to become man.

GOSPEL

“He was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.”

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

It always wins.

We find it difficult to understand that in order to reach Glory, the Lord had to suffer a lot beforehand. Since God gave us freedom and we chose to fall into sin, there is the possibility of not loving ourselves and not loving Him. In such circumstances, the only possibility to demonstrate love is through suffering. There is no other way. So, there is no greater love than the one that gives life for one’s friends.

Christ establishes a new covenant of love between God and mankind, giving his life for the salvation of humanity, so there is no greater love than that of God and humanity, since Christ is also human and He did it on behalf of all of us. And for this reason, the Father glorifies him, and through Him, He will glorify us.

Applied to Married Life:

Susanne: I had pictured our marriage as a journey filled with delightful surprises, intimate confessions, and shared understanding, where we would be deeply connected. However, as our marriage began and I soon realized it wasn’t what I had hoped for, I was deeply disappointed. I married you with the expectation that we would love each other. Over time, I shifted my focus away from our relationship, believing I needed to find another path to find fulfillment within myself.

Charles: It’s true that we feel disappointed in each other. I had imagined a wife eager to welcome me every day, who would look at me with excitement every morning when we woke up, who would make me feel like a better  man and sweeten our life.

Susanne: Certainly, everything seemed fine until I encountered suffering. I resisted it, unwilling to accept it. However, I came to understand that marriage is a sacred bond, one that can only be lived by following the teachings of the Master of Love, who is Christ. He achieved the glory I sought, but it came through the path of the cross. A path where I first had to confront my sins of selfishness and pride and more. And then also surrender for yours.

Charles: I faced similar challenges. Learning to love by suffering to overcome the impulses of my self-love, and then learning to offer myself for you, like Christ .It’s been difficult, but I’ve begun to experience moments of profound fulfillment, when, by the grace of God, I surrender myself to Him and to you.

Susanne: Now, I see a deeper beauty in love, far beyond my initial expectations for our marriage. I didn’t expect so much from our marriage. Praise be to God who exceeds our expectations by far.

Charles: True love always conquers. Christ always triumphs. That’s what Saint John Paul used to tell us when we were dating.

Mother,

May we not fear suffering, for it is the path of Christ. With His guidance, we will find the glory. Praise be to Our Lord.

GOSPEL

“I have seen the Lord,” and then reported what he had told her.

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 tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where 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,

Obsessed with reasons.

God is constantly acting in our lives, but sometimes, we are so obsessed with our own reasons that we fail to see the Path with a capital ‘P’. This happened to Mary Magdalene. She was going to embalm the body of Jesus, fixated on that idea to the extent that she did not recognize Jesus himself alive.

Let’s be more attentive to the light of the Spirit and to the voice of the Lord so that we do not miss His presence in our daily lives.

Applied to Married Life:

Marie: Jude,I notice how unaware I’ve been. I had asked the Lord for guidance in this work difficulty I’m facing, and I hadn’t realized He was answering me quite clearly.

Jude: And how did He answer, and when?

Marie: Well, Jude, He was answering through you and your advice. But instead of recognizing it as God’s voice, I took it as you looking out for your own interests. Now, I believe that if I follow your recommendations, I won’t go wrong.

Jude: Well, I had prayed a lot before trying to shed light on your path because I don’t want my own criteria to prevail in our lives, but rather the will of God. If you also see it clearly, then blessed be.

Marie: Yes, besides, once I made the decision, I felt very peaceful, and all my fears disappeared. Let’s say I’ve found peace in it. And that must necessarily be because it’s God’s will.

Jude: Blessed be the Lord.

Mother,

The risen Lord ascended to the Father so that His Spirit could be in everything and everyone. May we be able to see Him and not close ourselves off to the light of grace. Praise be to the Lord who is with us every day until the end of the world.

GOSPEL

“Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

From the Gospel according to Matthew Mt 28:8-15

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce the news to his disciples.
And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had happened. The chief priests assembled with the elders and took counsel; then they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep.’ And if this gets to the ears of the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” The soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has circulated among the Jews to the present day.

The Gospel of the Lord,

Surrendered at His Feet.

If we allow ourselves to be guided by the promptings of the Holy Spirit today, we will experience deep joy. This joy is what we will ultimately share with God in His kingdom—it’s akin to a taste of heaven, an overwhelming joy. A joy that surpasses us.

Therefore, today, we have to collaborate with the Holy Spirit so that He infuses that joy in us. It is not something human; it does not depend solely on our efforts to live it; it is a gift from the Holy Spirit. We can only dispose ourselves well by placing ourselves in the hearts of the holy women who go to the tomb and find it open, with an angel announcing the Lord’s redemption to them. And for greater glory, Jesus Himself appears to them on the way. They fall surrendered at His feet, prostrating themselves before Him. Surely, upon seeing Him, their legs would fail them and they would collapse, overwhelmed by immense joy.

Applied to Married Life:

Charles: The truth is that this Easter we have experienced a genuine resurrection of the heart. It’s the first Easter we’ve truly lived close to Jesus, and the joy that Easter Sunday brings in the heart is truly marvelous.

Natalie: Absolutely. We’ve experienced plenty of moments, some filled with pain, others with great community enjoyment, but the joy that remains in the heart is a sign that the Holy Spirit has been among us. And I also cherish what has brought us together. It’s been beautiful to share this experience with you.

Charles: I struggled a lot to understand the meaning of the cross, but this Easter, I’ve grasped it, and that has also led me to discover the joy of the Resurrection. Thank you, Natalie. And Glory to God.

Natalie: Glory to God!

Mother,

We have particularly enjoyed accompanying you in the Passion of Our Lord. We have learned so much from you… Thank you, Mother. Thank you for introducing us to the Lord and for guiding us closer to Him. Hallelujah!