From the Gospel according to John

Jn 14:6-14

Jesus said to Thomas, “I am the way and the truth and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through me.

If you know me, then you will also know my Father.

From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

Philip said to him,

“Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”

Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time

and you still do not know me, Philip?

Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.

How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?

The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own.

The Father who dwells in me is doing his works.

Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me,

or else, believe because of the works themselves.

Amen, amen, I say to you,

whoever believes in me will do the works that I do,

and will do greater ones than these,

because I am going to the Father.

And whatever you ask in my name, I will do,

so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

The Compass.

Lord, give us the opportunity to know the way of being in each other, of representing each other, of speaking through each other’s mouths, acting through each other. Give us the opportunity to believe in You so that we can act like You, I ask it in Your name, and I know You will do it. What is clear is that You are the way because You show us the path of love through your own life, the truth because we have already found that if we do what You say our relationship will work and happiness and life will come because You gave it to us, You redeemed us, You lift us up all the time and make our relationship new all the time as well. Thank you, Lord

Applied to married life:

We were quite lost in matters of love. Then a Marriage Mentor gave us the “compass” of the Gospel to show us the path of love. Every time we got lost and things started going wrong, we aligned the small needle with the word that caused distance and harm, and then we followed the long arrow pointing in the opposite direction, showing us the right path. Let us tell you what that compass was like:

There were 7 words:

• When the argument heats up and I even offend you because I don’t want to back down, or when I don’t want to accept your improvements: Pride
• When I get angry with you over money issues: Greed
• When I look at you with desire: Lust
• When my anger overpowers me and I hurt you: Anger
• When my world is one of indulgence and I feel bad if you haven’t made me enjoy as I expected: Gluttony
• When I don’t rejoice in your successes or possessions, but would prefer them for myself: Envy
• When I prefer my comfort over yours: Sloth.

On the opposite side of each of those sins, forming a larger concentric circle, are the 7 virtues that Christ teaches us:

• Understanding that I am dust and have received everything from God and am merely a steward of His goods: Humility
• Understanding that there is more happiness in giving than in receiving: Generosity
• Discovering the greatness and sacredness of the surrender of our bodies: Chastity
• Accepting setbacks and unforeseen events as the will of God: Patience
• Enjoying and glorifying God for the good, but without abuses that weaken our soul and enslave us: Temperance
• Making you happy is what makes me happiest: Charity
• Life on the sofa suffocates, exhausts, the life that is given away, now that is life!: Diligence

The Gospel compass is what led us to discover love between us.

Mother,

We give thanks for the gift of Jesus Christ. God’s generosity is impressive. Through Christ, with Him, and in Him, to you Almighty God, Father, all honour and all glory forever and ever. Amen.