GOSPEL
From the Gospel according to John
Jn 15:26—16:4a

Jesus said to his disciples:
When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father,
the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father,
he will testify to me.
And you also testify,
because you have been with me from the beginning.

I have told you this so that you may not fall away.
They will expel you from the synagogues;
in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you
will think he is offering worship to God.
They will do this because they have not known either the Father or me.
I have told you this so that when their hour comes
you may remember that I told you.

Word of the Lord.

Truth or domination

refers to the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of truth. In the catechism (No. 1606), under the section ‘Marriage under the bondage of sin’, it speaks of the threat to the union of man and woman by, among other things, the ‘spirit of domination’. Let’s reflect: Which of the two ‘spirits’ do I allow to govern my marital relationship? The spirit of domination or the Spirit of truth? The Spirit of truth comes from God, not from us. He is the advocate, and He is the one who changes people: ‘…He will testify about me; and you also will testify,’ says the Lord. He ‘christifies’ us, making us more and more like Christ. Let’s allow God to be God.

Applied to married life:

Julio: I’m worried because I feel like we’re stuck and not making progress.
Marta: Don’t worry, Julio. We are in the hands of the Lord. We are consecrated to Him and we entrust everything to Him. The Spirit will guide our lives. We’ve experienced it before. How many times has the Lord placed the person who needed us the most by our side? How many times has He resolved our needs by moving the hearts of others? How many times has He rescued us with a word from a friend, from a priest…
Julio: It’s true. Since forever, but especially since we consecrated ourselves to the Heart of Jesus through Mary, we look back and see God’s providential hand in our entire lives. We trust in Him!

Mother,

It’s true that many times we don’t understand God’s plans, but it’s part of the test. We have only this life to prove our faith and our trust in Him. Make us not falter. Praise be to the Lord who never abandons us and sent us His Spirit.