From the Gospel according to Matthew
Mt 7:15-20

Jesus said to his disciples:
Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing,
but underneath are ravenous wolves.
By their fruits you will know them.
Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
Just so, every good tree bears good fruit,
and a rotten tree bears bad fruit.
A good tree cannot bear bad fruit,
nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit.
Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down
and thrown into the fire.
So by their fruits you will know them.

Word of the Lord.

Bringing Out the Best.

Someone who believes they are a good Christian and close to the Lord, but who has complaints against their spouse, constantly corrects them, or demands that they change but cannot love them with their sins and limitations, is like a wolf in sheep’s clothing. They appear devout, appear holy before many, appear knowledgeable, and give many pieces of advice based on their wisdom, but the fruits they bear with their spouse are some of the works of the flesh: adultery, fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, witchcraft, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, disputes, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these.

Someone who does not believe they have the right to demand anything from their spouse because they know their own wretchedness, someone who knows they need many humiliations to subdue their self-love, someone who does not believe they have any rights because their Master gave up all His rights to give Himself out of love, someone who makes themselves small and brings out the best in their spouse, this person is led by the Holy Spirit and therefore bears fruits of holiness, generating fruits of charity, joy, peace, patience, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, and chastity.

Applied to Married Life:

Clara: Lucas, do you think I am bringing out the best in you and helping you achieve holiness?
Lucas: I don’t think so, Clara. You demand, you correct, you highlight what I do wrong, and I feel despised because of it.
Clara: I don’t understand what’s wrong with me. I pray a lot and love the Lord, but I don’t know why I am not bearing fruit.
Lucas: For the same reason as me. Pride makes us believe we have the right to make demands of each other. We lack the keys on which holiness is built: humility and meekness. Until we progress in these, we will not advance in our communion, nor in our communion with the Lord.
Clara: You are right. The Lord presents me with many situations to destroy my self-love, and I am not taking advantage of them. Thank you, Lucas, for enlightening me.

Mother,

Praise be to the Lord, who is a light for our steps.