Monthly Archives: June 2024

That transparency of yours. Reflection for Marriages. Matthew 5:33-37

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From the Gospel according to Matthew
Mt 5:33-37

Jesus said to his disciples:
“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
Do not take a false oath,
but make good to the Lord all that you vow.
But I say to you, do not swear at all;
not by heaven, for it is God’s throne;
nor by the earth, for it is his footstool;
nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
Do not swear by your head,
for you cannot make a single hair white or black.
Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’
Anything more is from the Evil One.”

Word of the Lord

That transparency of yours.

Let your speech be yes, yes; no, no. We are required to be sincere and honest. Sincerity involves two virtues: humility, because to be sincere I must first know myself, and the virtue of justice, because God is truthful and asks us to give to each person what He wants to administer to them at each moment.

It is important to be sincere so that others can trust us, and when we bear witness, they will believe that we also speak the truth.

Grounded in Married Life:

Isabel: When you tell me about your weaknesses, your blunders, and even your little sins, you give me a lot of confidence. I don’t trust those who always speak well of themselves, because that’s not real.

Tomás: I want to present myself to you as I am. Besides, if I want you to help me, how can you do it if you don’t know my whole truth?

Isabel: That also dignifies you because you are open to my help. That transparency of yours is one of the things I admire most about you and that makes me fall even more in love with you.

Tomás: Thank you, Isabel. I love knowing that you love me just as I am. You make everything so easy for me.

Mother,

We are small and clumsy, but we follow you with our “yes” day after day. Help us to be faithful to our commitment. Amen.
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It’s amazing. Reflection for Marriages. Matthew 5:27-32

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From the Gospel according to Matthew

Mt 5:27-32

Jesus said to his disciples:
“You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery.
But I say to you,
everyone who looks at a woman with lust
has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
If your right eye causes you to sin,
tear it out and throw it away.
It is better for you to lose one of your members
than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna.
And if your right hand causes you to sin,
cut it off and throw it away.
It is better for you to lose one of your members
than to have your whole body go into Gehenna.

“It was also said,
Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce.
But I say to you,
whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful)
causes her to commit adultery,
and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”

Word of the Lord.

It’s amazing.

Man and woman were created from the beginning to become one through a love of communion. Desire is naturally present because it is part of our psychosomatic structure, and our bodies were created to provoke a perpetual attraction between the sexes. Additionally, the rest of our masculinity and femininity were created for that attraction, and even inscribed in our hearts is a desire for spiritual union. Many marriages need a path of conjugal spirituality, and when they find it, they discover what truly satisfies them.

The truth is that inscribed in our hearts is a desire to give ourselves and to give our lives. The greatness of the man-woman relationship lies in responding to this call to total mutual self-giving. We usually admire those who give themselves body and soul to a mission. That is why marriage is so admirable; it evokes the admiration of children, young people, and everyone around us. Deep down, it is what everyone who shares this vocation desires more than anything else.

Grounded in Marital Life:

Alberto: Do you know that since you and I have been trying to live our marriage as God intended, many people who know us come to me for advice?
Marta: True marriage is super attractive. It’s difficult because we are selfish and proud, and it’s hard for us to give everything to each other. But when you do it and God’s love is activated between us, it’s truly beautiful.
Alberto: How is it possible that such a beautiful creation of God has become so degraded among people that it is seen as something enslaving or limited to sexual relations? It’s so crude…
Marta: That’s why we have the responsibility to evangelize by showing God’s work between us. Such love shines brighter than the stars.
Alberto: You shine brighter than the stars.
Marta: Hahaha. Will you let me get lost in your galaxy?
Alberto: Hahaha, you’ll have a hard time getting lost because my galaxy has only one star… and it’s the most beautiful of all. Impossible to miss it.
Marta: I love you.

Mother,

Thank the Father on our behalf for this gift of marriage and the Son for the gift of the Sacrament, which is already amazing. Praise be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
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One step away: gentleness. Reflection for Marriages. Matthew 5:20-26

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From the Gospel according to Matthew
Mt 5:20-26

Jesus said to his disciples:
“I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that
of the scribes and Pharisees,
you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.

“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.
But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother
will be liable to judgment,
and whoever says to his brother, Raqa,
will be answerable to the Sanhedrin,
and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna.
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,
and there recall that your brother
has anything against you,
leave your gift there at the altar,
go first and be reconciled with your brother,
and then come and offer your gift.
Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him.
Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge,
and the judge will hand you over to the guard,
and you will be thrown into prison.
Amen, I say to you,
you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”

Word of the Lord.

One step away: gentleness.

In this Gospel, the punishment for a seemingly minor insult and the requirement for reconciliation with a brother, whether the dispute is justified or not, seem somewhat exaggerated. The Lord loves each and every one of us so much that He does not tolerate any kind of conflict between us, no matter how small. The severity of the insult is directly proportional to the value of the person, and the Lord has given us an incredibly high value out of love, making even the slightest friction unacceptable. How much more so with my spouse, to whom I owe a very special respect, as he is the one God has entrusted to me to be one with.

Applied to Married Life:

Luis: Reading this Gospel, Macarena, I realize the incredible value and dignity you possess. Truly, being in your presence is like standing on sacred ground.
Macarena: You’re right, Luis. How highly God values us to protect us in such an exaggerated manner. I don’t know how to always see you this way from now on.
Luis: I think we need to start a revolution of gentleness. It has to be our best “weapon” against any temptation to conflict. How about we set that as our goal for this summer?
Macarena: I think it’s wonderful. I love the idea. Just with that, our relationship becomes an earthly paradise.
Luis: Or the kingdom of God.
Macarena: Exactly.

Mother,

We are one step away from building the kingdom of God among us, and that step is called “gentleness.” With what gentleness did you treat Joseph? Blessed are you, Mother.

Finger-licking good. Reflection for Marriages. Matthew 5:17-19

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From the Gospel according to Matthew

Mt 5:17-19

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.
I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,
not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter
will pass from the law,
until all things have taken place.
Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments
and teaches others to do so
will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.
But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments
will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”

Word of the Lord.

Finger-licking good.

How we love to take ownership of God’s things, and for that, there’s nothing better than shaping God’s laws to suit myself. That way, if I follow them, I can feel at ease because I have complied.
But Christ teaches me that God’s laws are directed at helping me become who I am called to be. The law of the indissolubility of marriage, for example, is determined because God has made us one, and our actions should reflect this, what we are in the image of Christ, who also becomes one with us. This is who we are, this is what dignifies us, and it is what God wants us to be, and so He establishes His law. That we be united and moved by love.

Applied to married life:

Almudena: When there are God’s laws that we don’t want to follow, it’s a bad sign.
Luis: What do you mean, Almudena?
Almudena: Look Luis, God’s laws are not something we have to follow forcefully, but rather something we should desire to follow for our own good. For example, to me, the indissolubility of marriage used to seem like an unjust law and an unbearable burden. But now, I thank God because what He asks of me is something as great and beautiful as being one with you. What better task for my life!
Luis: That’s right, becoming completely one is a beautiful task. It’s like when someone cooks something out of obligation because they have to eat, versus when they want to please their wife and children with a delicious dish that’s finger-licking good. By the way, did I tell you that you are finger-licking good?
Almudena: Hahaha… It’s because God’s laws are finger-licking good. Hahaha… Come on, silly, keep working on that sauce, it looks delicious.

Mother,

How we love God’s laws. We know He has given them to us for and because of love. Praise the Lord.

The 3 Keys. Reflection for Marriages. MT 5:13-16

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From the Gospel according to Matthew

MT 5:13-16
Jesus said to his disciples:
“You are the salt of the earth.
But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?
It is no longer good for anything
but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
You are the light of the world.
A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket;
it is set on a lampstand,
where it gives light to all in the house.
Just so, your light must shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds
and glorify your Heavenly Father
Word of the Lord 
The 3 Keys.
You, dear spouses, are the light of the world, the light of the Church, of the youth, and of society. The conversion of many depends on our testimony. If we live as a worldly couple, they will see the works of the flesh, but if we live our Sacrament united to Christ, then and only then, we will give glory to our Father who is in heaven.
Applied to married life:
Marta: Good morning.
Rafael: Very good morning.
Marta: Well, yours will be better.
Rafael: Surely they will.
Marta: Mmm, I’ll keep quiet. Is this where they offer happy marriages?
Rafael: Very happy.
Marta: Here we go… Extra super happy, okay. But is this the place?
Rafael: Yes. Tell me, what do you need?
Marta: Well, aren’t I telling you? I need a happy marriage.
Rafael: Very happy.
Marta: Okay, very happy then.
Rafael: Here you go: I give you the three keys.
Marta: Who are you, the concierge?
Rafael: No. I am the Archangel.
Marta: Right, and I’m Mary Magdalene. What am I supposed to do with these 3 keys?
Rafael: First, believe in them. The first is the power of the Sacraments, especially Matrimony, which is yours, and nourish it with prayer. The second is to learn to love in marriage by following the teachings and model of Christ. And the third is to deny yourself “every day” and give yourself to your spouse.
Marta: But I came for something for him.
Rafael: They are the same keys. But just using them yourself is enough.
Marta: Well, what a disappointment. I already had those keys before I came here.
Rafael: Yes, but since you weren’t using them, I gave them back to you.
Marta: Well, I’ll take your advice. Goodbye, good morning… “Archangel.”
Rafael: Goodbye, may God give us a very good morning, “Mary Magdalene.”
Mother,
May we use the keys that Christ has given us to be a light to the world. It is our responsibility.
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