Monthly Archives: July 2024

Renewed joy. Reflection for marriages. Matthew 9:14-17

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Gospel
How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them?
From the Gospel according to Matthew. Mt. 9, 14-17.
Then, John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?”
Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast. No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
 
Renewed joy. 
The Lord really comes to bring us something new. We can no longer stay in the Old Testament approaches based on the law. It is time to be joyful in faith, even in the midst of difficulties, because the Lord is with us. And in those occasions when The Husband is not with me because I have separated him from me, I will have to make sacrifices to subdue my self-pride so that I can be in Him even in those situations. 
Applied to Married life 
Anna: How much I have suffered because I saw that, because of our sin, the communion between us is not as God had intended it to be. 
James: I do understand. You have a very strong call from the Lord to live that communion with me. The idea of not being able to live this communion tortures you. If it is also because of my sin, I immediately become the source of your suffering, which does not help to continue building a communion.
Anna: But Christ came to earth, he has given himself to make it possible, and that should keep me happy despite the circumstances. So, I must take advantage of that suffering as a way to make my heart more docile to the love of God. 
James: Thank you, my wife. The lights that the Lord gives you in prayer help me a lot. Thanks for sharing them with me. 
Mother 

We do not want to separate the Bridegroom from our hearts. Help us, Mother. Praise the Lord who brings us the glory of God.

His preference. Reflection for marriages. Matthew 9:9-13

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Gospel.

Those who are well do not need a physician. I desire mercy, not sacrifice

From the Gospel according to Matthew. Mt 9:9-13
As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post.
He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him.
While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples.
The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
He heard this and said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
His preference. 
What can I offer to God and what can I offer to men? Sacrifices can be offered to God, while mercy can only be offered to men, especially to my spouse. Well, the Lord tells us today that He would prefer me being mercyful to my spouse than offering sacrifices for Him. Impressive! 
Atención therefore those who have undertaken a path of victimhood in reparation for the outrages committed against the Lord: Beware becase, above all, He asks for mercy. 
Applied to Married life
Rob: I have realized that when you are most affected by your sin, I tend to distance myself from you. 
Lorraine: Of course, sin always destroys. 
Rob: Yes, but the Lord does not want me to separate myself from you or from our sinful children, like the Pharisees do. He loves us so much that He wants we to love each other over our sin. 
Lorraine: Wow! It’s hard, and it’s often incredibly painful, but you’re right. Only with Love can the lost ones be rescued, and He wants us to love each other especially in those difficult moments so we can rescue each other.
Mother

We are sinners. Why do we turn away from our sinful spouse instead of leaving everything to rescue him or her? Clearly the self-righteous and proud judgment. Deliver us from falling into this, Mother, which destroys us. Deliver us from it, Mother. Amen.

That Power! Reflection for marriages. Matthew 9:1-8

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Gospel
They glorified God who had given such authority to men.
From the Gospel according to Matthew. Mt 9:1-8
After entering a boat, Jesus made the crossing, and came into his own town. And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “courage, child, your sins are forgiven.” At that, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.”
Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, “why do you harbor evil thoughts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” he then said to the paralytic, “Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.”
He rose and went home. When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to men.

The Gospel of the Lord.

 

That Power!

Matthew refers to the forgiveness of sins as a power that God grants to men. Specifically, the Church receives it through the priestlhood. If the Church did not have this power, it would not be the Sacrament of Christ on earth. But it does, indeed! It is! and we also praise God because He has given this power to men. Otherwise… what would become of us?

 

Applied to Married Life:

Ben: Forgive me, Blanca. I’ve made you suffer a lot this week because of my pride.
Klaire: I forgive you, Ben. I’ve had the opportunity to offer myself for you. I saw you were very troubled and blinded. But thanks to God, you have returned to the arms of the Father and mine.
Ben: Yes. I have attended confession. It was wonderful. It is true that before confession, it is always a bit difficult to take the step, but how marvelous it is to be forgiven by God! I was overwhelmed at the moment when the priest laid his hands on me and, by the power granted to him in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, told me that my sins were forgiven.
Klaire: It is an experience that, if lived with faith, is miraculous.

Ben: Praise be to God.

 

Mother,

How much we value the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Without it, what would become of us? Thank you, my God. Thank you, thank you, thank you…

Faith in Stubbornness. Reflection for marriages. John 20:24-29

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Gospel

My Lord and my God!
From the Gospel according to John. Jn 20:24-29
Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.
So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But Thomas said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”
Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Faith in Stubbornness

Regarding the question of why Thomas was not with the other apostles that day, scholars suggest that his despair after Jesus’ death likely drove him away. The apostles had stayed in Jerusalem for eight days instead of going to Galilee as Jesus had instructed, unwilling to leave without him, and they were searching for him. Eventually, they found him and shared the good news that Jesus had appeared among them. This news brought him back, but his stubbornness prevented him from believing until the Lord reappeared and invited him to touch His wounds. It was then that Thomas made his confession of faith. However, it is beautiful how the community of apostles did not leave without Thomas and supported him with their faith despite his stubbornness.

Applied to Married Life:

Martha: It is very hard to see that our son has stopped going to Mass and, of course, has lost his faith.

Andy: Yes, it is very hard. We have a mission, and it is to pray for him and offer ourselves for him so that he returns to the arms of Our Lady Mary. 

Martha: Shouldn’t we talk to him? 
Andy: We have done so several times, and it doesn’t help. But our offering will not fall on deaf ears. You’ll see. 
Martha: There is much suffering we can offer. I trust you and I trust in the Lord. 

 

Andy: Amen. Even if we don’t see it, Christ is always capable of anything.

 

Mother,

 

Today we ask you for those children and loved ones who have strayed from the faith and the ecclesial community. We place them in your hands, Mother. You already know what to do. Thank you because you never disappoint.

The Fear´s Fear. Reflection for marriages. Matthew 8:23-27

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Gospel

Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was great calm.
From the Gospel according to Matthew. MT 8:23-27.
As Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him. Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea so that the boat was being swamped by waves; but he was asleep.
They came and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?”
Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was great calm.
The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey?”
The Gospel of the Lord.

The Fear´s Fear

In the Bible, there are 365 references to fear, one for each day of the year. We can be afraid of today’s life and tomorrow’s death, of saying yes and of saying no… Yet, fear fears only one thing against which it cannot endure, and that is faith. The Lord wants us to have faith and to stop being afraid. There is only fear when love is absent. Those who have not experienced unconditional love live to “earn” acceptance; they believe they must fight to gain the affection of others. However, those who have experienced God’s Love are not afraid because they know they are infinitely loved.

Applied to Married Life:

Monica: Andrew, do you love me? 
Andrew: Indeed. 
Monica: Yes, but why do you love me? 
Andrew: I don’t know, there is no why. Simply, you are very important to me, and you deserve me to give you my life. 
Monica: Then, if I am so important, why don’t you value my work and my skills? 
Andrew: I do value them, but you are more important than your skills. You might lose your skills one day, and I will still love you. If my love depended on your achievements, it would not come from God, because He loves us for who we are, not for our successes, which, moreover, we always owe to Him.

Mother,

How much fear we have when we lack charity, and charity is united with faith. Praise be to the Lord for instilling the theological virtues in us .