GOSPEL

‘We played the pipes, and you wouldn’t dance’

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

Luke 7:31-35

Jesus said to the people:
  ‘What description can I find for the men of this generation? What are they like? They are like children shouting to one another while they sit in the market-place:
‘“We played the pipes for you,
and you wouldn’t dance;
we sang dirges,
and you wouldn’t cry.”
‘For John the Baptist comes, not eating bread, not drinking wine, and you say, “He is possessed.” The Son of Man comes, eating and drinking, and you say, “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.” Yet Wisdom has been proved right by all her children.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Excuses for Not Loving

There’s a significant difference between not believing and the more serious issue of refusing to believe, often armed with excuses. This can happen in marriage: I refuse to accept God’s will and instead criticise my spouse and the divine plan for my life together with them. What I have doesn’t seem good enough, and I use that as justification to stop fighting for our relationship. There’s a wise saying: “To a thin dog, everything becomes fleas.” When I am vulnerable and weak, everything seems wrong. This is why, if I find myself complaining a lot, it’s because I need more prayer, more sacraments, and to strengthen my faith in order to align with God’s will.
Yes, okay, my spouse isn’t a saint—neither am I! But that’s what we’re here for: to strive to become better and inspire those around us. That was my mission, and I may have forgotten it, expecting everything to be handed to me on a plate. God is great, immensely great, and He does not make mistakes. May He protect me from trying to amend His plan.

Applied to Married Life:

(At a meal with friends)
Anna: My husband is far too active; he never stops and it’s exhausting.
Theresa: Well, mine is far too lazy. I can’t get him off the sofa; it’s such a bore.
Paul: My wife is overly helpful, always doing things for others. I feel neglected.
John: Mine is so selfish, it’s unbelievable. She only thinks of herself.
Jill: My husband is a complete control freak. It drives me mad.
Lucy: Well, mine is a total mess. Keeping the house tidy is a daily battle.
Andrew: That’s nothing! My wife has a bit of everything you’ve all mentioned. One day she’s all about order, and the next it’s chaos. Her mood swings are like something out of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
Peter: (The host of the gathering) Excuse me, but the children are at the table next door and can hear us. How are they supposed to believe in marriage when we’re making these comments about each other? It surprises me that some of us complain about one thing while others complain about the opposite. Perhaps we each need to embrace our situation and joyfully build a holy marriage together. Don’t you think?

Mother,

How much harm we do to our Creator with our endless complaints about what we have received from Him—what He crafted with such love to give to us. God’s gifts are precious and beautiful, yet we struggle to believe that they come from Him and that they are for our good. Father, forgive us for our stubbornness and ingratitude. Praised be Your wisdom and generosity. Amen.

GOSPEL

The only son of his mother, and she a widow

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

Luke 7:11-17

Jesus went to a town called Nain, accompanied by his disciples and a great number of people. When he was near the gate of the town it happened that a dead man was being carried out for burial, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a considerable number of the townspeople were with her. When the Lord saw her he felt sorry for her. ‘Do not cry’ he said. Then he went up and put his hand on the bier and the bearers stood still, and he said, ‘Young man, I tell you to get up.’ And the dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Everyone was filled with awe and praised God saying, ‘A great prophet has appeared among us; God has visited his people.’ And this opinion of him spread throughout Judaea and all over the countryside.

Submissive in Love

In this Gospel, we uncover a kind of “dependence” the Lord has towards us. It is His love that drives Him to submit to us. Incredible! But what kind of love makes an entire God submit to His creatures? It’s a love beyond human comprehension, a love only understood through the work of the Holy Spirit. This is the same love that fosters the mutual submission between husband and wife. How else can we understand the call to “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ”? It is the greatest love that enables one to be “subject” to the other. You cannot ignore the sufferings of your spouse, just as Jesus does not ignore ours. You cannot stop seeking to please your spouse, just as Jesus seeks to please the Father in His submission. Husbands and wives, submit to one another as to the Lord.

Applied to Married Life:

Henry: I was trying to understand just how united we are, and I’ve realised that when God’s love is between us, there is nothing of yours that doesn’t affect me. There’s no cross you bear that I don’t share, no desire of yours that doesn’t challenge me, no complaint of yours that doesn’t pierce the depths of my soul.
Amelia: Oh darling, you’re saying such beautiful and profound things. Whoever would have thought you’d speak like this?
Henry: Yes, well, I find myself loving you more each day. At first, I lived with you, then I began living for you, and now, more and more, with God’s help, I live in you. I know I often make mistakes, but I am completely yours.
Amelia: I know. I see many changes in you, and I feel proud of your journey towards holiness. I thank God so much for it. I know all this is His work, for such a transformation could never be purely human.

Mother,

How powerful it is to be submissive in love. The Lord taught us this in His earthly life, and He continues to teach us daily through His real presence in the Eucharist and within each one of us. Praise be to our Lord.

GOSPEL

Give the word, and my servant will be healed

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

Luke 7:1-10

When Jesus had come to the end of all he wanted the people to hear, he went into Capernaum. A centurion there had a servant, a favourite of his, who was sick and near death. Having heard about Jesus he sent some Jewish elders to him to ask him to come and heal his servant. When they came to Jesus they pleaded earnestly with him. ‘He deserves this of you’ they said ‘because he is friendly towards our people; in fact, he is the one who built the synagogue.’ So Jesus went with them, and was not very far from the house when the centurion sent word to him by some friends: ‘Sir,’ he said ‘do not put yourself to trouble; because I am not worthy to have you under my roof; and for this same reason I did not presume to come to you myself; but give the word and let my servant be cured. For I am under authority myself, and have soldiers under me; and I say to one man: Go, and he goes; to another: Come here, and he comes; to my servant: Do this, and he does it.’ When Jesus heard these words he was astonished at him and, turning round, said to the crowd following him, ‘I tell you, not even in Israel have I found faith like this.’ And when the messengers got back to the house they found the servant in perfect health.

The Gospel of the Lord.

We Don’t Deserve It

A man whom everyone considered worthy of the Lord’s favour, due to his generosity and service to God’s people, did not see himself as deserving of such blessings. His humility led him to have an extraordinary faith. Some people demand that God answers their prayers, but walking in truth means not seeing ourselves as deserving or worthy of the Lord’s favours, no matter how many good deeds we think we do.

Applied to Married Life:

Oliver: I’m still struggling with my pride because as soon as I feel slighted by you, I react against you.
Lucy: I don’t understand. With everything we do in service to the Lord, why do we keep falling? Why does it feel like we’re not making progress?
Oliver: Well, I think our problem is a lack of humility, and we will grow in humility if we accept that we don’t deserve for God to rescue us from our faults. So, perhaps continuing to stumble is a lesson in humility for us.
Lucy: You might be right. Maybe what the Lord wants from us is to accept our fragility.
Oliver: Exactly. We give thanks because He hasn’t forgotten us.

Mother,

The Lord has already given us so much, too much to ask for more. He will lift us from our failings when He wills and how He wills. We trust in Him and His mercy. Praise be to Him forever.

Mark 8:27-35

GOSPEL

God sent his Son so that through him the world might be saved

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John