GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Luke
Lk 9:18-22

Once when Jesus was praying in solitude,
and the disciples were with him,
he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”
They said in reply, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah;
still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’”
Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Peter said in reply, “The Christ of God.”
He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone.

He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly
and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.”

The word of the Lord.

 

From a fairy tale.

Jesus is recognised by Peter as the Messiah. No doubt, an action of the Holy Spirit. But Jesus forbids them to tell anyone. Why? He presents Himself, not as the Messiah, but as the Son of Man. As a normal, ordinary man, like anyone else. But why this desire to hide His identity? Because the people of Israel expected another type of Messiah. Therefore He makes clear what His messianism will be: suffering greatly, being rejected by the leaders, being executed and resurrected. That was God’s plan for the true Messiah, something that no one would understand, including His own disciples. Once again, God’s ways are not those of men. But there is no more beautiful way than God’s. Let us embrace those ways of God, even if others do not understand it, for His greater glory.

 

Applied to Married Life:

Carmen: When I married you, I expected to have my Prince Charming at my side.

Julio: And instead your prince charming turned out to be a frog…

Carmen: Hahaha. No, silly. But it is true that my fairy tale became a real story, of crosses, of suffering, of joys, but also of sorrows, of pleasures and also of disappointments. But our love has matured through all those tests that we have gone through together. Now, I admire you more and I love you more than if you were a prince charming. Now I love you, and only you, just as you are.

Julio: I love you. I love everything about you. You are still like a fairy tale because you are charming.

Carmen: Well, I have also given you a few headaches.

Julio: But they have all been worth for love the love I feel for you. Come on, sleeping beauty, give me a kiss and get up since we are late for work.

Carmen: Won’t you take me on your magic carpet?

Julio: I have it in the workshop, so they can refill the flying powder tank.

Both: Hahaha.

 

Mother,

Thank you for a real life, much more beautiful than a fairy tale life. Praise God for giving us life.