Gospel

From the Gospel according to Luke. LK 17,7-10.

But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say to him when he is come from the field, go and sit down to eat? And will not rather say to him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?
Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.
So likewise you, when you shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, we are useless servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Thank you for loving him so much.

The essence of the Christian life is to recognize oneself as small so that everything I do points to Christ as the author of all. What I do in my own name is vanity of vanities. What I do in the name of the Lord, and with the power of the Lord, is for the greater glory of God. That is for eternity.

Applied to married life:

Luke: Lord, today I looked at my wife with compassion and love in a moment when she was rejecting me. I know that love doesn’t come from me; it comes from You, and I have no merit in it. It was You who reached out to her and rescued her. Thank you, Lord, for loving my wife so much.
Janet: Thank you, Lord, for helping me love my husband today, even when I was speaking to him about something so important to me and he didn’t even pause what he was doing to listen. I felt alone, overlooked, misunderstood. But even so, You helped me look upon my husband with tenderness, knowing that he loves me dearly but doesn’t yet have the sensitivity to notice these details. Lord, he has so many good qualities, so much value in himself… And You gave me light in that moment. Thank you, Lord, for allowing me to love him with Your love.

Mother,

We are useless servants. We have only done our duty. Blessed be the Maker of all.