GOSPEL

From the Gospel according to Luke 19:1-10

At that time Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town.
Now a man there named Zacchaeus,
who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man,
was seeking to see who Jesus was;
but he could not see him because of the crowd,
for he was short in stature.
So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus,
who was about to pass that way.
When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said,
“Zacchaeus, come down quickly,
for today I must stay at your house.”
And he came down quickly and received him with joy.
When they saw this, they began to grumble, saying,
“He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.”
But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord,
“Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor,
and if I have extorted anything from anyone
I shall repay it four times over.”
And Jesus said to him,
“Today salvation has come to this house
because this man too is a descendant of Abraham.
For the Son of Man has come to seek
and to save what was lost.”

The Gospel of the Lord

Marital conversion

Zacchaeus serves as a powerful example of conversion. At first, the distractions of the world prevent me from truly seeing Jesus, clouding my heart. Yet, at some point, He crosses my path intentionally. When I show even the smallest desire to know Him, He invites Himself into my life, into my heart, to share His love with me.  
This leads me to realize just how lost I was without Him, sparking my first steps toward change. Conversion is fulfilled when I decide to surrender everything to Him and follow wherever He leads.  

Applied to married life

Henry: Gemma, I’ve noticed that my journey of faith mirrors the growth in our marriage.  
Gemma: Thank you for sharing that with me, Henry, How do you see the connection between the two?  
Henry:When I was consumed by my work, I couldn’t fully give my heart to you or to God. But as I grew closer to Him, I began to see His love reflected in our relationship. The more I let go of selfishness and dedicate myself to you, the more I feel I am giving myself to the Lord. That’s why I see such a strong connection between my faith journey and the transformation in our marriage.  
Gemma: I thank God for speaking to me through you because it’s true that I tend to feel very comfortable with God while being critical of you. But I’ve also noticed that the more connected I am with you, the closer I feel to the Lord.  

Mother,

We are still on this path of transformation. Guide us as we continue this journey. Praise to the Lord.

Gospel

From the Gospel according to Luke 18:35-43
As Jesus approached Jericho a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging,and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening.They told him,“Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”He shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!”The people walking in front rebuked him,telling him to be silent,but he kept calling out all the more,“Son of David, have pity on me!”Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him;and when he came near, Jesus asked him,“What do you want me to do for you?”He replied, “Lord, please let me see.”Jesus told him, “Have sight; your faith has saved you.”He immediately received his sightand followed him, giving glory to God.When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.

The Gospel of the Lord

Shared Passdion

Calling on the Lord for compassion means inviting Him to share in my suffering, so that He can understand and bring healing. Out of His boundless compassion, Christ became one of us, experiencing humanity and, through His suffering alongside us, offering us healing. 
From His example, I learn the path to my husband’s healing: to first share in his pain, experiencing it alongside him, so that from this deep connection, I can give myself for his salvation. 

Applied to married life

Martha: Ryan,  I’ve come to realize that I haven’t supported you well in your struggles. I’ve approached you with advice from a place of superiority instead of compassion. 
Ryan: I’m not sure I understand, Martha. Why is compassion so important when trying to help? 
Martha: Because that’s how Christ helps us. He first comes to live with us, to understand what it means to have a human heart. He experiences our temptations, fears, and suffering. Then, He offers Himself, saying to the Father, “Forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” In the same way, I need to share in your struggles, feel your pain, and from that place of understanding, work toward your salvation. 
Ryan:  That’s amazing, Martha. So profound. This revelation from the Lord is truly powerful, and it’s the right approach. Thank you. I needed to hear this too. 

Mother,

Help me dwell within Your Immaculate Heart so that I may feel what You feel when You look upon my husband/wife. Thank You, Blessed Mother.

Gospel

From the Gospel according to Mark. Mk 13:24-32

Jesus said to his disciples:
“In those days after that tribulation the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

“And then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in the clouds’ with great power and glory, and then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.

“Learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near.
In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that he is near, at the gates.
Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

“But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”

The Gospel of the Lord

The Bad Will Pass.

The devil continues to sow tares, and he will eventually destroy this world. Little by little, he’s succeeding, but he and the death he brought us are coming to an end. However, the Word of God will not pass away. Do we know the power of Christ’s merits? Through His merits, we remain saved in Him, and nothing will separate us from His Love.
Let us not be troubled in bad times, nor be afraid.

Applied to Married Life:

Chris: “Tim, when we have problems between us, it feels like the world is falling apart. Everything darkens for me, and I feel like there’s no solution anymore.”
Tim: “But, Chris, that’s because we lack faith. What helps me in those moments is remembering that all of that will pass. The Lord will come to us with His grace, and if we receive it, He will bring us back to the light. We confess, we ask for forgiveness, and He makes everything new.”
Chris: “I know He forgives us, but our marriage still feels wounded. It’s like there are traces of hopelessness left behind. It feels like we’ll never fully get out of these situations.”
Tim: “You said it: ‘It feels like it,’ but those are deceptive feelings. Heaven and Earth will pass away, but the promise the Lord made to us the day He committed to us in our Sacrament of marriage—that promise will not pass away. He is more powerful than our evil, I assure you. Let’s strive and trust in His power, okay? Also, lately we’ve seen beautiful green shoots between us, haven’t we?”
Chris: “Thank you, Tim. You’ve helped me so much. There are times when I’m a bit impatient, and I drown in my own anxiety. Thank you for helping me regain the hope that the Lord gives us.”
Tim: “Cheer up, Chris, because you are the most precious gift God has given me.”
Chris: “I love you, Tim.”

Mother,

The Lord will come with all His power and glory. And nothing and no one will be able to stop the sanctification of the world. Blessed be He with His power and glory.

Gospel

From the Gospel according to Luke. Lk 18, 1-8.

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”

And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Mancomes, will he find faith on the earth?”

The Gospel of the Lord

For Love, Not Fear.

Regarding our prayer, Saint John Chrysostom says, “Although the Lord is silent in His words, He responds with His blessings.” And this is alwaysthe case, always.  

Even so, there are times when the Lord seems to delay His response, perhaps because the blessing He wishes to give us through that hope is that our faith may grow. After all, it is during difficult times that our faith is tested. Will the Lord find faith in our hearts in those moments?

Applied to Married Life

Natalie: “You know, Patrick? Today in prayer, I realized that God always gives me His blessings out of love. However, I sometimes behaive with you more out of fear of a harsh response than out of love for you.”  

Patrick: “I feel the same way, Nat. And Saint Augustine says that this attitude is contrary to the image of God. It’s sadly ironic that we make an effort to give a good gift, not out of love, but to avoid a bad moment. Really sad, don’t you think?”  

Natalie: “Yes, it is. How painful must be for the Lord. If you agree, tonight in our conjugal prayer, let’s ask God to help us give all our efforts out of love, just like He does, in His image.”  

Patrick: “That sounds wonderful. I’m sure He will grant it to us. I’m really looking forward to loving you better, Nat, loving you as He loves you.”

Mother,

Even if it seems like we ask and there are no results, may the Lord find faith in us amid the difficulties. We will persevere in our prayer, certain that He loves us infinitely. Praised be the Lord forever, the Just Judge.

Gospel

From he Gospel according to Luke. LK 17:26-37

Jesus said to his disciples:
“As it was in the days of Noah,so it will be in the days of the Son of Man;
they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage up to the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.
Similarly, as it was in the days of Lot: they were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building;on the day when Lot left Sodom, fire and brimstone rained from the sky to destroy them all.
So it will be on the day the Son of Man is revealed.
On that day, someone who is on the housetop and whose belongings are in the house must not go down to get them, and likewise one in the field must not return to what was left behind.
Remember the wife of Lot.
Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses it will save it.
I tell you, on that night there will be two people in one bed; one will be taken, the other left.
And there will be two women grinding meal together; one will be taken, the other left.”
They said to him in reply, “Where, Lord?”
He said to them, “Where the body is, there also the vultures will gather.”

The Gsopel of the Lord

My Lifesaver.

The only Lifesaver with a capital “L” is You, Lord. Only You. I don’t need anything else because You are Life with a capital “L.” If I try to hold something back for myself, that is when I will be clinging to a lifesaver with a lowercase “l.”
The worldly lifesaver is orange, flashy, and with room for only one. God’s Lifesaver is allowing myself to sink if He wants me to sink, allowing myself to rise if He wants me to rise, allowing myself to go through if He wants me to go through, allowing myself to be glorified if He wants to glorify me… The Lifesaver is the Heart of Jesus, and in Him, there is room for you and me, and for everyone. He is bleeding out of love for me, for my husband, and for each of His own. What better place to sail together toward Life?

Applied to Married Life:

Anna: “I need you to understand me, I need you to be more gentle with me, I need you to do what you say… And you, what do you need?”
Luke: “I need to give my life in gratitude for your love and for the Love of Christ, who created me for you. That’s why I ask Mary to take me into Her Heart, so that with Her, my spirit can rejoice in God, so that with Her, He can see the humiliation of the servant of the Slave of the Lord.”
Anna: “You’re right. I was letting myself be guided by worldly criteria. I also want to be in Mary, and moved by Her, to give you my life out of love for you.”

Mother,

I want to be in Your Immaculate Heart. It is my only Lifesaver, because only You know how to lead me to the Heart of Jesus, so I can have the same feelings as Christ toward my husband. Blessed be the Good Shepherd.