From the Gospel according to Luke17: 20-25

Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”
Then he said to his disciples, “The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. People will tell you, ‘There he is!’ or ‘Here he is!’ Do not go running off after them. For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.

The Gospel of the Lord

So Deeply Within

Similarly to the times of Jesus, when they did not appreciate His presence among them, today, though the Lord is everywhere, we often don’t recognize the gift we have. But the kingdom of God is here, among us—a blessing beyond measure. When we read the writings of the great Saints, we see how aware they were of God’s love and His presence, deeply within us.

Applied to Married Life:

Rob: You know, Helen, today in prayer, as I was meditating on the Gospel, the words of Jesus to the Samaritan woman kept coming to mind: “If you knew the gift of God…” And this phrase echoed in my heart over and over: “If you knew the gift of God…”
Helen: That’s beautiful, Rob. And what do you think the Lord is trying to tell you with that?
Rob: You know how much I love you, how captivated I still am by your smile, and how important you are to me. But there’s still so much for me to discover about the true worth that God has given you and the immense gift you are to me. I want to understand this gift fully so that I can always treat you as God wishes for you to be treated.
Helen: I believe God loves me deeply to send me this message through you. But I feel that every message He gives you is also for me, so I ask the Lord to help me discover the incredible gift that you are to me, to the point that, in loving you, I love Him.

Mother,

We know that a sword pierced Your Heart at the crucifixion of Your Son, yet thanks to His sacrifice, we can have Him with us in every Eucharist. Thank you, Mother. Blessed are you.

From the Gospel according to Luke. Lk 17:11-19

Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.

One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 

Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

The Gospel of the Lord

Filled with the Holy Fragrance

I am increasingly aware of God’s action in my life and in our marriage. More and more, I realize that it is not I who make things happen, but rather the Spirit of the Lord who acts. But do I remember to praise and thank Him every time? Many people desire to be mindful of the Lord at every moment. This could be a good way to do that: praising and thanking Him for everything that happens in my life and in our marriage.

Applied to married life:

Stephen: How was today, Natalie?

Natalie: A wonderful day, Esteban. I am overjoyed with the fruits that Our Mother has brought forth in so many marriages through the retreat.

Stephen: That’s amazing. You look radiant! It’s clear that God’s Love has touched your soul and left it imbued with His Holy Fragrance. Have you thanked Him?

Natalie: No, I haven’t! How could I without you? I was waiting so we could praise God together. Shall we go adore the Blessed Sacrament, like we do every day?

Stephen: That sounds perfect. I love being with Him and with you—the two for whom I have given my life. We owe so much to the Lord…

Mother,

May we never be ungrateful, neither for the good that happens nor for the difficult things God permits, always for our purification and for a greater good. Blessed and praised be Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, who does so much good in our hearts as loving spouses. Amen.

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.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Mark

Mk 12:38-44

In the course of his teaching Jesus said to the crowds,

“Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes

and accept greetings in the marketplaces,

seats of honour in synagogues,

and places of honour at banquets.

They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext

recite lengthy prayers.

They will receive a very severe condemnation.”

He sat down opposite the treasury

and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury.

Many rich people put in large sums.

A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents.

Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them,

“Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more

than all the other contributors to the treasury.

For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth,

but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had,

her whole livelihood.”

The word of the Lord.

 

Empowering Gaze

Fortunately for me, God doesn’t measure by objective standards but by the intention and heart we put into what we offer. This is the Heart of Jesus, who loves me so much that He wants to feel loved by me. He eagerly looks for any small desire, any small gesture I make to Him, to give infinite value in His Heart and present it to the Father. Today, I see His overflowing generosity, not only in what He gives me but also in how He makes shine every small act of love I offer to Him or to my husband.

Give me a heart like Yours, Lord, so that I may appreciate my husband’s acts of love with that empowering gaze of Your Mercy.

 

Applied to Married Life

Miryan: When I learned from Saint John Paul that, as a wife, I should receive your love as my husband—not by my own standards, but by God’s standard—I asked the Lord to grant me this, and I began to contemplate your acts of love from His perspective. I used to see them as small and insignificant, and I dismissed them for that reason, but the Lord is helping me truly savour them.

Juan: That’s beautiful, Miryan. Thank you for sharing this with me. It’s true I’m not very detail-oriented and a bit rough around the edges, but I want to improve in how I show my love to you.

Miryan: Don’t worry, Juan; I see your efforts and enjoy your good intentions toward me. I’ve also realised you love me far more than I imagined. I love you just as you are.

Juan: Thank you for valuing me so much and for recognising the love I have for you in my heart. I love you deeply.

 

Mother,

How much you elevate and beautify each act of love I offer to You and to my husband. May we look at each other this way as a married couple. Praised be the Lord who does so much with so little.