From the Gospel according to Mark 4:21-25

Jesus said to his disciples, “Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light. Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear.”

He also told them, “Take care what you hear. The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you. To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

The gospel of the Lord

Love: A Gift or a Transaction?

The gospel last statement might seem a bit unfair, but it isn’t. We could rephrase it this way: Whoever loves selflessly, through God’s grace, will receive even more. But whoever engages in relationships only for personal gain will ultimately lose even what they think they have.

What is temporary eventually disappears, leaving nothing behind.

So, when it comes to my relationship with my spouse—Is it rooted in genuine love, or am I more focused on what I can get out of it?

Applied to Married Life:

Andrew: You know what they say, “You love me as long as it benefits you.”

Ana: That’s not true! I love you for who you are, not for what you can give me.

Andrew: Then why do you get so upset when I don’t meet your expectations?

Ana: I point out things you could change because I care about you and want the best for you.

Andrew: If that were the case, you wouldn’t get angry or stay upset with me for days.

Ana: You’re right about that.

Andrew: So, do you love me despite my flaws?

Ana: Yes, I do. I just need to work on letting go of my pride so that your shortcomings don’t affect me so much.

Andrew: Thank you for admitting that, my love. That shows your humility and the depth of your love.

Mother,

We desire only God and true unity. May He be praised forever.

From the Gospel according to Mark  4:1-20

On another occasion, Jesus began to teach by the sea. A very large crowd gathered around him so that he got into a boat on the sea and sat down. And the whole crowd was beside the sea on land. And he taught them at length in parables, and in the course of his instruction he said to them, “Hear this! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep. And when the sun rose, it was scorched and it withered for lack of roots. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it and it produced no grain.

And some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit. It came up and grew and yielded thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.” He added, “Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.”

And when he was alone, those present along with the Twelve
questioned him about the parables. He answered them, “The mystery of the Kingdom of God has been granted to you. But to those outside everything comes in parables, so tha they may look and see but not perceive, and hear and listen but not understand, in order that they may not be converted and be forgiven.”

Jesus said to them, “Do you not understand this parable?
Then how will you understand any of the parables? The sower sows the word. These are the ones on the path where the word is sown. As soon as they hear, Satan comes at once and takes away the word sown in them. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground who, when they hear the word, receive it at once with joy.
But they have no roots; they last only for a time. Then when tribulation or persecution comes because of the word,
they quickly fall away. Those sown among thorns are another sort. They are the people who hear the word, but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word, and it bears no fruit. But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.”

The Spiritual Display Window

Today’s Gospel highlights the importance of having the right disposition of heart when welcoming the Lord and His Word. But what does that mean? It’s like a display window for the soul. Just as storefront displays capture our attention, inviting us to discover something valuable—something that enhances our lives, makes us feel better, facilitates our tasks, sparks creativity, entertains us, or lifts our spirits—the same applies to our spiritual lives.

To truly appreciate the “display windows of the soul,” we must turn away from worldly distractions and focus on what genuinely enriches our spirit. True beauty, lasting peace, divine grace, and profound joy come from God. We cultivate this awareness through silent prayer and a continuous pursuit of a deeper relationship with Him.

Only love brings real happiness. Only true connection and unity fulfill us. Let’s not be deceived by superficial distractions.

Applied to Married Life

Jhon: You know, I’ve noticed that the more I get caught up in worldly concerns, the more distant I feel from both you and God.

Myriam: I feel the same way. Whenever I need to find an outfit for a wedding or special event, I get so wrapped up in fashion trends that I neglect prayer—and even distance myself from you. I become so focused on appearances that I lose sight of what really matters.

Jhon: Let’s help each other stay grounded in God’s love and our love for each other. That way, we can keep our hearts centered on what truly matters. It’s not easy to live in this world without becoming attached to it, but we can offer our struggles to God and grow through them.

Myriam: Exactly. It would be so much easier if we could just wear a religious habit and not worry about these things! But our calling is to live in the world without letting it define us. Let’s support each other in staying focused on what’s truly important.

Blessed Mother,

We want to always be open to receiving God’s grace. We love Him deeply, and we love each other deeply. May His name be praised!

From the Gospel according to Mark 3:22-30

The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said of Jesus,”He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and”By the prince of demons he drives out demons.”
Summoning them, he began to speak to them in parables,”How can Satan drive out Satan?If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.And if a house is divided against itself,that house will not be able to stand.And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided,he cannot stand;that is the end of him.But no one can enter a strong man’s house to plunder his propertyunless he first ties up the strong man.Then he can plunder his house.Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemiesthat people utter will be forgiven them.But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spiritwill never have forgiveness,but is guilty of an everlasting sin.”For they had said, “He has an unclean spirit”

The Gospel of the Lord

Conquering Self-Love

Self-love is one of the greatest threats to marriage, and it’s a powerful one. How can we get rid of it if we don’t first restrain it? Because often, my self-love outweighs my love for my spouse.
The solution is to bind it. But how do we do that? Jesus gives the answer in another Gospel passage: “If anyone wants to be my disciple, they must deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow me.” This means denying myself—my desires, preferences, opinions, and demands. Tie it down first! Once self-love is weakened, we can cast it out and make room for God in our hearts.

Applied to Married Life:

Nacho: Silvia, I like to eat before two o’clock. Well, today it’s three, and I hold on by the grace of God.
Silvia: Nacho, I like to have everything under control at home. Well, I hold on by the grace of God, even with the trash sitting in the kitchen since yesterday.
Nacho: I don’t like staying at home quietly. Well, I hold on by the grace of God and don’t make plans.
Silvia: I like you to listen to me attentively and not do anything while I’m talking. Well, I hold on by the grace of God and let you fix the toaster while I speak.

Mother,

Help us to conquer self-love. Glory to the Holy Spirit!