Gospel of the Day

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Mark 5:1–20

At that time, Jesus and his disciples came to the other side of the sea, to the region of the Gerasenes.
As soon as he stepped out of the boat, a man with an unclean spirit came out from the tombs to meet him. He lived among the tombs, and no one could restrain him, not even with chains. Many times he had been bound with shackles and chains, but he tore the chains apart and broke the shackles in pieces, and no one had the strength to subdue him. Night and day he would cry out among the tombs and in the mountains and bruise himself with stones.

When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and knelt before him, crying out in a loud voice:
‘What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name, do not torment me!’
For Jesus had been saying to him, ‘Come out of this man, unclean spirit!’

Then Jesus asked him, ‘What is your name?’
He replied, ‘My name is Legion, for we are many.’
And he begged Jesus repeatedly not to send them out of the region.

Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The unclean spirits begged him, ‘Send us into the pigs, that we may enter them.’
Jesus granted their request. Then the unclean spirits came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd—about two thousand in number—rushed down the steep bank into the sea and were drowned.

The herdsmen fled and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people came to see what had happened. They approached Jesus and saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. Those who had witnessed the event described what had happened to the demoniac and to the pigs. Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed begged to go with him. But Jesus did not permit him and said,
‘Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.’

So the man went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and all the people were amazed.

Not Just the Superficial

At first, the Gerasenes focused only on the “exterior” consequences of Jesus’ actions—the swineherds lost two thousand pigs, which led to Jesus being asked to leave their land.

Then Jesus presented them with a greater miracle, sending the man who had been freed from the legion of unclean spirits to testify about the true work of God and the arrival of His Kingdom among them.

The Gerasenes, seeing the once-possessed man—who had been under demonic control for so long—finally believed.

When we experience the Lord in our lives, let us not remain on the surface. Instead, let us delve deeper and see the Gospel reflected in our own experiences. In doing so, we may come to believe and even be sent to proclaim it.

Applying It to Married Life

Lorena: Today, Marino, I had a dream in which Jesus and I were being persecuted, and we hid together so that we would not be seen.
Marino: Wow! What a strange dream. Have you prayed about it to see if God was trying to send you a message, Lorena?
Lorena: No, but you’re right—I should pray about it.

(A few days later)
Lorena: Now I understand what the Lord was telling me through the dream and what He wants from me.
Marino: And what is that?
Lorena: That when I am pursued by temptations, He wants me to take refuge in the love of His Heart. And that same love of His is what unites you and me, Marino.
Marino: I love your dreams…

Mother,

The Lord is always at work in our lives. May we see His providential hand in everything and everyone. Praise be to God!

From the Gospel according to Luke 2:22-40

When the days were completed for their purificatio naccording to the law of Moses,Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord,just as it is written in the law of the Lord,Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,and to offer the sacrifice ofa pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons,in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.This man was righteous and devout,awaiting the consolation of Israel,and the Holy Spirit was upon him.It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.He came in the Spirit into the temple;and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:
“Now, Master, you may let your servant goin peace, according to your word,for my eyes have seen your salvation,which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples:a light for revelation to the Gentiles,and glory for your people Israel.”
The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,“Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel,and to be a sign that will be contradicted-and you yourself a sword will pierce-so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”There was also a prophetess, Anna,the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.She was advanced in years,having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage,and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.She never left the temple,but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.And coming forward at that very time,she gave thanks to God and spoke about the childt to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.
When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord,they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom;and the favor of God was upon him.

Never Alone

It is evident who orchestrated this moment: the Holy Spirit. Jesus never acted by Himself; He was always accompanied by the Father and the Holy Spirit. Here, we see how both Simeon and Anna are guided by the Spirit. The Gospel explicitly states it, but even if it didn’t, who else could have revealed to them that this Child was the Savior?
Jesus was never alone.

Applied to Married Life:

Alice: James, I rely on you more than you realize.
James: And I rely on you too, Alice. I used to be more independent, but now I understand how much I depend on God first and then on you. Each day, it becomes clearer why God brought us together.
Alice: God made us with limitations so we would recognize how much we need Him and each other.
James: It’s surprising that some people haven’t realized this yet. They will have to go through a lot of hardship before they do.
Alice: Let’s pray for them.

Mother,

If even the Lord, being God, chose not to be alone, how much more do we, who are so small, need companionship? Blessed be the Lord, who is always with us.

From the Gospel according to Mark 4:35-41

On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples:“Let us cross to the other side.”Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was.And other boats were with him.A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat,so that it was already filling up.Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion.They woke him and said to him,“Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”He woke up,rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!”The wind ceased and there was great calm.Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified?Do you not yet have faith?”They were filled with great awe and said to one another,“Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?

Passions Without Faith

There are two ways to face life’s challenges: without faith, which stirs up all kinds of emotions—fear, doubt, suspicion, blame, sadness, and anger—or with faith, trusting that we are loved by God.

In today’s Gospel, the disciples question Jesus’ care for them when they ask, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are perishing?” They don’t doubt His power but His love. How sad it is to question God’s love.

Applyed Marriage Life:

Marisa: Lord, forgive me for the times I’ve doubted that Javi is the right man for me.
James: I’m glad you’re asking for forgiveness, but honestly, I’m the one you’ve hurt the most with that doubt.
Marisa: Yes, I hurt you too, but above all, I offended God by not trusting in His love when He chose you to be my husband.
James: So basically, I’m just a challenge God sent you to help with your spiritual growth?
Marisa: Not at all! You are the wonderful husband God gave me out of love. When I forget that, I fall into fear, suspicion, and sadness.
James: Well, if you see me as your wonderful husband, that’s good enough for me.
Marisa: Haha, of course, silly! I’m so happy with you.

Mother,

Nothing can separate us from God’s love. May He be praised forever!