Gospel

‘You are the Christ.
Mark 8:27-33

The Son of Man must suffer many things.’
At that time: Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that I am?’ And they told him, ‘John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.’ And he asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered him, ‘You are the Christ.’ And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.
  And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.’

The Gospel of the Lord

Alright, But I Don’t Understand

Sometimes, we believe that loving our spouse or children means finding ways to ease their suffering or take it away entirely. But what if that suffering is a cross willed by God for their own redemption—or even for the redemption of others?
We must be careful when faced with the suffering of our loved ones. Instead of following our own human instincts, we should seek God’s purpose in it. Otherwise, we may unknowingly become part of a temptation that leads them away from the Lord’s path.

Applied to Married Life:

Catherine: The Lord is asking me to fast from self-love by not defending myself.
Luke: I get that, but what my sister said to you was completely unfair. They’re going to think you’re avoiding them on purpose.
Catherine: Let them think whatever they want.
Luke: Well, I’ll speak to them then.
Catherine: No, my love. Please respect God’s will. He wants me to fast from self-love by not defending myself, and this is the path He has given me. Please, don’t be the one to tempt me away from it.
Luke: Alright, alright… but I don’t understand.

Mother,

Help us to accept the crosses God permits for us and for our loved ones, as a path to following Christ. He is the Lord.