GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to John

Jn 15:1-8

Jesus said to his disciples:

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.

He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit,

and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.

You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.

Remain in me, as I remain in you.

Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own

unless it remains on the vine,

so neither can you unless you remain in me.

I am the vine, you are the branches.

Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,

because without me you can do nothing.

Anyone who does not remain in me

will be thrown out like a branch and wither;

people will gather them and throw them into a fire

and they will be burned.

If you remain in me and my words remain in you,

ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.

By this is my Father glorified,

that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”

The word of the Lord

 

Abundant Fruit.

Bearing abundant fruit—this is the Father’s plan for our marriage. And not just any fruit, but an abundance. This is what can happen if we remain in the Lord.

Now, the challenge is to remain in Him. And even while doing so, to understand that He will prune us so that we may bear even more abundant fruit.

Applied to married life:

María: Even though I have given my life to God, I still feel humiliated by you in certain situations. How long will this continue?

Pedro: First, until I learn to be more considerate towards you. And second, until our marriage bears many fruits of love. These trials are typical of a marriage that God wants to make holy. What do you think?

María: Seeing it that way, it gives me a lot of hope.

Pedro: Stay with the Lord, and you will see how joyful you become.

 

Mother,

May we never stray, even the slightest bit, from Your Immaculate Heart. Thank You! Blessed Mother.

 

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to John

Jn 14:27-31a

Jesus said to his disciples:

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.

Not as the world gives do I give it to you.

Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.

You heard me tell you,

‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’

If you loved me,

you would rejoice that I am going to the Father;

for the Father is greater than I.

And now I have told you this before it happens,

so that when it happens you may believe.

I will no longer speak much with you,

for the ruler of the world is coming.

He has no power over me,

but the world must know that I love the Father

and that I do just as the Father has commanded me.”

The word of the Lord

 

Peace amid misery.

What a mysterious relationship that binds you, Lord. Full of humility (“The Father is greater than I”), with obedience (“As the Father has commanded me, so I act”), with love (“The world must understand that I love the Father”), and with peace (“My peace I give you”). What kind of love is this, Lord? The one you want to share with us, though we struggle to receive it. What do you see when you look at the Father? How much of Him is in your heart? Mysterious love—profound, full, overflowing…

Of course, I want to reach that love in our marriage. But am I willing to drink from the cup of humility? And from that of obedience? You, Lord, do not give peace as the world gives it—imposing it—but as you give it, like the grain of wheat that falls to the ground and dies, bearing fruit in peace. May my heart not be troubled, Lord, and may I dare to take the step of truly believing in your way.

 

Applied to married life:

Paco: It seems like we’re a bit stuck. We’ve had good moments, even great ones, but now, it feels like we’re not moving forward.

Mayte: Saint Teresa, in The Interior Castle, spoke of pride. It’s like a barrier on the spiritual path that prevents you from moving to the next level, so to speak. Do you tend to think well of your wife? Do you see her as better than yourself? Do you admire her often? Do you thank her frequently? These are the questions that can help you discover whether humility exists in your heart.

Paco: Well, the diagnosis is clear. What can I do?

Mayte: First, ask for Grace and pray often, so that the Lord reveals who you truly are. But beyond that, acts of obedience will be good for you. Does your wife correct you?

Paco: Often.

Mayte: And how do you react?

Paco: Honestly, not well. I see so many flaws in her that I don’t understand how she dares to correct me.

Mayte: Well, if instead of focusing on her, you choose to obey her, it will do you an incredible amount of good.

Paco: And what about her?

Mayte: What she has to do, that’s her concern. What about you? Do you want to experience what Christ feels in that sincere, joyful love that fills life with peace? Then do what He does, to reach with Him what He reaches. That is the prize. That is the promise.

 

Mother,

Thank you for introducing us to this Project of Love. Thank you for allowing me to live these experiences. Thanks be to God for the gift of love. I am not worthy to share these experiences with you. I love you. Praise be to the Holy Trinity!

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to John
Jn 14:21-26

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Whoever has my commandments and observes them
is the one who loves me.
Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father,
and I will love him and reveal myself to him.”
Judas, not the Iscariot, said to him,
“Master, then what happened that you will reveal yourself to us
and not to the world?”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“Whoever loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.
Whoever does not love me does not keep my words;
yet the word you hear is not mine
but that of the Father who sent me.

“I have told you this while I am with you.
The Advocate, the Holy Spirit
whom the Father will send in my name–
he will teach you everything
and remind you of all that I told you.”

The word of the Lord

 

Two Loves in One

The one who loves will keep His Word, His commandments. And what is His commandment? That we love one another, as spouses, just as He has loved us. Therefore, I cannot love God, whom I do not see, if I do not love my spouse, whom I do see. But the reverse is also true: I cannot love my spouse except with the help of the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send, because He will teach me everything. He will teach me to love my spouse and remind me of all that Christ has said, so I may apply it to my marriage. We must strive to unify our love for God and our spouse.

 

Applied to Married Life:

Carlos: First, I loved you, but as time passed, my love has cooled, disappointed by how I judged your love for me. Then, you helped me encounter the Lord, and I fell in love with Him, but I was not united with you. Something was missing, and I was not happy. Then, I had my marital conversion, and I understood that loving God and loving you are one and the same. Now, I am complete.

Alicia: Yes, I helped you fall in love with the Lord. I saw His perfection, His mercy, and His infinite greatness, whereas with you, I saw only imperfection—I considered you unworthy of me. I endured faithfully, for God, but it was mere resignation. But then, you helped me discover and fall in love with my vocation. The process has been beautiful. Now, the Spirit is within us and guides us—it is truly amazing.

Mother,

Pray for us, Holy Mother of God, that we may be worthy to attain and enjoy the promises of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Gospel

Gospel