Monthly Archives: May 2025

The Best Use of the Will. Reflection for marriages. Saint John 14:6–14

Gospel of the Day

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Saint John 14:6–14

At that time, Jesus said to Thomas:

“I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

If you know Me, you will also know My Father. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.”

Philip said to Him:

“Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”

Jesus said to him:

“Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know Me, Philip? Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words I say to you I do not speak on My own. The Father, who dwells in Me, is doing His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me. Or at least believe because of the works themselves.

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I do, and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in My name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”

The Best Use of the Will

It is deeply moving to contemplate how the Father is in the Son, and the Son in the Father. It’s a perfect communion, and from it, we have much to learn.

The Son represents the Father—He has the Father’s complete trust. He speaks only what the Father wants to say, and acts exactly as the Father would act.

At this point, one might ask: And what about my own will?

But here’s the truth: the best use of your will is to surrender it.

In doing so, there is no room for selfishness, laziness, anger, greed, lust, or envy.

Whoever surrenders their will to God’s Will can never go wrong.

Applying It to Married Life

Pablo: Carolina, I’ve deleted a few words from my vocabulary.

Carolina: Oh really? Which ones?

Pablo: “I feel like…”, “I’d prefer…”, “I need…”

Carolina: Why those?

Pablo: Because I’ve realised that I prefer to do what pleases you. That way, I’m not focused on myself. That’s what love is, right?

Carolina: That is love, my dear. Come here, because I feel like, I’d prefer, and I need to give you a huge kiss. You’re wonderful!

Mother,

Today, as we pray the Our Father, we want to pause on that beautiful phrase:

“Thy will be done.”

Yes, Mother, we surrender our will. We are yours.

What would you have us do?

Amen.

So We Never Doubt Again. Reflection for marriages. Saint John 6:1–15

Gospel of the Day

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Saint John 6:1–15

At that time, Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd followed Him, because they had seen the signs He was performing on the sick.

Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with His disciples. The Jewish Passover was near.

Lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward Him, Jesus said to Philip:

“Where can we buy bread for these people to eat?”

He said this to test him, for He Himself knew what He was going to do.

Philip answered Him:

“Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to have a little.”

One of His disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to Him:

“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?”

Jesus said:

“Make the people sit down.”

There was much grass in that place. So they sat down, about five thousand men in number.

Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were seated—as much as they wanted—and the same with the fish.

When they had all had enough, He said to His disciples:

“Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.”

So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

When the people saw the sign that He had done, they said:

“This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

Realising that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by Himself.

So We Never Doubt Again

Just as in the beginning, humanity underwent the original test to discover its identity, now we must go through the trial of faith—until we come to truly understand that we are children in the Son, that God is our Father, and that He acts like a Father.

We need to reach the point where we live with complete trust in Him, so that we may be born of the Spirit.

Applying It to Married Life

Carlos: I still remember the day I said to myself, totally convinced: “Our marriage has no solution.” And it was true—humanly, it had no solution. But then Mary intervened, and pulled us out of that bottomless pit.

Marta: There have been so many situations God has rescued us from that I can’t understand how we can still have doubts sometimes.

Carlos: Exactly. After delivering us from addictions, from attachments, from disorder, from pride… it’s enough never to doubt again.

Marta: Jesus, I trust in You.

Carlos: Jesus, I trust in You.

Mother,

I believe—but increase my faith.

Praised be the Lord forever.

Conjugal Creed. Reflection for marriages. Saint John 3:31–36

Gospel of the Day

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Saint John 3:31–36

“He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. He who comes from heaven is above all. He bears witness to what He has seen and heard, yet no one accepts His testimony. Whoever does accept His testimony has certified that God is truthful.

For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for He gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in His hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; but whoever refuses to believe in the Son will not see life, for the wrath of God remains upon him.”

Conjugal Creed

After God “invented” becoming man to reveal who He is—to speak our language and live our life—the least we can do is believe in Him.

He who is above all humbled Himself to our level, to make Himself understood through His Word and His life.

Now it’s our move. His effort and His sacrifice—doesn’t it deserve a firm decision to believe and follow Him? Of course!

On this decision depends our conversion to the Life that comes from above.

Applying It to Married Life

Pedro: How has your view of life changed since you fell in love with the Lord?

Isabel: Oh, I’d take less time telling you what hasn’t changed—because everything has changed.

Pedro: And if we focus on your view of marriage, what stands out most?

Isabel: That I exist for you; that you are my suitable help, the one God gave me to reach Him; that my mission is to offer myself for your salvation, united to the Sacrifice of Christ; that you and I are one; that we were created different but complementary… and so many more. You say some now.

Pedro: That we are united by the love of Christ, because we share in it through our Sacrament; that we truly know ourselves when we give ourselves to each other; that the marital embrace is sacred—a continuation of the Eucharist in which spouses do what He did; that when you deserve it least is when you need me most; that by obeying you, I obey Christ; and that from our mutual submission, a beautiful harmony is born… Like you said, there are countless truths.

Isabel: It really is a conjugal creed. Glory to God, who has transformed our lives!

Pedro: Glory to Him. May we always view our love from above.

Mother,

Because we have believed in Him, we give ourselves to one another as to the Lord.

Praised be He forever!