Gospel
From the Gospel according to John17:11b-19
Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying:“Holy Father, keep them in your namethat you have given me,so that they may be one just as we are one.When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me,and I guarded them, and none of them was lostexcept the son of destruction,in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled.But now I am coming to you.I speak this in the worldso that they may share my joy completely.I gave them your word, and the world hated them,because they do not belong to the worldany more than I belong to the world.I do not ask that you take them out of the worldbut that you keep them from the Evil One.They do not belong to the worldany more than I belong to the world.Consecrate them in the truth.Your word is truth.As you sent me into the world,so I sent them into the world.And I consecrate myself for them,so that they also may be consecrated in truth.
The Gospel of the Lord
The Precious Longing for Communion
As we read this Gospel, a deep thanksgiving wells up in our hearts to the Lord for His immense love, for how He cares for us and watches over us so that we do not get lost. How much He desires to keep us united, in His Heart! The Father has placed in our hearts as spouses a deep longing for communion, for intimacy; and that longing is only fulfilled when we are united to the Father in Jesus.
From the world comes the desire to dominate the other, to be above, to impose, to use one another. From God comes the desire to be humble, gentle, meek; to be like Jesus.
As spouses, we are called to guard and care for one another; just as Jesus does.
Thank You, Lord, for showing us the way, for accompanying us and giving us grace through the sacraments, in the Eucharist, in our sacrament of marriage, and in prayer. Thank You for keeping us united.
With You, we can be in the world without being of the world. To give You glory, which is what we were created for. Blessed are You.
Applied to Married Life:
Mary: You look really thoughtful. Come on, tell me what’s on your heart.
Thomas: I was just thinking that when I see you as a gift that God has given me, when I see you as my suitable help in every moment, I feel such peace, and I get emotional thinking about what we are called to live, and also about what we are already living. I’m not sure I know how to explain it well.
Mary: Of course you do, I understand perfectly. That happens to me too. And I bet that when you start seeing me not so well, doubt sneaks into your heart, and division starts to creep in, and with it, the world’s ways begin to take over?
Thomas: Yes, exactly! How do you know that?
Mary: Because the same thing happens to me. That’s why it’s so important that we stay in a state of grace and share what we’re going through so we can help each other.
Thomas: Honestly, since we discovered how powerful it is to be in a state of grace—to go to Mass together, to go to confession, and to live our marriage as a gift and a welcome in the little details—our life has completely changed.
Mary: Yes, it’s crazy to be in the world but not of the world. Our Mother takes such good care of us.
Mother,
keep us united, cover us with your mantle and protect us so that we may always remain in communion with your Son; in the unity we long for and that only He can give us.