From the Gospel according to Matthew
5:43-48

Jesus said to his disciples:
“You have heard that it was said,
You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
But I say to you, love your enemies
and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your heavenly Father,
for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,
and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?
Do not the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet your brothers only,
what is unusual about that?
Do not the pagans do the same?
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Fullness.

Lord, You have come to bring fullness. Fullness to the law, fullness to marriage, fullness to love, fullness to life. And fullness is found in loving as You love, always doing the Father’s will, and in this way, You teach us to be children.

But what is the Father’s will for my marriage? It is that I love my husband always—no matter how he is, no matter how he responds—with Your same Love, a love that gives itself to the extreme, a perfect love.
Lord, may Your grace help me to place love where there is none, to bring joy where there is sadness, to bring hope where there is despair.
Because with You, we can do all things; without You, we are nothing.

Brought into marital life:

(During spousal prayer)
Carmen: Luis, I ask you to forgive me because sometimes I don’t know how to love you. I’m not your suitable helper when you’re “grumpy,” and I don’t see how much you’re in need—I only look at myself, at what I have to endure…
I know this is not what You want from me, Lord. Give me Your grace to love always, in every circumstance.
Luis: Carmen, don’t worry, I forgive you. I know I can be difficult at times because I trust little in the Lord, and the weight of life drags me down.
Lord, help me to trust in You. I know You are my Father, and our life is in Your hands, that all things work for our good—but sometimes I doubt. Forgive me, Lord. And forgive me too, my wife. How truly needy we are!

Mother,

Give us a compassionate heart and the joy of knowing we are cared for and sustained by You.
Praised be God who always loves us.