Monthly Archives: June 2025

The Precious Longing for Communion. Reflection for marriages John 17:11b-19

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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.

We belong to the Father. Reflection for marriages John 17:1-11a

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From the Gospel according to John17:1-11a

Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said,“Father, the hour has come.Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you,just as you gave him authority over all people,so that your son may give eternal life to all you gave him.Now this is eternal life,that they should know you, the only true God,and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.I glorified you on earthby accomplishing the work that you gave me to do.Now glorify me, Father, with you,with the glory that I had with you before the world began.
“I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world.They belonged to you, and you gave them to me,and they have kept your word.Now they know that everything you gave me is from you,because the words you gave to me I have given to them,and they accepted them and truly understood that I came from you,and they have believed that you sent me.I pray for them.I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me,because they are yours, and everything of mine is yoursand everything of yours is mine,and I have been glorified in them.And now I will no longer be in the world,but they are in the world, while I am coming to you”
The Gospel of the Lord

We Belong to the Father
Lord, You tell us that we were the Father’s first—that we belong to Him—and that He gave us to You. You say we’ve kept Your Word, and then You pray to the Father for us, those of us who are still in the world, reminding Him again that we are His.
We are Yours, Lord. We belong to the Father. We are His children, Your friends, and Your brothers. And both You and the Father pray for us. So, what should we be afraid of? Nothing—except failing to live according to Your Word. Everything else, we leave in Your hands. Thank You, Lord. We trust in You completely!

Applied to Married Life:
Steve: I’m feeling really down, love. I’m scared. Nothing seems to be working out lately. It’s like everything I try just falls apart. I don’t know what to do anymore. Sometimes I ask myself—where is God in all of this? Why isn’t He answering my prayers?
Anne: My darling, God is with us. He loves us more than we can imagine, and He’s taking care of us—always. Even in this pain, there’s a chance to grow closer to Him, to trust Him more, to give ourselves more completely to Him. And the beautiful thing is that we’re in this together. Our marriage gives us a special grace—the love of Christ is alive in our relationship, in our acts of love. So the harder things get, the more we need to trust in Him and the closer we should draw to each other. That’s how His love will win.
Steve: You’re right. My pride makes me afraid of failure—it makes me want things to go my way. But I know God’s plan is different… and so much better. I want to love more in these moments, to be more united with you, and to let God work through our love. I need more prayer, more time with the sacraments—and I know He’ll do the rest. I love you deeply.

Mother Mary,
Help us to truly understand how much You and the Father love us. Then we’ll know that with You, there’s nothing to fear. Thank You, Mother.

We are not alone. Reflection for marriages John 16:29-33

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From the Gospel according to John
16:29-33

The disciples said to Jesus,
“Now you are talking plainly, and not in any figure of speech.
Now we realize that you know everything
and that you do not need to have anyone question you.
Because of this we believe that you came from God.”
Jesus answered them, “Do you believe now?
Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived
when each of you will be scattered to his own home
and you will leave me alone.
But I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
I have told you this so that you might have peace in me.
In the world you will have trouble,
but take courage, I have conquered the world.”

We Are Not Alone

The Lord was leaving and preparing them for it, but He was not leaving His disciples alone. In addition to reminding them that only in God can true Peace be found, He promised to send them the Holy Spirit.

What does He ask of us? That we remain in Him. The Lord is WITH us, and if we are able to know Him better, we will find Him WITHIN us.

We know the world pulls us away and can lead us to ruin—some of us have experienced this. But also, by the Grace of God, we have discovered that by living united to Christ, being faithful, and fighting every day, we can remain in Him. We are not alone—the Lord is always with us. And best of all, the Lord has already won; may He find us fighting on the right side, by His side.

Applied to Married Life

Mary: I can’t take it anymore. Sometimes I feel that between work, the kids, family, the end of the school year… I have no strength left!
Ryan: Darling, count on me—you’re not alone!
Mary: Thank you, Javi. I forget that you’re by my side and try to do everything on my own, with my own strength… and that’s when I break down.
Ryan: What if from now on, we try to find peace for our souls every day?
Mary: Are you signing me up for a massage center.
Ryan’We’ll do something even better! Let’s go to Adoration together, to experience that He is always among us, and that only with Him can we handle everything.

Mother,

We ask you to teach us to live in You, so that we may live in the Lord.

Witnesses of the Resurrection. Reflection for marriages. Luke 24:46-53

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From the Gospel according to Luke. Lk24:46-53

Jesus said to his disciples: “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

Then he led them out as far as Bethany, raised his hands, and blessed them. As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven.
They did him homage and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were continually in the temple praising God.

The Gospel of the Lord

Witnesses of the Resurrection

Christ ended His earthly life by blessing us, ascending into Heaven, and promising us the coming of the Holy Spirit. That’s why, even though He was leaving, His disciples returned filled with great joy.
This is the kind of joy all married couples are called to live. Our lives and our marriages aren’t meant to be sad journeys. Even with challenges—even with the cross—Christ is always among us. Our “almost nothing” lies in making Him present through daily prayer, allowing Him to work in us. And in return, He gives us His “almost everything”: a deep joy that flows from the heart of the ones who recognize the call to eternal love and communion—with Him and with their spouse.

Applied to Married Life:

Louise: What an amazing change we’ve gone through, haven’t we? Do you remember how there used to be so much sadness in our home?
Joe: Of course I do. Now, whenever I see a couple in crisis, I don’t just feel sorry for their pain, I feel even more for what they’re missing out on, what we’ve started to experience now.
Louise: Well, well… Let’s not forget how long it took us to truly understand and start building our marriage for real.
Joe: Yeah, no doubt. But everything started to change when we began praying. Little by little, the Lord found His way into our lives and into our marriage.
Louise: No doubt. But we can’t let our guard down, right? We haven’t done our couple’s prayer yet today, so since we’re already kind of “lifted up,” let’s take the opportunity and start now.
Joe: You never miss a beat. I’m so lucky to have you. You’re the one who’s lifted up for real!

Mother,

Help us to keep our eyes on the heavenly gifts the Lord promises, and to become living witnesses of His presence in our sacrament. Thank you, Mother.