GOSPEL
At that time: The Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him. Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all and ordered them not to make him known. This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: ‘Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets; a bruised reed he will not break, and a smouldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory; and in his name the Gentiles will hope.’
Today the world demands a great deal from each of us if it is to remain a better place — and at times it feels as though everything is against us, even within our own marriage.
Man was created out of love and called to govern the world through love. But too often, we try to do so by imposing love, asserting our opinions (even good ones), forgetting that the best way to love others begins with loving ourselves rightly.
How essential it is to treat others as we ourselves would wish to be treated. We have Christ as our model — He who, despite doing good by giving Himself completely, was still hated and hunted.
And when He found out they were plotting against Him, He withdrew quietly. He didn’t need to be seen or praised — He simply carried on, in silence, doing good. And that silent witness attracted many more to Him.
How often this happens in marriage — when one of us wants to be right, no matter the cost, to come out on top in every disagreement.
But our response must be silence — not out of resignation, but out of love.
There is a deep and often forgotten strength in silence. It calms the heart and allows us to pass on God’s love — even to those who criticise, belittle, or misunderstand us.
Grounded in Married Life
Gabriel: I’m so tired of hearing what people are saying — about what we’ve done or haven’t done. No matter how hard you try, all you get back is criticism and resistance.
Beatrice: What matters, Gabriel, is that we’re doing it with good intention, out of love for others.
Gabriel: I know… but sometimes I just want to snap back and set the record straight.
Beatrice: That won’t help anyone. We need to keep giving ourselves unconditionally — with all the love we can.
We’ll make mistakes, of course — we’re not perfect — but our answer must always be silence. In the good and the bad.
Gabriel: You’re right, Beatrice. It’s just as important to receive praise in silence as it is to receive criticism.
Beatrice: Exactly. We take the criticism as an invitation to grow — and the praise as a chance to glorify God through our work.
Mother,
How much we have to learn from your quiet strength and simplicity — you who pondered everything silently in your heart. May we dwell in the cloister of your Immaculate Heart, offering every word, every silence, to the glory of your Son. Blessed be God.