Monthly Archives: July 2025

Will the Excuses Be Enough? Reflection for married couples. Matthew 20:20–28

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Gospel of the Day

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew 20:20–28
Then came to him the mother of the sons of Zebedee with her sons, worshipping and asking something of him.
Who said to her:
“What wilt thou?”
She saith to him:
“Say that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left, in thy kingdom.”
And Jesus answering, said:
“You know not what you ask. Can you drink the chalice that I shall drink?”
They say to him:
“We can.”
He saith to them:
“My chalice indeed you shall drink; but to sit on my right or left hand is not mine to give to you, but to them for whom it is prepared by my Father.”
And the ten hearing it were moved with indignation against the two brethren.
But Jesus called them to him and said:
“You know that the princes of the Gentiles lord it over them; and they that are the greater exercise power upon them. It shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be the greater among you, let him be your minister. And he that will be first among you shall be your servant.
Even as the Son of man is not come to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a redemption for many.”
The Gospel of the Lord.

Will the Excuses Be Enough?

As St John of the Cross said: “At the evening of life, we will be judged on love.”
Will our “buts” and excuses really hold up? “But my husband was…”, “But my wife…” — will they matter?
What is the commandment that sums them all up?
“Hear, O Israel!”
But do we really listen to the Lord?
Like the mother of the sons of Zebedee, we ask for “reasonable” things by human standards:
“Lord, I ask that my husband would change this, because it’s not fair…”
“I ask that my son would be this or that…”
But the Lord answers: Do you know what you’re asking?
Do you truly want to be great in My eyes? Then, like the Son of Man, go and serve. Give your life.
So, let’s stop making excuses. Let’s stop pointing at what others fail to do and instead focus only on serving, giving our lives, and loving — even when it’s hard.
And who will tell my spouse what they need to change? Leave that in the Lord’s hands.
You? You focus on doing God’s will, on giving yourself, on loving.
And then — just watch what the Lord will do through the grace of your marriage.

Applied to Married Life

Mar: I can’t take it anymore. Another fight with Ángel. He just doesn’t help at all. I have to do everything myself. It’s not fair. I’ve told him a thousand times. And I keep asking the Lord to change him, at least for the sake of setting a good example for the kids.
Mentors: Mar, have you taken this to prayer? What does the Lord say?
Mar: Of course I’ve prayed about it! I tell the Lord all the time how Ángel behaves, how he doesn’t help…
Mentors: The Lord already knows how you feel. But — do you read His Word and then listen to Him? In silence, with loving attention?
Mar: Hmm… I think I talk too much and don’t listen enough…
(One month later)
Mar: Dear mentors, thank you so much for what you told me. Since we spoke, I’ve been trying to really listen to the Lord, reading His Word and actually listening… and I’ve realised that I never stop judging Ángel, always focusing on what he does wrong. I’d forgotten to see his heart, how wonderful he is, and all the good in him. I was so fixated on the bad that I lost sight of the good.
And I’ve taken literally what Jesus said about serving and giving one’s life — so I’ve stopped demanding things from him. It’s hard, but I really feel God’s help.
Mentors: What joy, Mar!
Mar: And guess what? Last night during our couple prayer, Ángel said he’s noticed my effort, that before he felt awful about all the things I used to say to him, but now he sees me more affectionate, he sees how much I love him, and he’s trying to do better — not to upset me and to help me more.
Mentors: How great is the Lord! How deeply He loves us!
And don’t let your guard down — the struggle continues, but this is the way.
Listen to the Lord, give your life, and love more each day.

Mother,

A thousand thanks for everything — especially for your Son, who shows us the way.
Help us to listen to Him, to deny ourselves, to embrace the cross of each day and to follow Him.
Praised be the Lord!

Logic of the World or of God? Reflection for married couples. Matthew 13:10–17

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Gospel of the Day
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew 13:10–17
And his disciples came and said to him:
“Why speakest thou to them in parables?”
He answered and said to them:
“Because to you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven: but to them it is not given. For he that hath, to him shall be given, and he shall abound: but he that hath not, from him shall be taken away that also which he hath.
Therefore do I speak to them in parables: because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And the prophecy of Isaias is fulfilled in them, who saith: ‘By hearing you shall hear, and shall not understand: and seeing you shall see, and shall not perceive. For the heart of this people is grown gross, and with their ears they have been dull of hearing, and their eyes they have shut: lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.’
But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. For, amen I say to you, many prophets and just men have desired to see the things that you see, and have not seen them: and to hear the things that you hear, and have not heard them.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Logic of the World or of God?
What happens when we don’t understand our spouse?
We end up just like in the Gospel: “seeing, they do not see, and hearing, they do not hear or understand.”
We know the logic of the world often contradicts the logic of God. But we are children of God, and so we are called to use His logic — to listen, to speak, and to truly understand our spouse.
The Lord grants to His friends the grace to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven. But this requires a desire to be close to Him, to know Him, to deepen our relationship with Him.
The same is true in our marriage. Our spouse desires to be truly known — and that calls us to will to love, to desire to know, and to deepen our bond (especially through praying together).
When we begin to see the world through God’s eyes, we receive that supernatural vision in which our virtues help us to “know the secrets of the Kingdom” — and to know our spouse more deeply and lovingly too.
Applied to Married Life
Judit: Lately, every time I tell you something, it’s like I’m speaking Chinese…
Bernat: Darling, I’m sorry — I don’t know what you’re trying to tell me or what I’m supposed to read between the lines. It’s not that you’re speaking Chinese, but deciphering you has become difficult…
Judit: It’s true that lately we’ve been really stressed with work, the kids’ summer camps, house-hunting… We’re both exhausted by the end of the day and we haven’t been praying together at night.
Bernat: Since our schedule has shifted these days, how about we do our couple prayer in the morning instead of evening? If not, we know it’s not going to happen. What if we woke up 30 minutes earlier to do it?
Judit: You really do have the gift of organisation! It’ll be tough at first, but it’s totally worth it. Otherwise, we both know how this summer will go… Every summer ends up being a spiritual winter, and that can’t keep happening. Actually — what if we try going to weekday Mass together too?
Bernat: I start later on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so we could go together at 8am to start the day with the Lord.
Judit: I love you so much! Thank you for taking care of us and protecting our marriage by strengthening our relationship with the Lord.
Bernat: I love you more!
Mother,
We ask you to help us un-harden our hearts — so we may see, hear, and understand… as you do.
Glory to the Lord who enables us to learn from His logic.

The Magdalene Guide. Reflection for married couples. John 20:1–2, 11–18

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Gospel of the Day

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John 20:1–2, 11–18
On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came early, while it was still dark, to the sepulchre; and she saw the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
She ran, therefore, and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them:
“They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.”
But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping. And as she wept, she stooped down and looked into the sepulchre.
And she saw two angels in white, sitting one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been laid.
They said to her:
“Woman, why weepest thou?”
She said to them:
“Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.”
When she had said this, she turned back and saw Jesus standing; and she knew not that it was Jesus.
Jesus said to her:
“Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?”
She, thinking he was the gardener, said to him:
“Sir, if thou hast taken him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.”
Jesus said to her:
“Mary.”
She turned and said to him:
“Rabboni!” (which is to say, “Master”).
Jesus said to her:
“Do not touch me, for I am not yet ascended to my Father. But go to my brethren and say to them: I ascend to my Father and to your Father, to my God and your God.”
Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples:
“I have seen the Lord, and these things he said to me.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
“The Magdalene Guide”
The 5 steps of the “Magdalene Guide” to see Christ in my spouse:
1. Rise early. Take the first step. Go out to meet him, putting him first — even when things aren’t clear or easy.
2. Don’t live with indifference. Dare to look at the pain your spouse causes you. Let that pain expand and purify your heart.
3. Persevere. Even when you can’t recognise Jesus in your spouse, especially in the midst of chores and daily pressures.
4. Don’t get dragged down by routine. Call him by name again — not based on what you want him to be, but on who he really is.
5. Don’t try to hold him back. Love him freely, without trying to possess him — loving him as God loves him.
Lord, You live in my spouse! Blessed and praised be You.
Applied to Married Life
(A conversation between Rocío and her spiritual director about her marriage to Armando)
Rocío: Father, lately I feel so alone in my marriage… as if something has died between Armando and me. We don’t argue, but we don’t really connect either. And it hurts.
Director: What do you do with that pain, Rocío?
Rocío: At first I became indifferent. But lately, during prayer, I’ve found myself silently crying. Not out of anger… but sadness. Like standing at a tomb… like Mary Magdalene.
Director: How beautiful that you see yourself there. Mary didn’t run from the empty tomb. She stayed. She wept. Sometimes, true love doesn’t act — it simply stays and weeps faithfully. And that is already hope.
Rocío: But I feel weak, like crying for him doesn’t do anything…
Director: But isn’t that how God loves us? Didn’t Jesus weep over Jerusalem, over our rejection? Tears of love are not wasted — they are seeds of resurrection. Mary wept, and the Risen One appeared to her. Because faithful tears cleanse the eyes of the soul.
Rocío: So I shouldn’t run from this pain?
Director: No. Stay, like Mary. Don’t run. Don’t accuse. Cry with God — not alone. And tell Jesus: “Here I am… not understanding, not seeing… but I won’t leave.” That kind of faithfulness is faith. And one day, like Mary, He will say your name: “Rocío”… and you’ll recognise Him again — even in your husband. And He’ll begin to show you what to do, and especially how to receive every situation with Armando.
Rocío: (emotionally) Thank you, Father… I really needed someone to remind me that to love also means to stay and to weep… but with hope — not for myself, but for Him.
Mother,
Teach me to remain in those situations I don’t understand, so I may see your Son.
Praise be to the Risen Lord!

The Magdalene Guide. Reflection for married couples. John 20:1–2, 11–18

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Gospel of the Day

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John 20:1–2, 11–18
On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came early, while it was still dark, to the sepulchre; and she saw the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
She ran, therefore, and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them:
“They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.”
But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping. And as she wept, she stooped down and looked into the sepulchre.
And she saw two angels in white, sitting one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been laid.
They said to her:
“Woman, why weepest thou?”
She said to them:
“Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.”
When she had said this, she turned back and saw Jesus standing; and she knew not that it was Jesus.
Jesus said to her:
“Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?”
She, thinking he was the gardener, said to him:
“Sir, if thou hast taken him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.”
Jesus said to her:
“Mary.”
She turned and said to him:
“Rabboni!” (which is to say, “Master”).
Jesus said to her:
“Do not touch me, for I am not yet ascended to my Father. But go to my brethren and say to them: I ascend to my Father and to your Father, to my God and your God.”
Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples:
“I have seen the Lord, and these things he said to me.”
The Gospel of the Lord.

“The Magdalene Guide”
The 5 steps of the “Magdalene Guide” to see Christ in my spouse:
1. Rise early. Take the first step. Go out to meet him, putting him first — even when things aren’t clear or easy.
2. Don’t live with indifference. Dare to look at the pain your spouse causes you. Let that pain expand and purify your heart.
3. Persevere. Even when you can’t recognise Jesus in your spouse, especially in the midst of chores and daily pressures.
4. Don’t get dragged down by routine. Call him by name again — not based on what you want him to be, but on who he really is.
5. Don’t try to hold him back. Love him freely, without trying to possess him — loving him as God loves him.
Lord, You live in my spouse! Blessed and praised be You.
Applied to Married Life
(A conversation between Rocío and her spiritual director about her marriage to Armando)
Rocío: Father, lately I feel so alone in my marriage… as if something has died between Armando and me. We don’t argue, but we don’t really connect either. And it hurts.
Director: What do you do with that pain, Rocío?
Rocío: At first I became indifferent. But lately, during prayer, I’ve found myself silently crying. Not out of anger… but sadness. Like standing at a tomb… like Mary Magdalene.
Director: How beautiful that you see yourself there. Mary didn’t run from the empty tomb. She stayed. She wept. Sometimes, true love doesn’t act — it simply stays and weeps faithfully. And that is already hope.
Rocío: But I feel weak, like crying for him doesn’t do anything…
Director: But isn’t that how God loves us? Didn’t Jesus weep over Jerusalem, over our rejection? Tears of love are not wasted — they are seeds of resurrection. Mary wept, and the Risen One appeared to her. Because faithful tears cleanse the eyes of the soul.
Rocío: So I shouldn’t run from this pain?
Director: No. Stay, like Mary. Don’t run. Don’t accuse. Cry with God — not alone. And tell Jesus: “Here I am… not understanding, not seeing… but I won’t leave.” That kind of faithfulness is faith. And one day, like Mary, He will say your name: “Rocío”… and you’ll recognise Him again — even in your husband. And He’ll begin to show you what to do, and especially how to receive every situation with Armando.
Rocío: (emotionally) Thank you, Father… I really needed someone to remind me that to love also means to stay and to weep… but with hope — not for myself, but for Him.
Mother,
Teach me to remain in those situations I don’t understand, so I may see your Son.
Praise be to the Risen Lord!

We Want to See a Sign. Reflection for married couples. Matthew 12:38–42

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Gospel of the Day

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew 12:38–42
At that time, some of the scribes and Pharisees answered Jesus, saying,
“Master, we would see a sign from thee.”
But he answered and said to them:
“An evil and adulterous generation seeketh a sign: and a sign shall not be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.
For as Jonas was in the whale’s belly three days and three nights: so shall the Son of man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.
The men of Ninive shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they did penance at the preaching of Jonas. And behold a greater than Jonas here.
The queen of the south shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon. And behold a greater than Solomon here.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
We Want to See a Sign
Whoever asks for a sign, does so because they don’t believe.
And me? Do I truly believe that You are alive and present among us each day? Do I believe in the covenant of love You sealed with my spouse and me in our Sacrament?
Jesus, today You, who are the Truth, tell me that those who spared no effort or discomfort to listen to the wisdom of one chosen by God — and those who converted with the preaching of a prophet — will rise in judgment against this generation and condemn it.
Why? Because here, now, there is Someone greater — greater than anyone, greater than everything. (Last Friday’s Gospel also reminded us: “Here is one greater than the temple.”)
You are here. You remained here — with us and among us.
You, who gave wisdom to Solomon.
You, who spoke through Jonah.
You are truly alive and present in every tabernacle, and in the midst of us when two or more gather in Your name.
And yet, having You so close… we often fail to see You.
We don’t realise how incredibly blessed we are.
What more sign do I need?
My Lord and my God, I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love You.
And I ask pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope, and do not love You.
Applied to Married Life
Luis: Carmen, listen — since you’re tired, how about this: I’ll clean up the kitchen, and in the meantime you can freshen up a bit and then we head over to the perpetual adoration chapel?
Carmen: Oh Luis… not tonight. I was dreaming of just sinking into the sofa and watching an episode of my favourite series to unwind.
Luis: But what will that really give you? What better rest is there than being with Our Lord? We are so blessed to have that chapel nearby, where Jesus is waiting for us — His Heart beating for us.
He welcomes us with open arms, and we give Him such joy just by being there. And we find rest in Him.
We can each make our personal prayer in silence there… and then, once back home, we can do our conjugal prayer together.
What could possibly be better?
Carmen: You’re right. Nothing could be better than spending time with the Lord, who redeemed us and chose to remain with us forever.
We can’t leave Him alone.
Let’s go and give thanks for everything He’s given us today. And it’s true — every time we go, I come back more renewed and rested than with anything else.
Thank you for helping me overcome my laziness.
Luis: Thank you, for bringing me closer to the Lord.
Now I enjoy going and praying with you. What a joy to be able to go together and spend time with the Lord!
Mother,
We thank you for giving us Your Son.
Teach us to rest in Him and to trust in Him, just as You trusted and rested always in God.
Blessed are you, Mother! Praised be Our Lord forever!