From the Gospel according to Matthew. Mt. 19:23-30
Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.”
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, “Who then can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said, “For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”
Then Peter said to him in reply, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?”
Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”
How many times have we heard the words “the first will be last, and the last will be first” and actually put them into practice? Probably more than once. But… do we also live it out with our spouse? We’ve been given the incredible grace of being called to the vocation of marriage, and that is such a gift, because through our spouse we’re purified. The Lord works on our (lack of) logic, on our attachments, on our ego… teaching us to become “the last,” letting go of that “wealth” of pride and self. Little by little, He empties us of ourselves so He can fill us with Himself and act in us and through us.
“Whoever leaves houses, brothers or sisters, father or mother, wife, children or fields for my sake…” Let’s drop the weights we carry. We did marry to become one flesh! We have to understand that our first priority is our spouse. He or she comes first and if the two of us are well, then everything else becomes possible, or at least much easier to carry.
St. Teresa used to say “God alone is enough.” We say: “Only God can.” Because with our own strength, we just end up frustrated and defeated. But when we truly abandon ourselves into the hands of the Lord, we bear witness that everything is possible!
Melissa: Honey, I thank God that He’s helping us strip away our selfishness and learn to put each other first.
Mark: Yeah, it’s sad to see couples who really love each other but end up always fighting; each one trying to impose their opinion instead of bowing their head and asking first what God’s will is in that moment.
Melissa: We know we’re weak, made of clay, and we have to keep praying together, because at any moment we could fail.
Mark: Having our times of prayer, and making those little daily sacrifices, giving up what I want or what I think is “fair”, helps us stay on the path. But like you said, we’ve still got a long way to go.
Melissa: Exactly. On our own it’s impossible. That’s why we need to keep seeking Him, with joy and with the hope that He makes all things new.
Mother,
We ask you to walk with us on this journey of dettachment from ourselves, so that the glory of the Lord can shine in us. Praise be the Lord!
