Gospel

From the Gospel according to John
3:13-17

Jesus said to Nicodemus:
“No one has gone up to heaven
except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man.
And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert,
so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might not perish
but might have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world might be saved through him.

The Gospel of the Lord

The Beautiful Life

Today I celebrate the source of the good life. The true life. The most beautiful life.
Today I exalt the way of living that Jesus teaches me through His Spirit. Born within me through baptism. Growing in the Eucharist. Loving in marriage. Healing me in confession.
Today I proclaim a way of dying that prepares my soul for His action, His motions, His gifts, His life, through the fruits/sacraments of His self-giving.

Brought down to Married Life:

James: Darling, do you remember what day it is today?
Nicole: I can’t quite recall.
James: Today marks five years since the day my addiction came to light. The day that could have been the worst of my life but instead became the first day of my new life. And I owe it all to you. To the way you welcomed me despite the pain I caused you.
Nicole: How happy and proud I am of you, my love. But you’re mistaken in one thing. The One we owe it to is our God, who through His death pierced our darkness and opened the doors to His life.
James: Darling, how much I learn from you. Your gaze is the place where God speaks to me and sustains me. I love you so deeply.
Nicole: Loving you is my way of letting myself be loved by Him.

Mother,

Blessed and praised be the fruit of your womb, Jesus, who redeemed us with His Blood.

He Had Compassion…

How moving it is to see how Jesus took pity on this poor widow, and how much hope it should inspire in us to know that the Lord has compassion on us too. At times, we may fall into the temptation of thinking that God is “too busy” with other, more important matters than us. Nothing could be further from the truth: He loves us infinitely and wants us to be happy, living out the plan He has prepared for us, for our marriage. And it pains Him when we turn away from that plan. And when do we turn away? Each time we think, do, or say anything guided by our own criteria rather than by love, we return to the Passion of the Lord; we scourge Him again, press the crown of thorns into His head, and nail Him once more to the Cross.
Let us therefore ask the Lord to help us have compassion, first of all for our spouse, and of course also for our children, family, and friends. At times, it may seem easier to have compassion for others, but we must be consistent with our vocation and live an undivided life, beginning this attitude in our own home.

Brought down to Married Life:

Benjamin: Darling, have you noticed how the children went off to school today? I think you should pay a little more attention to the details and help them get ready in the mornings.
Beth: Seriously, are you going to reproach me for how the children are dressed? You know that at that hour I barely have time to get everything done and, honestly, I can never count on you. By the time I realise, you’ve already left, and sometimes I feel very much alone.

(Later that night, during their couple’s prayer…)

Benjamin: The Lord, through this Gospel, has shown me that I must first take care of you and the children, and only then of others, of my work… What use is it to do great things or big projects if, in the end, I fail to do so at home first? Forgive me — truly, I wasn’t aware of how alone I had left you. I will make an effort to be more attentive to you and the children, but I will need your help — and, if possible, without reproaches, because otherwise my pride makes it much harder for me.
Beth: Darling, I love that you can recognise what the Lord is saying to you and that you share it with me afterwards. I love you so much!

Mother,

We ask you to help us to recognise the needs of our spouse (and of all those close to us), so that we may live like the Lord, with hearts ready to give of themselves at all times.
Praise be to the Lord.