From the Gospel according to Matthew 11:11-15
Jesus said to the crowds: “Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist;
yet the least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force. All the prophets and the law prophesied up to the time of John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, the one who is to come. Whoever has ears ought to hear.”
yet the least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force. All the prophets and the law prophesied up to the time of John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, the one who is to come. Whoever has ears ought to hear.”
Predilection for the Little Ones
Throughout Sacred Scripture, God shows His predilection for the little ones, the humble. From King David to the Virgin Mary, God looks upon the small, those who listen to His Word and put it into practice. Mary says that Yahweh “has looked upon the humility of His servant.” These two attitudes, humility and listening to the Word, open the doors of heaven.
But let us not forget what Jesus tells us: “Without Me you can do nothing.” We can only be humble and welcome His Word if we allow Him to work in us, if we give Him everything. And for that, it is necessary to have the firm determination to live a life of prayer and sacraments, and a life of ascetic fight against our predominant defect. This violence against the sin within us is what seizes the Kingdom of Heaven.
Applied to Married Life
Peter: How helpful it was when our tutors helped me discover what my dominant defect is. Now I know where to focus my efforts and I’m not swinging blindly, one day here and another there.
Lorrain: It’s true, the same thing happened to me. And how wonderful it is that we know where to help each other, to be the right help for one another.
Peter: Since I learned that I need to aim my efforts at fighting pride, I find so many moments throughout the day to keep my opinion to myself when it’s not necessary, to listen to others and welcome what they say, not to think I’m the smartest…
Lorrain: I love the enthusiasm with which you’ve embraced this path of purification toward holiness. And I admire you when you fall and get back up. I love you, my husband.
Lorrain: It’s true, the same thing happened to me. And how wonderful it is that we know where to help each other, to be the right help for one another.
Peter: Since I learned that I need to aim my efforts at fighting pride, I find so many moments throughout the day to keep my opinion to myself when it’s not necessary, to listen to others and welcome what they say, not to think I’m the smartest…
Lorrain: I love the enthusiasm with which you’ve embraced this path of purification toward holiness. And I admire you when you fall and get back up. I love you, my husband.
Mother,
Help us to fix our gaze on you, the humble one, the handmaid of the Lord. Blessed be Jesus.