From the Gospel according to Luke

2:36-40

There was a prophetess, Anna,
the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.
She was advanced in years,
having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage,
and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.
She never left the temple,
but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.
And coming forward at that very time,
she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child
to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions
of the law of the Lord,
they returned to Galilee,
to their own town of Nazareth.
The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom;
and the favor of God was upon him.

Prophets of Marital Love

Do you believe you are destined to be prophets? Do not doubt it. We all are, through Baptism. Look at Anna. She had been a wife, like us. Her life was not easy, yet she lived abandoned to God, in a faithful and ardent wait of the Messiah. Surely, the moment she saw Mary and Joseph enter the Temple with the Child in their arms, she knew it was Him.

A heart that is awake — aware of its need for God and seeking Him each day in truth and humility — knows how to recognise God when He passes by; and when it finds Him, it cannot help but proclaim Him to others. Be like this — prophets of Marital Love!

Ask each day for the grace to see the living Christ in your spouse, because He is there. Pause. Stop rushing. Look into their eyes and offer something very simple, yet often so difficult: a smile of love — yes, of love and of recognition of the immense gift of God that your spouse is. Look at them and love them with God’s own love; ask Him for it.

Then it will happen that, in a simple home and in docile hearts, God will make His dwelling and fill every corner of the house with divine love, reaching every hidden fold of your heart. This is where prophecy begins!

Hearts set ablaze by this new love will long to cry it out to all the families of the world, so that they too may rejoice in this immense hope that cannot be kept silent — just as Anna could not keep quiet. You will feel compelled to proclaim it without ceasing.

This is what we live and share in the Marital Love Project with everyone who comes — those who desire a new life, a new love, something more that they sense; because they are invited; because… what does it matter? Ultimately, everyone whom Our Lady brings: to announce that Jesus is alive in every marriage, ready to give us a love the world neither knows nor understands, yet deeply longs for. And although at first it begins small, as the Child Jesus was small, in time it grows, is strengthened, and is filled with God’s wisdom and grace, drawing to itself all who pass by.

Brought into Married Life

Lucy: Andrew, sometimes I stop and think, and I can’t believe what God has done in our life and in our love. If I look back just a few years, I truly don’t recognise us.

Andrew: It’s true, Lucy. Who would have told us? We thought we were fine, but we could never have imagined the immense distance between “being fine” and loving with God’s own love.

Lucy: An abyss. How small simply getting along is compared to feeling that we are living the Kingdom of God. And not only us — little Lucy too… it’s incredible how she’s growing in faith, in love, in maturity…

Andrew: That’s why we can’t keep quiet. We have to proclaim it tirelessly, so that all married couples may discover that we are called to live a marvellous love — that it is possible!

Lucy: (Smiling) By the way, speaking of not stopping — just a reminder that in ten minutes we have the meeting to prepare the retreat. Grab the laptop; I left it next to the television.

Andrew: Next to the television? What is a television? (laughs)

Lucy: Andrew! We’ve gone from watching recorded fiction series to witnessing real miracles live. Would you change that?

Andrew: Not a chance!

Lucy: Glory to God! (smiles)

Mother,

Teach us to help the Kingdom of God grow within us, being witnesses and prophets of conjugal love. Guided by your hand, we shall go wherever you send us. Praise be to God!