GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Mark 4:35-41

On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples:

“Let us cross to the other side.”

Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was.

And other boats were with him.

A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat,

so that it was already filling up.

Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion.

They woke him and said to him,

“Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”

He woke up,

rebuked the wind,

and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!”

The wind ceased and there was great calm.

Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified?

Do you not yet have faith?”

They were filled with great awe and said to one another,

“Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”

The Word of the Lord

 

The Boat of Our Heart

The Lord invites us today to confront our reality, to journey into our heart and discover what lies within. The Holy Spirit dwells in our heart from the moment of our baptism, and when we marry, we embark with Jesus in our sacrament. He stepped into the boat of our marriage and has accompanied us ever since in our daily life. Yet at times we forget that Jesus is there among us; we stop counting on Him, and without realising it, we set Him aside, leaving Him at the stern. We rely on our own strength, our abilities, our effort, and begin imposing our own criteria and desires, drifting away from God’s will. We forget that everything—everything good we have—we receive from Him.

And of course, if we are not closely united with Him, our heart fills with rubbish that hides His Light and leads us into the darkness of night. When difficulties come, when trials arise in our marriage, they are like a storm we do not know how to face. The temptations of the world arrive like waves that grow and threaten to flood and sink our boat. It is then that panic seizes us and, with grace, we remember Jesus and cry out: “Lord, save us, we are perishing.”

Where is your heart set? Must a great storm come before we remember that Jesus is with us?

Husbands and wives, let us strive to see God in our spouse, and let us give ourselves wholly to our true helpmate, so that in loving them, we love Him. Let us place our trust in Christ, and that faith will safeguard our marriage.

 

 

Applied to married life

Sally: Good morning, and many happy returns on your feast day, John. I’ve brought you breakfast.

John: Thank you very much, Sally, for remembering and spoiling me. You’re a star. By the way, you’ve seemed a bit off these past days, and since yesterday I’ve noticed you’re much happier. Has something happened that I ought to know about?

Sally: Well, the truth is I’d been struggling to see things clearly for a while, and I was feeling sad, with odd thoughts going round in my head. So yesterday I went to confession, and the Lord has restored my joy. I see everything differently now.

John: It seems to me that my outlook has been clouding over as well. Perhaps it’s because I haven’t been to the confessional for more than two weeks. I think it wouldn’t be a bad idea to celebrate my feast day with the sacrament of penance.

Sally: Absolutely, John, it would be the very best thing. If you like, we can go to Mass together, you can take the opportunity to confess, and afterwards we’ll celebrate with a pint.

John: What a splendid plan! Done! Keep that time free for me.

Mother,

Help us to set aside our personal preferences so that we may always be ready to fulfil the will of God, and remain in His Grace, as You teach us by Your example. Blessed and glorious are You, Mother! Praised be the Lord for ever!

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Mark 4:26-34

Jesus said to the crowds:

“This is how it is with the Kingdom of God;

it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land

and would sleep and rise night and day

and the seed would sprout and grow,

he knows not how.

Of its own accord the land yields fruit,

first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.

And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once,

for the harvest has come.”

He said,

“To what shall we compare the Kingdom of God,

or what parable can we use for it?

It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground,

is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth.

But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants

and puts forth large branches,

so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.”

With many such parables

he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it.

Without parables he did not speak to them,

but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.

The Word of the Lord

 

Ours is to sow

What Jesus asks of us is to scatter the seed, the Good News of the Gospel. We will not make it sprout, nor cause the plants to grow, and in many cases we will not see the fruits. But that must not stop us. And even though the seed we sow may seem small, like the mustard seed, it can become a great plant that gives shade and even shelter to the birds of the sky.

And us — who sowed this seed in us? Perhaps it was our grandparents, our parents, a teacher, a priest… Now Jesus asks it of you, He asks it of me: that we carry the proclamation of “Marriage as God intended it” throughout the world, especially to the most distant corners.

Spouses, let nothing stop us! He trusts in us.

Applied to Married Life

Michael: Patricia, sometimes I get discouraged. I feel our meetings with the couple we’re mentoring don’t achieve anything.

Patricia: Honestly, that’s how it seems to me too. But I’m convinced it’s not like that, because the very fact we keep meeting is already a step towards building something.

Michael: Yes, but it’s frustrating and disheartening not to see any results.

Patricia: Michael, it’s our task to sow — to bring them the Good News of the Gospel, to give them hope that their marriage can improve and become what God intended. That little seed we plant, it’s the Lord who will make it grow.

Michael: You’re absolutely right. Forgive me for getting carried away with wanting to see outcomes. It’s clear this isn’t a business where we can measure profits…

Patricia: Treasures in Heaven. What we must do here is keep offering our little bit, and He will do the rest.

Michael: Thank you so much for helping me see the supernatural side of it. Come here, my Suitable Helper, and give me a kiss!

Mother,

Help us to scatter the seed of the Gospel in season and out of season.

Blessed and praised be the Lord!

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Mark 4:21-25

Jesus said to his disciples,
“Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket
or under a bed,
and not to be placed on a lampstand?
For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible;
nothing is secret except to come to light.
Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear.”
He also told them, “Take care what you hear.
The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you,
and still more will be given to you.
To the one who has, more will be given;
from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

The Word of the Lord

 

Listen.

The Lord calls us; we must stay attentive and listen to what He tells us. He gives us gifts so that we may place them at His service — not to keep them for ourselves or use them only according to our own needs, but to bring light to the world by handing on what we have received.

The sacrament of marriage is a gift from the Lord, given so that through our self‑giving we may show the love of God. As spouses, we have the mission of showing the world the greatness of this gift and of being a lamp that gives light through our offering of ourselves.

Let us begin by listening to one another, so that we may reveal God’s love to all and show the beauty of our sacrament.

 

Applied to married life

Rachel: Many happy returns, my love.

Patrick: Thank you so much. What a lovely gesture — the day has barely begun, it’s only just struck midnight.

Rachel: I know you love celebrating your birthday; you’ve told me so many times, and I didn’t want to miss the chance to be the first.

Patrick: For me, you’re always the first in everything. I thought that when I mentioned celebrating my birthday you hadn’t really heard me — in fact, I got the impression you weren’t paying attention.

Rachel: Of course I was listening. I’ve learnt to pay more attention to what you tell me, so I can be closer to you.

Patrick: Thank you, truly. You know how much it helps me to know you’re attentive to what I say, even with all the silly things I sometimes come out with.

Rachel: Nothing you say is silly — everything about you matters to me. Besides, your birthday is a day to give thanks to God especially for you.

Patrick: Then let’s celebrate by beginning with giving thanks together for our marriage.

Rachel: Let’s do that — and then off to bed, because tomorrow we’ve got plenty more celebrating ahead.

 

Mother,

Help us to remain attentive to what your Son tells us through our spouse. Blessed be the Lord.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Mark  4:1-20

On another occasion, Jesus began to teach by the sea. A very large crowd gathered around him so that he got into a boat on the sea and sat down. And the whole crowd was beside the sea on land. And he taught them at length in parables, and in the course of his instruction he said to them, “Hear this! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep. And when the sun rose, it was scorched and it withered for lack of roots. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it and it produced no grain.

And some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit. It came up and grew and yielded thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.” He added, “Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.”

And when he was alone, those present along with the Twelve
questioned him about the parables. He answered them, “The mystery of the Kingdom of God has been granted to you. But to those outside everything comes in parables, so tha they may look and see but not perceive, and hear and listen but not understand, in order that they may not be converted and be forgiven.”

Jesus said to them, “Do you not understand this parable?
Then how will you understand any of the parables? The sower sows the word. These are the ones on the path where the word is sown. As soon as they hear, Satan comes at once and takes away the word sown in them. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground who, when they hear the word, receive it at once with joy.
But they have no roots; they last only for a time. Then when tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Those sown among thorns are another sort. They are the people who hear the word, but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word, and it bears no fruit. But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.”

The Mathematics of Love

God is a tireless sower. Each day He comes out to meet us. He gives Himself to us; He wants to pour out His grace upon us because He desires to sanctify us, to divinise us. How good God is. We are never lacking seed. We are never lacking grace. What is sometimes missing is soil that is ready, because the sower is always generous, but the ground is not always prepared. The question is simple: what kind of soil am I?

Let us not allow the evil one to distract or deceive us; to prepare fertile soil, a life of prayer is essential. The soul is made to receive God, and we do not receive Him by doing many things for Him, even if they are very good things — we receive Him in prayer. It is in prayer that we grow in intimacy with the Lord, and in that intimacy we are filled with His love and with all the graces He longs to pour out upon us.

The fruit: the transformation of an entire life and union with Him.

 

Applied to married life

Albert: Esther, I’ve realised that as soon as we neglect prayer, the atmosphere at home starts to get tense. Have you noticed?

Esther: I’ve been observing it for a while, and I’d dare to say it’s mathematical. When we don’t pray, or pray very little, we end up arguing straight away — the reproaches come out, the little grudges, we judge each other… and I’ve been asking the Lord for some time to show me what mysterious link there is between one thing and the other.

Albert: And?

Esther: Well, He’s shown me. Jesus Himself says in John 5:42 that the love of God is not in us. And I think that’s the key: either we have God’s Love or we have our own. And we already know what ours is like — limited, and selfishness appears straight away.

Albert: I see… so to fill ourselves with God’s Love, we need to go to prayer. The more prayer, the more love between us, and when there’s no prayer… things don’t go well.

Esther: Exactly — love is directly proportional, because with that love we receive, you and I love each other. What do you think?

Albert: You’re brilliant at the mathematics of love

 

Mother,

We pass on the love we receive, and we receive the Love of God in the intimacy of prayer. You know that without prayer we can do nothing, which is why you call us again and again to a life of prayer. Blessed and praised are you. Praised be the Lord who pours out His grace.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Mark 3:31-35

The mother of Jesus and his brothers arrived at the house.

Standing outside, they sent word to Jesus and called him.

A crowd seated around him told him,

“Your mother and your brothers and your sisters

are outside asking for you.”

But he said to them in reply,

“Who are my mother and my brothers?”

And looking around at those seated in the circle he said,

“Here are my mother and my brothers.

For whoever does the will of God

is my brother and sister and mother.”

The Word of the Lord

 

Break my plans

Jesus does not reject His Mother or His family. That would be unthinkable in the One who perfectly fulfilled the commandment to honour father and mother. Jesus does not break bonds: He brings them to fullness. And He reveals what the true foundation of communion with Him is: not blood, not physical closeness, not natural ties, but loving obedience to the will of the Father. That is what makes us mother and brothers of Jesus. How much He loves us! Look at the intimacy to which He calls us. Does your heart not move?

Jesus does not call you to do things for Him. Jesus wants intimacy with you. He wants your heart, your love. And true love for God leads me to give Him my will. Faith in God is proven in detachment from my own will so that I may cling to His. Even when it hurts. Because more than health, for which so many pray, more than money, more even than people, we are attached to doing our own will. And that is, many times, the root of problems between spouses: the clash of opinions, the need to impose and dominate, the refusal to renounce in order to embrace the will of the other.

That is what Christ calls us to: to renounce, to obey, to love to the extreme. So that we may follow Him from Calvary to Glory! “If anyone wants to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me” (Mark 8:34). The Lord does not tell us to be content with knowing His will, nor to admire it, nor even to preach it. He says: do it. Because the one who does it, that one enters the Kingdom of Heaven, already tasting here an anticipation of that heaven in married life. In the everyday, in the small things. In the hidden. In what no one applauds and only God sees: when I choose my spouse’s way over mine; when I renounce that comment I know will hurt; when I forgive again, even though it hurts; when I remain faithful to love while the world offers easier, more comfortable, and profoundly anti-Gospel exits.

The saints were not “good people.” The saints were men and women who stopped doing their own will to do God’s will. And there they found joy and happiness. There they found freedom. There they found true life.

 

Applied to Married Life

Jon: Patsy, those potatoes with chorizo were absolutely delicious!

Patsy: I’m so glad you enjoyed them!… I thought I wouldn’t have time because this morning I realised we didn’t have any chorizo.

Jon: Well, well, they were spectacular! Thank you, my love. I saw you dash off to the supermarket.

Patsy: (smiles) It was worth it just to see you enjoy something so simple so much.

Jon: You’re so beautiful. (they share a kiss)

Patsy: Oh, it’s getting late, let’s tidy up quickly — we’ve got to fetch the children from school.

Jon: Leave it, leave it, I’ll do it myself.

Patsy: Really?

Jon: Yes, yes! Go on, have a nap, I’ll clear up.

Patsy: Oh, my Jon, I love you!

Jon: I’m the one who should love you.

 

Mother,

You are the Mother of God not only because you bore Him in your womb, but because you listened, welcomed, and lived everything according to God’s will. Teach us, as little children, to love by obeying as you did. Praised be Jesus Christ!