It happened that there was a man full of leprosy in one of the towns where Jesus was;
and when he saw Jesus,
he fell prostrate, pleaded with him, and said,
“Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.”
Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said,
“I do will it. Be made clean.”
And the leprosy left him immediately.
Then he ordered him not to tell anyone, but
“Go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing
what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.”
The report about him spread all the more,
and great crowds assembled to listen to him
and to be cured of their ailments,
but he would withdraw to deserted places to pray.

Jesus heals the leper, but then sends him to offer his purification. Let us reflect on this—on purification.
God’s forgiveness alone is not enough. Sin leaves a mark within us, a disorder that must be purified. This means that we will spend our whole lives being purified, and whatever is not purified here will need to be purified in purgatory.
The work of purification belongs to God, but we must cooperate through our good dispositions. Our soul needs a natural and supernatural re-education, one that requires our active collaboration.
Union with God and with His infinite purity demands that we draw close to Him.
Moreover, the closer we come to the Light, the more clearly we perceive our impurities—like water that appears crystal clear until it is viewed under a microscope. There may be much more than what we can see right now.
Spouses, let us work on our own purification so that the love of God may reign between us, and so that we may reach that longed-for spousal charity.

Brought into Married Life

Marina: Arthur, today I want to ask your forgiveness for everything I have demanded of you during this time—for my insatiable desire to live perfect communion between us.
Arthur: Don’t worry, Marina. I have deserved each and every one of your corrections.
Marina: The main issue is not that you need correcting, but that I need to purify my soul so that I can draw closer to the Lord and allow His love to act between us.
Arthur: I understand. But have you experienced this yourself, or is it something you have read?
Marina: I have been putting it into practice for a while now, and it is completely true. It works! Haven’t you noticed that we have been doing much better lately?
Arthur: Yes. We have been going through a wonderful period.
Marina: And you, don’t you love me more?
Arthur: Yes. Absolutely.
Marina: That is all I have done—worked on my purification, gradually reordering my soul with the grace of God.
Arthur: How wonderful. Glory be to God!

Mother,

Help us in our purification, for we long to reach spousal charity here on earth and heaven there.Blessed be God, who purifies us by His grace.

As on that day, Lord, when the prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled in You, we ask that today the experience of living Your Kingdom in our marriage may be fulfilled in us as well.

We know that we are still far from it, but we trust that it is not impossible, because it is Your love that You gave us on the day of our wedding. We have spent many years striving, sowing, and watering that seed. And so, Lord, may Your promise be fulfilled in us today, for the greater glory of the Father.

Brought into Married Life

Louis: Do you think we will ever live the Kingdom of God between you and me?

Mary: I do not think so, I am sure of it. It is the Lord’s promise, and you and I are taking it seriously, giving everything we can and constantly turning to God’s grace. Do you really think the Lord will not respond to our deepest desire?

Louis: I believe He will. I trust in Him and in His promise. Shall we ask together that it may be today?

Mary: We ask You, Lord.

Louis: We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Mary: Amen.

Mother,

We ask You as well to intercede for us. May it be fulfilled today, Mother. We thank God for hearing our prayer.