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!