Monthly Archives: January 2026

Today, With Us. Reflection for married couples. Luke 4:14-22a

Leave a Reply

Gospel of the Day

From the Gospel according to Luke 4:14-22a
At that time: Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.
  And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll, and found the place where it was written,
‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’
And he rolled up the scroll, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, ‘Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’ And all spoke well of him and marvelled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth.
The Gospel of the Lord

Today, With Us

The Today of the Gospel is not only liturgical; it is also everyday. Christ longs to continue proclaiming the Good News to the world, to our family, and very concretely within our marriage. Our marriage is called to be a place of liberation, a place where we can open our hearts and share ourselves as we truly are, with the freedom to speak knowing that our words will be received with loving attention.
A place where words heal rather than judge, criticise, or react out of wounded pride. A place of grace, where through acts of self-giving and embracing we make Christ present by the grace of the Holy Spirit.
Christ comes to proclaim the Good News to the poor, the poor being spouses worn down by routine and constant self-centredness; parents who do not know how to educate; insecure children… The Christian spouse is not the saviour of the other, but is an instrument of the Holy Spirit through listening, forgiveness, patience, and truth spoken with charity.
The Good News Christ brings to our marriage is that He comes to free us from “you’re always like this”, from “you never change”, from “until my spouse changes, I won’t move”, from punishing silence, from loveless authoritarianism. He frees us by teaching us to act always from love and mercy, even when we do not understand, without allowing cold reasoning to dominate our judgement.

Brought into Married Life

(A couple speaking with their mentoring couple)

Mentor: When Jesus says, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,” do you think that stops at the church doors, or does it continue in your home?
Wife: I suppose it should continue… but at home there is often just tiredness and bad moods.
Mentor: Saint John Paul II tells us that this tiredness is precisely the place where Christ wants to act. Where do you feel the Good News is lacking in your daily life?
Wife: Honestly, in the way we speak to each other. We have grown used to speaking badly, and everything sounds like reproach.
Mentor: Then that is a place of poverty, and Jesus came to bring the Good News to the poor. What concrete gesture might Christ want to announce to you today through His Good News?
Wife: Listening to each other without interrupting, looking each other in the eyes and embracing what the other is sharing with charity… even if it is hard.
Mentor: That is already cooperating with the Holy Spirit. And what about liberation? From what does your marriage need to be freed?
Wife: From pride. From acting according to my own reasoning instead of from self-giving love.
Mentor: Very good. Christ does not come to accuse us, but to open paths. And with God’s help, you are opening a path towards deeper communion in your marriage. Let us ask the Lord to pour out His grace, to strengthen you and help you persevere in this decision.

Mother,

As you welcomed the Word and kept it in your heart, teach us to listen to one another with respect, to speak truthfully, and to decide together in the light of God. Blessed be the Lord for ever.

Re-educating the Soul. Reflection for married couples. Luke 5:12-16

Leave a Reply

Gospel of the Day

From the Gospel according to Luke 5:12-16

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.

The Gospel of the Lord

Re-educating the Soul

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.

Today It Will Be Fulfilled. Reflection for married couples. Luke 4:14-22

Leave a Reply

The Gospel of the Lord
From the Gospel according to Luke 4:14-22

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit,
and news of him spread throughout the whole region.
He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.

He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up,
and went according to his custom
into the synagogue on the sabbath day.
He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.
He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.

Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down,
and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.
He said to them,
“Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”
And all spoke highly of him
and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.

The Gospel of the Lord

Today It Will Be Fulfilled

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.

Failing Without Fear. Reflection for married couples. Mark 6:45-52

Leave a Reply

Gospel of the Day

From the Gospel according to Mark 6:45-52

After the five thousand had eaten and were satisfied,
Jesus made his disciples get into the boat
and precede him to the other side toward Bethsaida,
while he dismissed the crowd.
And when he had taken leave of them,
he went off to the mountain to pray.
When it was evening,
the boat was far out on the sea and he was alone on shore.
Then he saw that they were tossed about while rowing,
for the wind was against them.
About the fourth watch of the night,
he came toward them walking on the sea.
He meant to pass by them.
But when they saw him walking on the sea,
they thought it was a ghost and cried out.
They had all seen him and were terrified.
But at once he spoke with them,
“Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!”
He got into the boat with them and the wind died down.
They were completely astounded.
They had not understood the incident of the loaves.
On the contrary, their hearts were hardened.

The Gospel of the Lord

Failing Without Fear

There are times when we work with the Lord’s strength and witness great things, like those seen by the disciples in the multiplication of the loaves and the fishes. But at other times it is good for us to discover our own fragility, because with our own strength we can do nothing.

That is what the disciples experience today as they row on the Sea of Galilee with the wind against them. And it is good for us too, so that we never forget that strength comes from the Lord, and so that we become aware of just how much we need Him.

Brought into Married Life

Michael: Rachel, have you ever rowed with a strong headwind?

Rachel: You know, Michael, I am more the type to lie down and soak up the sun.

Michael: Yes, of course. What a silly question… But it is incredible. When the wind blows hard, I can hardly move forward at all, no matter how much effort I put into rowing.

Rachel: Well, you are strong and you have been rowing for years. If you cannot manage, imagine me. Why are you telling me this all of a sudden?

Michael: Because that is exactly my experience without the Lord. When His Spirit pushes, what He allows me to do is astonishing. But when He does not, I discover my complete inability.

Rachel: Well, today He tells you not to be afraid. Even when there are times when it seems you are not moving forward or you feel like you are failing, He is walking nearby, waiting for the right moment to step into your boat.

Mother,

May we not be afraid when we fail relying on our own strength.The Lord wants to teach us humility, just as He did through You. Praised be the Child God.

Moved with Compassion. Reflection for married couples. Mark 6:34-44

Leave a Reply

Gospel of the Day

From the Gospel according to Mark 6:34-44

When Jesus saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them,
for they were like sheep without a shepherd;
and he began to teach them many things.
By now it was already late and his disciples approached him and said,
“This is a deserted place and it is already very late.
Dismiss them so that they can go
to the surrounding farms and villages
and buy themselves something to eat.”
He said to them in reply,
“Give them some food yourselves.”
But they said to him,
“Are we to buy two hundred days’ wages worth of food
and give it to them to eat?”
He asked them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.”
And when they had found out they said,
“Five loaves and two fish.”
So he gave orders to have them sit down in groups on the green grass.
The people took their places in rows by hundreds and by fifties.
Then, taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven,
he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples
to set before the people;
he also divided the two fish among them all.
They all ate and were satisfied.
And they picked up twelve wicker baskets full of fragments
and what was left of the fish.
Those who ate of the loaves were five thousand men.

The Gospel of the Lord

Moved with Compassion

At first, what moves Jesus to compassion is that the people were in need of hearing His Word, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.
Later, He is moved with compassion because they lack food.

These are the two key moments of the Eucharist:
the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

If the Lord sees us hungry for His Word and for His Bread, and if we are aware of how little we can do on our own, He will be moved with compassion and will give us all the nourishment our soul needs, until there is more than enough, until we can receive no more.

Brought into Married Life

Natalia: Today Adoration felt too short. You know, Joseph, I am really looking forward to the Eucharist. I want so much to listen to the Word and to receive the Lord in Communion.

Joseph: I would love to go with you, Natalia, and to ask God to give me a deep hunger for the Eucharist. May the Lord be moved with compassion toward us and fill our souls with His grace.

Natalia: I also tell Him that we are hungry for communion between us. Even though we are growing a lot, our hunger is still there.

Joseph: These Christmas days have left us with such a desire to be together and to experience God’s love between us.

Natalia: Lord, fill our hearts. We are not seeking anything for ourselves. We only want to give You glory.

Joseph: Only to give You glory, because we belong entirely to You.

Mother,

We are hungry for Your Son, hungry for His Love. We are hungry, Mother. Tell Your Son about our hunger, so that He may be moved with compassion for us.

Amen.