From the Gospel according to Mark 7:24–30

Jesus went to the district of Tyre.He entered a house and wanted no one to know about it,but he could not escape notice.Soon a woman whose daughter had an unclean spirit heard about him.She came and fell at his feet.The woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by birth,and she begged him to drive the demon out of her daughter.He said to her, “Let the children be fed first.For it is not right to take the food of the childrenand throw it to the dogs.”She replied and said to him,“Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s scraps.”Then he said to her, “For saying this, you may go.The demon has gone out of your daughter.”When the woman went home, she found the child lying in bedand the demon gone.

The Gospel of the Lord

Always Present

At times it may seem as though the Lord goes unnoticed, or that He is absent in certain moments. We may even question Him, wondering how He can allow certain situations. But in reality, that isn’t so. When we feel this way, what is really happening is that we struggle to accept or understand God’s will. The Lord is always present, at our side—even in the moments when we would rather He weren’t. He is far more attentive to us than we can imagine. Yet we tend to remember Him only when we realize we cannot manage on our own or when we simply do not understand what is happening.

How different things become when we seek God at all times—in what we do and in what we fail to do, in the good and in the difficult—living with an awareness of His true presence in everything. Sometimes we seek Him to give thanks; other times to ask for forgiveness. God is always beside us, but we do not perceive Him unless we are willing to. We have been given complete freedom to accept Him or not. He reveals Himself in many ways—and it always depends on us.

Applied to married Life:

Valeria:Eduard, have you noticed how wonderful it feels to be around Andrea and David? The way they speak to each other, the way they look at one another, the tenderness in how they treat each other—and so many little details you can’t help but notice when you’re with them.

Eduard: Yes, Valeria, of course I’ve noticed. It’s impossible not to. So different from us—we’re always trying to see who comes out on top.

Valeria: You can tell they truly have God at the center of their lives and their marriage. They seek Him in everything, accept His will, and live it out by reflecting Him in their love.

Eduard: Honestly, we could try to do the same. What’s the difference between them and us? Only that we resist accepting that God is within us—and instead we try to control each other.
Valeria: You’re right, Eduard. Let’s try. We already know the solution isn’t about being right, but about trusting in the Lord and remembering that He is within us.

Eduard: And what better way to start than by asking for your forgiveness? Forgive me, my dear Valeria. I’ve been selfish—pushing my own opinions, refusing to admit my weaknesses, pretending to be strong at the cost of hurting you.

Valeria:Thank you, Eduard. You are a gift, and I could not see It.  I’ve acted as though you had to serve me in everything, as though things always had to be done my way. Forgive me for not recognizing the good man you are.

Eduard: And you are truly amazing—the most wonderful wife in the world.

Valeria:Let’s give this our all. Now that we’ve managed to cast pride out of our love, how about we begin by going to Mass together and thanking God for our marriage?

Mother:

Help us always to keep your Son present through our spouse.

Blessed be God.