Gospel of the day
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 6:16–21
When it was evening, the disciples of Jesus went down to the sea,
embarked in a boat, and went across the sea to Capernaum.
It had already grown dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.
The sea was stirred up because a strong wind was blowing.
When they had rowed about three or four miles,
they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat,
and they began to be afraid.
But he said to them, “It is I. Do not be afraid.”
They wanted to take him into the boat,
but the boat immediately arrived at the shore
to which they were heading.
Do not be afraid, my spouse.
Today we see the disciples going through a moment of darkness, fear and distress. And in the middle of the storm Jesus appears and says to them: “It is I. Do not be afraid.”
In married life, there are also nights and storms. And there we are called to be the presence of Christ for one another. Today I, as your spouse, can say to you: “It is I, do not be afraid, my beloved spouse. It is I who come to bring you light in your darkness. It is I who do not draw away when you are wounded or fallen, but come near to lift you up. It is I who give myself for you, even on the cross of each day. It is I… who want to walk with you all the way to Heaven.”
And this is the conjugal charity that spouses are called to live: to love until life is given, to die to oneself so that the other may live. And when this happens, Christ enters the boat… and even in the midst of the rough sea, the heart already begins to find the shore.
Applied to married life:
Peter: Laura, I need to tell you something… something that has been weighing on me for a long time.
Laura: Darling… sit here with me and tell me.
Peter: Laura, I have been carrying a debt for some time without telling you… I thought I could sort it out on my own, but the situation has got out of hand.
Laura: Peter… it upsets me that you have carried this alone for so long. Not because there is a problem, but because you hid it from me.
Peter: I know… I was afraid of disappointing you, of losing your trust.
Laura: I understand that fear… but it is me, Peter. Look, right now I am hurt, of course I am, but I am still here with you and I am not going to walk away.
Peter: Laura, I just do not know how we are going to get out of this situation…
Laura: Darling, of course we will get through it, because from now on we are going to face it together. The most important thing is that we learn from this and stop hiding things from each other.
Peter: Laura, I feel so ashamed that I have brought you into this…
Laura: Look, what matters now is not staying stuck in shame… it is waking up, facing it head on, and starting to look for a solution together.
Peter: Thank you, Laura, for your support and understanding.
Mother,
Walk with us through the storms of marriage and teach us always to trust in your Son. Blessed and praised be the Lord for ever.