At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. In that day you will ask nothing of me.’

There are moments in marriage when everything seems heavy: misunderstandings, exhaustion, wounds that do not fully heal, struggles with children, financial problems, or the feeling that the relationship between spouses has “grown cold.” Meanwhile, “the world will rejoice,” because the world offers quick solutions: run away, focus on yourself, stop suffering. But today Christ tells us something revolutionary: sorrow lived with Him will be transformed into joy!
Jesus gives the example of a woman giving birth. The pain does not disappear by magic, but it gains meaning because it is bringing forth life.
So it is in marriage: every sacrifice, every act of forgiveness, every difficult act of self-giving is like “giving birth” to true love. And afterward comes a deeper joy than passing emotion.
When spouses remain united in the midst of suffering, Christ becomes present among them once again. Then the heart is filled with a joy that no one can take away, because it does not depend on everything going well, but on knowing that we are loved by Him.
Today the Lord invites us not to despair in difficult moments. If we remain united to Christ and to one another, suffering can become new life.

Grounded in Married Life:

David: Lately I feel like everything is so hard for us… We talk and end up arguing, the kids exhaust us, and it feels like we never have a moment of peace.
Rachel: I feel the same way… And sometimes it makes me sad to think that things used to be easier between us. That’s my first reaction… but then I remember today’s Gospel… the part about the woman giving birth…
David: Yes… that pain has meaning because a new life is being born.
Rachel: Exactly. And I was thinking that maybe God is working in us even if we can’t see it right now. Maybe He’s teaching us how to truly love each other, not only when everything is easy.
David: Now that you mention it… you know what? When we pray together, even after a bad day, I feel peace. Like a special kind of joy.
Rachel: Yes, I feel the same way. What a joy it is to know that God is with us!

Mother,

Lead us always beneath your mantle to where your Son is. Praised be the Lord forever!