At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
  ‘I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.’

Today we are shown the communion between the Father and the Son, and we come to understand that true prayer made “in the name of Jesus” does not simply mean saying His name at the end of a request, but entering into a deep communion with Him, embodying His way of loving, giving Himself, and living for the other. In marriage, this reality takes on a special strength, because spouses are called to be a living reflection of Christ’s love for His Church. When we pray together, we gradually learn to leave aside selfishness, to listen to one another, to forgive one another, and to seek together God’s will for our marriage and our family. Then prayer ceases to be an individual request and becomes a supplication born from one single heart: “Lord, teach us to love as You love.” And it is there that the Father pours out His grace, making the marital covenant fruitful and transforming the home into a place of communion, peace, and new life.

Applied to Married Life:

Lucy: Honey… did you hear about Martha and Luke?
James: Yes… they say they’re separating because they feel their love has run out. It’s so sad to hear that…
Lucy: And to think that we once believed love depended only on our own strength…
James: Yes, Lucy… that’s how we lived. When difficulties, exhaustion, and routine came, we ran out of strength to keep loving each other.
Lucy: But everything started to change when, by God’s grace, we truly began to pray together.
James: Completely. Because we discovered that asking “in the name of Jesus” is not just saying His name, but allowing Him to live within our marriage.
Lucy: And when Christ enters the hearts of spouses, He changes the way we look at each other, speak to each other, and even forgive each other.
James: Exactly. Because then you understand that the source of love is not ourselves, but God Himself. Even if our human love grows tired and weakens, God’s love never ends.
James: That’s why, when we return to Christ in prayer, we always find the strength to begin again, and we become aware that a marriage united to the Lord never walks alone, because the Father sustains those who remain in His love.

Mother,

we want to remain in communion in your Son and always seek the will of the Father. Blessed and praised be the Lord forever.