GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to John 16:29-33

The disciples said to Jesus,

“Now you are talking plainly, and not in any figure of speech.

Now we realize that you know everything

and that you do not need to have anyone question you.

Because of this we believe that you came from God.”

Jesus answered them, “Do you believe now?

Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived

when each of you will be scattered to his own home

and you will leave me alone.

But I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

I have told you this so that you might have peace in me.

In the world you will have trouble,

but take courage, I have conquered the world.”

The word of the Lord

 

We Have Already Overcome

We all know what it is to struggle in life; Jesus has already assured us of this, so let us not mistake who the real enemy is. This battle must be against the world, the devil, and the flesh — not against our spouse. Such situations place us in a state of alertness that even has a chemical effect on our bodies. What we must decide is where we turn in order to find peace.

Jesus tells us that we will only find Peace in Him, because He has already overcome the world. In our marriage, this “world” takes shape in selfishness, the desire to dominate… Yet with the grace of our sacrament, we can overcome everything that separates us from the Plan God has prepared for us. We are called to remain continually in Him, in His heart

Applied to Married Life

Peter: Laura, this morning I felt awful, because yesterday I really messed up — quite badly — in the management of a project… and I started getting overwhelmed thinking about the consequences. I began to fear losing my job, to feel ashamed about how I might look. I could feel all of this physically inside me, and I even had the temptation to blame you somehow.

Laura: Yes, I noticed. You were even distancing yourself from me and the girls. You seemed to be in another world — you couldn’t sit still or focus. But I can see you’re better now.

Peter: Well, it was such a blessing that this afternoon was the parish’s time of adoration. Before the Lord, I felt all the darkness fade away and a deep trust in God fill me.

Laura: How beautiful, Peter. Being before the monstrance is the best medicine for freeing our soul from everything that weighs it down.

Peter: Yes, but unfortunately we can’t always be in adoration.

Laura: Oh Peter, cheer up! We are temples of the Holy Spirit, and we can turn to His heart at every moment.

Mother,

May we, in the daily struggle we face, take refuge in the Heart of Jesus to find Peace. Blessed be God!