GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to John 17:20-26

Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying:

“I pray not only for these,

but also for those who will believe in me through their word,

so that they may all be one,

as you, Father, are in me and I in you,

that they also may be in us,

that the world may believe that you sent me.

And I have given them the glory you gave me,

so that they may be one, as we are one,

I in them and you in me,

that they may be brought to perfection as one,

that the world may know that you sent me,

and that you loved them even as you loved me.

Father, they are your gift to me.

I wish that where I am they also may be with me,

that they may see my glory that you gave me,

because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

Righteous Father, the world also does not know you,

but I know you, and they know that you sent me.

I made known to them your name and I will make it known,

that the love with which you loved me

may be in them and I in them.”

The word of the Lord

 

Our Union

This passage from the Gospel is one of Jesus’ most intimate prayers. It offers a profound light for Christian marriage: God’s dream for spouses is not merely to live together, but to become one, a reflection of the love between the Father and the Son.

This unity does not mean thinking the same about everything, but learning to walk towards a communion where the “I” gives way to the “we”.

Marital love matures when each spouse stops constantly defending themselves and begins instead to care for one another as a sacred treasure. Christ desires to live within the marriage — not simply to accompany it from the outside, but to dwell in the very midst of the spouses. That is why, when a couple prays together, forgives one another, listens with patience, and sacrifices themselves for the other, they are allowing Christ to love from within them.

In a society marked by division, haste, and individualism, spouses who love each other faithfully, who remain united in difficulties, and who continue choosing one another each day become a visible testimony of God. Moreover, this Gospel reminds us of something essential: unity does not arise on its own; it is both a gift and a task, built in the ordinary rhythm of daily life.

Marital love cannot be sustained by human strength alone. Spouses are called to love with the very love that comes from God, and when that love enters the home, even wounds, differences, and trials can become a path to communion. For the true success of a marriage is not simply living many years together, but becoming a visible reflection of God’s love.

 

Applied to married life

Vincent: What’s going on, Eva? I can see you’re a bit down, and you’re usually so cheerful.

Eva: Yes… I’m still upset about what happened yesterday at dinner with our friends.

Vincent: But everything went really well — we all got together, which we hadn’t done in ages, and we had such a good laugh.

Eva: I know, but I really didn’t like the way the women ended up on one side and the men on the other, as if we needed to split up to enjoy ourselves more.

Vincent: I wasn’t too keen on it either, but at least we managed to stay close — divided by “zones”, but still together.

Eva: That I loved, and it helped me so much having you by my side. But it led to a few hurtful comments about the way we do things, and it really upset me.

Vincent: The men also made a few comments that were out of line, but I managed to help them see how we try to live our unity even in the small things.

Eva: It’s just that men are a bit simpler — and rougher — and you don’t dwell on things you don’t see the same way.

Vincent: It’s not worth going round in circles. What matters is what we show when we defend and live out our union. Besides, for me the best part of the dinner was being next to you.

Eva: You’re absolutely right — it’s in the small details that it shows the most. I didn’t tell you: at the end, when we were saying goodbye, Inma came over and told me she loves seeing us always so united, and that nothing gets in the way of that, no matter what others say. She asked for help, admitting that things with Pedro are a bit difficult.

Vincent: See? It’s always worth it, despite the comments from outside. Pedro also came up to me and hinted that he’d like us to talk.

Eva: Well then, that settles it. You’ve completely turned around the sadness I was feeling and helped me see the importance of our unity. I’m going to call Inma right now and invite them over for dinner so we can talk.

Vincent: That’s my wife — the two of us facing everything together, whatever the situation.

 

Mother,

Help us to reflect the love between the Father and the Son through the unity in our marriage, so that many may come to believe in marriage as God intended it. Blessed be God.