From the Gospel according to Mark 11:27–33
Jesus and his disciples returned once more to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple area, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders approached him and said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things? Or who gave you this authority to do them?” Jesus said to them, “I shall ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Was John’s baptism of heavenly or of human origin? Answer me.” They discussed this among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ But shall we say, ‘Of human origin’?” they feared the crowd, for they all thought John really was a prophet. So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.” Then Jesus said to them, “Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
The Truth Sets Free
In this Gospel, Jesus leads the chief priests to confront the truth of their own hearts. They are not sincerely seeking the will of God, but rather protecting their position, their image, and their pride. We spouses can also fall into this attitude: arguing while convinced that we are right, clinging to our own version of the truth, and closing ourselves off to the truth of Christ, who always calls us to humility, listening, and love.
The love of Christ does not seek to win or impose itself; it seeks to give itself. When spouses allow Christ to transform their hearts, they lower their defenses, stop constantly justifying themselves, and learn to look at each other with mercy. Then communion flourishes.
Do I sincerely seek the truth that Christ reveals in my heart, or do I only defend my own position? Do I want to be right, or do I want to love?
Applied to Married Life:
Martha: You left the lights on again, Bob?
Bob: And you point it out the moment you walk into the house again, Martha… Sometimes I feel like you arrive with a radar that only detects my mistakes.
Martha: Forgive me. I came home tired, I saw the light on, and I reacted badly. And I realize that many times I speak to you out of exhaustion and frustration, not out of love.
Bob: And I immediately become defensive, as if I have to justify myself all the time… Lately it seems like we speak more to defend ourselves than to understand each other.
Martha: Because we both think we’re right. I cling to my truth, you cling to yours… and we leave little room to listen to what Christ wants to teach us in the middle of all this.
Bob: You’re right, Martha. In the end, the light being left on or the reason for the argument no longer matters. What weighs us down is pride… that pride that makes us want to win instead of love.
Martha: And without realizing it, we stop looking at each other with tenderness. We respond to protect ourselves, not to care for one another.
Bob: Maybe today the Lord is asking exactly that of us: to stop defending our pride so much and begin opening our hearts more. I’m realizing that when I only want to be right, I end up distancing myself from you. But when I try to love like Christ, I find you again.
Mother,
Lead us to live in the truth of your Son and to love with a humble heart. Blessed and praised be the Lord.