Monthly Archives: May 2026

Dwelling within us. Reflection for married couples. John 14:1-12

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Gospel of the Day
From the Gospel according to John 14:1–12
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.’ Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.’
  Philip said to him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the Father”? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
  ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.’

Dwelling within us

The love between spouses goes beyond mere feeling. On our wedding day, we committed ourselves to keep our marital promises. I give myself to you and promise to be faithful to you… in health and in sickness… When you are having a difficult day, in moments of weakness… when we wholeheartedly accept and live out these promises, we allow Jesus and the Father to make their dwelling in our marriage, and we allow the Holy Spirit to manifest His gifts in our hearts. This transforms our whole life. The Holy Spirit, who has been present between us since the day we were married, needs us to give Him “permission” through our intention and our actions in order to work within us.

Applied to married life:

Arthur: Lucy, since I became aware that when I promised at our wedding to be faithful to you, it also meant maintaining purity in my actions and in my thoughts, how much my heart has changed! Thank you for how much you have helped me in this.
Lucy: I have changed a great deal too. Before, I often thought badly of you, and that caused my heart to receive you with distrust. I was not being the help God was asking me to be.
Arthur: At first it was very difficult for me, and it was a great struggle, but over time it has become the most natural thing — embracing this logic of God.
Lucy: This is what we saw the other day in the catechesis: when we manage to grow in the virtue of purity, which is usually difficult for us, it disposes us to receive it as a gift of the Holy Spirit, just as today’s Gospel says.
Arthur: What joy that the Holy Spirit has manifested Himself in this. Now that Pentecost is approaching, it is a wonderful time to celebrate it.

Mother,

May we fulfil the commands of Jesus through love, so that He and the Father may make their dwelling in our hearts. Praised be God!

Act as you believe. Reflection for married couples. John 14:7-14

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Gospel of the Day

Gospel according to John 14:7–14
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.’ Philip said to him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the Father”? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
  ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me for anything in my name, I will do it.’
The Gospel of the Lord

Act as you believe

In this Gospel, Jesus reveals a central truth of our faith: “whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” In Him, God becomes visible, close, human. Christ does not only speak about God; He shows Him through His very life. And this mystery deeply illuminates the sacrament of marriage: we, as Christian spouses, united in Christ, are called to be a living sign of God’s love. Through the grace of our sacrament, we participate in His love and, as Saint John Paul II teaches, we are called to make the invisible visible.
In our daily lives, through acts of self-giving, forgiveness, and communion, we reflect the true love of God. What greatness in our marital vocation—to be, in the midst of the world, a living reflection of divine love. To be a sign, a presence, and a witness. To be, with humility and truth, a place where our spouse and those around us can glimpse the face of the Father.

Brought Down to Married Life:

Yvonne: James, do you remember when we started praying together? For me it felt natural, but with you it was often difficult.
James: Yes… I really struggled. I felt uncomfortable and even resisted letting you accompany me.
Yvonne: And I, without realising it, sometimes pressured you. I so deeply wanted to bring you closer to the Lord, but I didn’t always do it with the gentleness He would have wanted.
James: That made me close off even more. But over time, through perseverance, the Lord began to change my heart, and I started to see your faith as a gift.
Yvonne: James, and I learned to wait and to trust God more than my own efforts, because I realised that insisting only created resistance.
James: Yvonne, now I understand that God also speaks to me through you, and that letting myself be guided by your hand brings me closer to Him.
Yvonne: And it teaches me to love you with patience, self-giving, and embracing, always trusting in God’s timing.

Mother,

Lead us to the Father through Jesus and guide us to live in His heart and in His works. Blessed and praised be the Lord forever.