At that time: In his teaching Jesus said to the crowd, ‘Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the market-places, and have the best seats in the synagogues, and the places of honour at feasts, who devour widows’ houses, and, for a pretence, make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.’
  And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, ‘Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.’

In this Gospel, Jesus contrasts two attitudes of the heart: the appearance of the scribes, who seek recognition, prestige and the approval of others, and the quiet self-giving of the poor widow, who offers all that she has. In this way, He invites us to examine how we live out our love and self-giving. Because we too can fall into the temptation of doing things in the hope that our spouse, our family or others will recognise our efforts, when what truly matters is not what appears important in human eyes, but the love we put into it, the intention of the heart.
In married life, this means giving ourselves to our spouse not only when it is easy or convenient, but especially in the small things of everyday life. The Lord does not ask us for great acts of heroism or extraordinary demonstrations of love, but for a total gift of the heart. True communion is built through the willingness to give oneself completely to the other each day. Sometimes what we offer may seem little: time, patient listening, forgiveness, service, giving up our own way, seeking the good of the other… But when it comes from a heart that gives itself without reserve, it has infinite value before God. Love in a matrimony grows when each spouse chooses to give themselves entirely, trusting that God sustains and multiplies that self-giving. Only through a total gift of ourselves to our spouse will we be truly happy.

Applied to Married Life:

Jessica: Praying with this Gospel has touched me deeply. I can see that Jesus does not look at the amount the widow gives, but at the love and trust with which she offers her few coins.
Martin: Well, it makes me think about our marriage. I wonder whether I really only give what is comfortable for me. Because sometimes I focus on doing big things, but forget to give you my time, my attention and my heart.
Jessica: It’s true, Martin. Sometimes we forget that marriage consists in a total gift of self. And when I look at my daily life, I realise that at times I offer time, affection or service only when I have energy left over.
Martin: The widow gives everything she had to live on. She gives everything, Jessica! I feel that the Lord is asking me to give you my heart, to trust more and not keep parts of myself in reserve.
Jessica: And He invites me to offer myself joyfully, without keeping score, and to make every small sacrifice for you an offering of love and an opportunity to grow in communion.
Martin: May our love be a sincere offering to God in every ordinary detail of life.
Jessica: Amen.

Mother,

teach us to give ourselves completely, in silence, without keeping score, as You did here on earth, and as You continue to do. Blessed and glorious are You, Mother! Praised be the Lord for ever!

At that time: As Jesus taught in the Temple, he said, ‘How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? David himself, in the Holy Spirit, declared, “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet.’ ” David himself calls him Lord. So how is he his son?’ And the great throng heard him gladly.

Son of God

Jesus surpasses our expectations, even for those who were awaiting a Messiah to free them from Roman rule. He is much more. Do we still regard Jesus as a “problem solver”? We must recognise that He is much more: He is the Son of God, who came to redeem us and to show us the way to Heaven: self-giving and sacrifice, to the very last drop of blood and expecting nothing in return. And how can I ever repay such love poured out for me? By loving my husband, my children, my family, my colleagues at work… as He loves me, especially when they deserve it least.

Applied to Married Life:

(Returning from a pilgrimage)
Penny: What wonderful days we’ve spent with our Marriage group, so close to the Lord. It has been a blessing.
Matthew: Absolutely! And now that we’re heading home, I think we should place our family in Our Lady’s hands. May we know how to pass on everything that the Holy Spirit has poured into our hearts. It has been abundant beyond measure.
Penny: What a blessing! You’re absolutely right, I can’t wait to get home so I can share all the fire I carry within me with the rest of the family.
Matthew: But we already know from previous occasions that as soon as we get home, temptations of every kind will start raining down on us.
Penny: Oh dear! I remember the last time. The little one with gastroenteritis, Ryan with all his homework unfinished, and Molly who had spent the entire weekend glued to her mobile…
Matthew: And my mother recounting everything that had happened. She kept saying to us, “This is where you should have been, here with your children, and not spending all day praying!”
Penny: Well, if it sounds good to you, let’s pray the Rosary, asking for each one of them. May the Holy Spirit enlighten us and help us give each person what they need.
Matthew: That sounds like a brilliant plan. Let’s hold tightly to His hand; with Her by our side, we need not be afraid. Let’s also pray for all the young people and children who are sitting exams these days, and for their families and teachers.
Penny: Amen!

Mother:

May we know how to give thanks to the Lord for every gift He has given us, and may we know how to respond to each one within our vocation. Blessed and praised be the Lord, our God, in the Most Holy Sacrament of the altar!

At that time: One of the scribes came up to Jesus and asked him, ‘Which commandment is the most important of all?’ Jesus answered, ‘The most important is, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” The second is this: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’ And the scribe said to him, ‘You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbour as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.’ And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.

That is how it is, and that is how it must be: to love God above all things, beyond everything else and in every circumstance. When the scribe asks Jesus a question, He does not respond with a rule or a requirement to fulfil. Instead, He teaches us that love comes first. We are not born knowing how to love; we must learn to love each day. Love has a centre, and that centre is God. Whenever we face a situation in which it is difficult to love, by renouncing ourselves, giving ourselves generously, and placing God at the centre, we discover how love truly works. Loving God above all else enables us to love others. In marriage, our closest neighbour is our spouse. We are called to love them in concrete ways: with patience when they are tired, by listening even when we do not feel like it, by speaking respectfully in every situation, by caring for the small details, by beginning again after a failure, and by always being available to our spouse. We may have lives full of obligations, routines, and responsibilities, but what matters most is not simply doing things for one another—it is truly loving one another in everything. Yet human effort alone can become exhausted. Marriage needs moments of prayer and encounters with God so that we can continue loving when our own strength is no longer enough.

Applied to Married Life

Victoria: What did you think about what that couple shared regarding the journey they proposed for married life?
Michael: It wasn’t bad. But maybe it’s a little beyond us, don’t you think?
Victoria: Well, that depends on how you look at it. I really liked what they shared, the way they explained it, and what it has meant for their marriage. I think we should talk about it together.
Michael: Yes, it was beautiful. But our lives are already complicated enough with everything we have going on. I’m not sure this is for us.
Victoria: If we look at it that way, we’ll never do anything. They were right when they said we’re called to something greater. We have a lot and we give a lot, but listening to them made me realize that we’re missing something.
Michael: You may be right. We have a long way to go before reaching what they described. But I have to admit, they made me want to try. Just seeing the way they looked at each other—not only hearing how their lives had changed—really touched me. They have something special. I don’t know if we’ll ever have that.
Victoria: The most important thing is that they have God at the centre of their lives and their marriage. They said it very clearly and confidently. For them, He is the priority above everything else.
Michael: Yes, and that’s what’s missing for us. It’s true that we’re people of faith, but I’ve always been rather reluctant about these things. Still, I have to admit that whenever I’ve turned to God—whether in good times or bad—I’ve never come away unchanged. Maybe I need to start seeing Him as a true priority and not just an option.
Victoria: You’re a good man, the man I fell in love with, and I’ve never stopped thanking God for bringing you into my life. Hearing you speak like this renews my love for you and gives me hope.
Michael: Maybe we should give it a try. Anything that brings us closer to God can only help us. Now I realize that the most special thing about the couple we met today is that God is an inseparable part of their lives. That’s why they’ve been able to experience such transformation.
Victoria: I think that’s wonderful. The parish priest invited us to this presentation so we could see what we thought of it. Maybe we could suggest starting a group at our parish. What do you think?
Michael: I agree. Even though we already have much to be grateful for, I’m sure it’s worth trying. I’m really drawn to the vision of love they described—the kind of love we’re called to and should strive to attain.

Mother,

Teach us to love your Son with all our hearts and to recognise Him in our spouse. Grant us a love that is patient, humble, and faithful—a love that forgives and always begins again. May our marriage not rely solely on human effort, but on the presence of God. Blessed and praised be the Lord forever.

At that time: Sadducees came to Jesus, who say that there is no resurrection. And they asked him a question, saying, ‘Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife, but leaves no child, the man must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. There were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and when he died left no offspring. And the second took her, and died, leaving no offspring. And the third likewise. And the seven left no offspring. Last of all the woman also died. In the resurrection, when they rise again, whose wife will she be? For the seven had her as wife.’
Jesus said to them, ‘Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God? For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, “I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob”? He is not God of the dead, but of the living. You are quite wrong.’

The Sadducees present Jesus with a rather contrived situation in order to ridicule the resurrection, trying to understand eternal life through the categories and ways of thinking of this world. The same thing often happens to us. We may spend too much time looking down, interpreting life through our limited perspective, our own criteria, trapped in worries and false securities, forgetting to lift our eyes toward the goal.  Today, the Lord reminds us that we were created for eternal life. How beautiful it is to discover that our marriage is a path to Heaven, that God uses both the love of our spouse and their limitations to enlarge our hearts and lead us to Him. But a day will come when we will no longer need signs or mediations, because we will be gazing upon the Face of God. Lord, today in our prayer we want to awaken our desire for Heaven—to dream of it, to imagine it, to long for that moment when we fall to our knees before You, face to face, and can embrace You, kiss the wounds that saved us, and praise You forever. Then, overwhelmed by love, we will understand that every sacrifice, every cross, and every act of self-giving was preparing us for that eternal embrace. Spouses, lift up your eyes! “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human heart has conceived—the things God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).
“We were not made to look at the ground… You created us to look toward Heaven.”
“I lift up my eyes, fixing them on Jesus. I lift up my eyes, fastened on the Cross.”

Applied to Married Life

Martha: The doctor said the treatment is going to be a long one…
James: I never imagined our life would be like this. Everything changed overnight—our plans, our expectations… I don’t understand why the Lord is allowing this situation, especially now.
Martha: Many times I feel like I’m becoming a burden to you. But, James, I was thinking about something today… Imagine the day when we stand together before God, face to face with Him.
James: Incredible!
Martha: Yes… and I was thinking: do you think this stress and anxiety we’re experiencing right now will matter very much then?
James: Well… clearly not.
Martha: Exactly. What will matter is how much we loved, how much we trusted, and how much we helped each other reach Him. This illness, like so many other problems, will be insignificant. It will have been a means of purifying us and bringing us a little closer to God.
James: Everything looks so different when you think about Heaven!
Martha: Then why do we so often live looking at the ground? Let’s lift up our eyes and walk together toward the goal for which we were created!

Mother,

Gate of Heaven, awaken in our hearts a longing for eternal life and help us seek God together, so that one day, through His mercy, we may behold the Face of Jesus face to face and remain united to Him forever.