GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Matthew 10:34

Jesus said to his Apostles:

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth.

I have come to bring not peace but the sword.

For I have come to set

a man against his father,

a daughter against her mother,

and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;

and one’s enemies will be those of his household. “Whoever loves

father or mother more than me is not worthy of me,

and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;

and whoever does not take up his cross

and follow after me is not worthy of me.

Whoever finds his life will lose it,

and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

“Whoever receives you receives me,

and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.

Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet

will receive a prophet’s reward,

and whoever receives a righteous man

because he is righteous

will receive a righteous man’s reward.

And whoever gives only a cup of cold water

to one of these little ones to drink

because he is a disciple–

amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward. “When Jesus

finished giving these commands to his Twelve disciples,

he went away from that place to teach and to preach in their towns.

The word of the Lord

 

A struggle that saves

In our marital vocation, Jesus encourages us to let go of what we often believe is “our life”, so that we may receive the life he has prepared for us. We cannot hold on to everything. So often we try to satisfy every expectation from our family of origin, maintain social appearances, pursue professional success — and in the end we have no strength left for our spouse, for tending our intimacy, for the peace of our home, for conjugal prayer, for being attentive in serving one another.

The order needs to change: first God, then communion with my spouse, and afterwards everything else. And very often this reordering brings struggle — yet it is precisely this struggle that draws us closer to living the Kingdom of God in our daily life.

 

Applied to married life

Laura: Peter, I’m trying, but the rejection from your family causes me real suffering. I thought that when we married I would find the mother I never had, but instead I’ve found myself in a situation that is consuming me — and your attitude even more so. 

Peter: Laura, you’re right, and I ask your forgiveness. I’ve spent a long time trying not to take a stand because it feels so harsh to bring the truth into this situation. I’m afraid of losing them, especially because of my sister’s temperament. But this is affecting our union; it’s undermining our covenant, because I should be protecting you, and instead I choose not to upset my family.

Laura: I don’t want you to lose your family. I’m sure the Lord will help me carry this burden.

Peter: I don’t want to lose them either, but I have to bring truth into this situation. I will speak with them as many times as necessary, with all the love I can. It will be hard, but I’m not going to risk our union just to avoid this bitter moment. We will face this battle together, united in the heart of Christ.

It was difficult for Peter, but with much prayer, love, and time, his family eventually came to admire the communion lived in their son’s marriage — the source of his happiness, and theirs.

 

Mother,

May I never be afraid to challenge anything that pulls me away from my vocation as a husband. Blessed be God!