Gospel of the Day
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew 17:1–9
Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him.
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”
When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone.
As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, “Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
We Have Nothing to Fear
“How good it is for us to be here,” Peter says.
“How good it is to be here,” we also say when, as husband and wife, we pray together. It is a moment in which we are allowed to share in God’s glory—a little taste of Heaven on earth. How much we have to thank God for: for the gift of our spouse, for this path of union with Him, and for the countless graces He pours into our lives each day.
Yet fear can also creep into our hearts. We become afraid of what God might ask of us. Jesus knows us. He knows our weakness. That is why, throughout the Gospel, He tells us again and again: “Rise, and do not be afraid.”
If we truly believe in Him and love Him, however imperfectly, we have nothing to fear. God is a loving Father who gives us everything we need to live in Him. If God is with us, who can be against us?
Applied to Married Life
Mary: Javier, we’ve been praying together every night for the past few weeks. Today, after spending some time in silence before the Lord, I felt such a deep peace.
Javier: So did I. For a few moments, it felt as though we had been given a glimpse of Heaven.
The following day, as they spoke about a growing sense that God was calling them to serve more in Proyecto Amor Conyugal, their fears surfaced.
Mary: What if we’re not capable? What if it leaves us with less time for ourselves? What if God asks too much of us?
Then they remembered the words of the Gospel:
“Rise, and do not be afraid.”
They realised that God was not asking them to rely on their own strength, but on His. They thanked Him for the gift of their marriage, for the path of holiness they were walking together, and they renewed their decision to continue hand in hand, confident that if God was with them, they would never lack what they needed to fulfil His will.
Prayer
Mary, our Mother,
You who gave yourself completely to God, teach us to overcome our fears and to trust as you trusted. Blessed are you, Mother!