Gospel of the Day
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew (10:17–22)
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Be on your guard against men: they will hand you over to courts, scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, as witnesses before them and the pagans.
But when you are handed over, do not worry about how to speak or what you are to say: what you are to say will be given to you at that moment, because it is not you who will be speaking; it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking in you.
Brother will betray brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name; but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
A Direct Witness
The Lord speaks to us about persecution for bearing witness to the Truth, because God’s way of teaching is not the way of the world.
Marriage was instituted by God, according to the laws of Love, and He instituted it as indissoluble. Therefore, we must not allow ourselves to be guided by anything other than the will of God, for the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
And so, when my husband is angry and I hear an inner voice saying, “Answer him sharply, he does not deserve better…” I must turn to prayer in order to listen to the voice of the Father who says to me, “Love my beloved son more.”
And when my husband answers me harshly, I must recollect myself so as to hear God’s voice saying, “Welcome him; my son is tired.”
So the question is this: Will I behave as a child of God, made in His image and likeness? Will I treat my husband as a child of God?
In this way, those around us—family or friends—may not understand us, as the Lord says; yet we shall be witnesses to Love with a capital L.
Applied to Married Life
Catherine: Charles, everyone around me keeps insisting that I should not put up with your working hours, or with your being absent at home…
Charles: Oh really? Forgive me, my love—I do not even realise it.
Catherine: Don’t worry. A while ago it would have affected me deeply. But now that we are walking this path of Proyecto Amor Conyugal, I have learned that loving you means welcoming you in every circumstance.
Charles: My love, how grateful I am for your understanding.
Catherine: And I am grateful that you have embraced this journey, even knowing how hard it is for you.
Charles: How could I not, with how much I love you? Thank you!
Catherine: Then let us give thanks together to the Lord for all that He is doing in us.
Mother,
You welcomed the will of the Father.
Teach us to welcome it in our spouse.
Praised be God!