At that time: Jesus went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve, whom he also named Apostles, so that they might be with him, and he might send them out to preach, and have authority to cast out demons. He appointed the Twelve: Simon, to whom he gave the name Peter; James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder; Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

We can imagine how the Lord went on calling people one by one to follow Him, and they said “yes” and went with Him. What a beautiful thing!
And that same beautiful story is being repeated today, here and now, with us. He chooses us to live a wonderful plan, a great and beautiful vocation in which to follow Him: the vocation of marriage. And on our wedding day, as spouses, we say “yes” to following Him.
What do we say yes to?
In prosperity and in adversity, in sickness and in health, every day of our lives. How beautiful! “Congratulations!” everyone says—friends, family, acquaintances…
But those same people do not say the same thing when the setting changes.
Then daily life arrives. I grow tired and reproach my spouse for working so much and not helping me enough—and I say “no” to the Lord. My pride appears and I get angry because my spouse does not listen to me—and again I say “no” to the Lord. And where on the wedding day there were congratulations, now the advice is: “Separate.” Why? Has only the situation changed? Are love and commitment circumstantial and fleeting?
No. As Saint Paul says: “Love never ends.”
Now is the time to love more. Precisely where the Lord asks for our “yes”, that is where He calls you and me—here and now. Can you hear Him? If so, it is Him calling out to us as spouses:
Come and follow Me—in your spouse.

Applied to Married Life

Claire: Darling, I’m going to make dinner.
Charles (thinking): Here she goes again, saying it out loud so I’ll help… I’m sure of it. Well, I’m staying right here on the internet.
Claire: Would you like an omelette, or do you prefer scrambled eggs?
Charles (thinking): She’s definitely asking so I’ll get up and help. I’m not moving—I deserve a rest… Eggs, Claire!
Claire: Love, I’m coming over to enjoy whatever you’re doing—I’ve already finished dinner.
Charles: Oh, I was just looking for a watch, nothing else.
Claire: Well, show me—I’ll help you choose one.
Charles (thinking): She makes dinner and still cares about what I’m doing… it’s incredible. And here I was thinking badly of her. Honestly, since we’ve been going to the Marital Love Project group, her heart has changed so much—and yet I still look at her with such a critical eye.
Claire: Come on, show me the models—there must be a nice one.
Charles: Love, forgive me for judging you. I thought you were calling me just to pull me away from the internet… and instead you made dinner and cared about the watch I want. I’ll set the table right now.
Claire: Well, by God’s grace I realise you’re tired after work, so I made dinner and that’s fine. Now let’s just enjoy this together.
Charles: Not a chance—it’ll go cold after all the effort you put into it. I’ll set the table with the children and we’ll eat right away. I know you like your food hot.
Claire: Alright, love—let’s do it together.
Charles: I’d really like to go deeper and welcome what we’re learning in the Marital Love Project catechesis the way you do. You truly are a different wife—and a different mother.
Claire: Then let’s ask the Lord for it tonight in our couple prayer, and He will do it.
Charles: Yes! I can’t wait to start.

Mother,

may we say yes at every moment, just as you did. Praise be to the Lord!