Gospel

‘Whoever loses his life for my sake and for the gospel will save it.’
Mark 8:34-9:1

At that time: Calling the crowd to him with his disciples, Jesus said to them, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.’ And he said to them, ‘Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.’

The Gospel of the Lord

The Weeble-Wobble Monster

The undefeated champion? Self-love.
Denying ourselves is one of the hardest things to do. Sometimes, it feels like we’re making progress by God’s grace, but then—out of nowhere—it rises again, reclaiming its throne.
Self-love is like a weeble-wobble monster—it may seem to fall, but it always bounces back.
The only way to defeat it is through love. Only with God’s love can it be conquered. When I love God and my spouse more than myself, I will be a true disciple, because I will be able to give myself for them on the cross—out of love—and follow the Lord.
Do you want to conquer your self-love? Love the Lord more. Love your spouse more.

Applied to Married Life:

Nathalie: Colin, do you love me more than you love yourself?
Colin: I’d like to say yes, but the truth is, there are still times when I put myself first. There are moments when I think of myself more than I think of you. And there are still times when I hurt you in order to defend myself, Nathalie.
Nathalie: I feel the same. Sometimes, I manage to put my self-love aside, but when I get really annoyed… well. So, what do you think we should do?
Colin: I think we need to stay faithful in prayer every day and practice small acts of self-giving to deepen our love for each other.
Nathalie: Alright. Count me in!

Mother,

We want to be disciples of Your Son. Please, help us to follow Him. We love Him, but we want to love Him more. We love each other, but we want to love each other more. Thank you, Blessed Mother.

Gospel

‘You are the Christ.
Mark 8:27-33

The Son of Man must suffer many things.’
At that time: Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that I am?’ And they told him, ‘John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.’ And he asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered him, ‘You are the Christ.’ And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.
  And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.’

The Gospel of the Lord

Alright, But I Don’t Understand

Sometimes, we believe that loving our spouse or children means finding ways to ease their suffering or take it away entirely. But what if that suffering is a cross willed by God for their own redemption—or even for the redemption of others?
We must be careful when faced with the suffering of our loved ones. Instead of following our own human instincts, we should seek God’s purpose in it. Otherwise, we may unknowingly become part of a temptation that leads them away from the Lord’s path.

Applied to Married Life:

Catherine: The Lord is asking me to fast from self-love by not defending myself.
Luke: I get that, but what my sister said to you was completely unfair. They’re going to think you’re avoiding them on purpose.
Catherine: Let them think whatever they want.
Luke: Well, I’ll speak to them then.
Catherine: No, my love. Please respect God’s will. He wants me to fast from self-love by not defending myself, and this is the path He has given me. Please, don’t be the one to tempt me away from it.
Luke: Alright, alright… but I don’t understand.

Mother,

Help us to accept the crosses God permits for us and for our loved ones, as a path to following Christ. He is the Lord.

Gospel

‘The blind man’s sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.’
Mark 8:22-26

At that time: Jesus and his disciples came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spat on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, ‘Do you see anything?’ And he looked up and said, ‘I see people, but they look like trees, walking.’ Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. And he sent him to his home, saying, ‘Do not even enter the village.’

The Gospel of the Lord

Healing: A Process

Every healing follows a process, and one of the main reasons for delays is a lack of faith. Bethsaida was a town where faith was scarce—Jesus Himself said: “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!”
Because of the people’s lack of faith, Jesus took the blind man outside the village to perform the miracle. And due to the man’s own lack of faith, Jesus did not heal him instantly. Instead, He allowed him to see partially first, to strengthen his faith, and only then did He restore his sight completely.
May our lack of faith in the Lord never slow down our own healing process.

Applied to Married Life:

John: I have a bad habit rooted deep in my heart—impatience.
Mary: Oh, tell me about it, John! I suffer from it every day. You really struggle to tolerate my shortcomings… But I have faith that the Lord will heal you.
John: That’s the problem, Mary—I don’t have the patience to wait for that healing.
Mary: So, it’s a never-ending cycle, like a dog chasing its tail. Hahaha!
John: Exactly.
Mary: Don’t worry, just ask Him for it in faith. Meanwhile, I’ll supply the patience you’re missing.
John: Hahaha. Deal.

Mother,

How impatient we are in our journey to holiness. Give us the hope we need. Praise be to our Saviour.

Gospel

‘Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod.’
Mark 8:14-21

At that time: The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. And he cautioned them, saying, ‘Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.’ And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, ‘Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?’ They said to him, ‘Twelve.’ ‘And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?’ And they said to him, ‘Seven.’ And he said to them, ‘Do you not yet understand?’

The Gospel of the Lord

Face or Facade?

Yeast makes the dough rise. The “yeast” of the Pharisees aimed to lift the crowds by seeking their approval—by pretending to be something they were not. Who hasn’t put on their best face in public, only to wear a much different expression at home? Often, that face is not so pleasant.
This is a common struggle; it always has been. That’s why Jesus speaks so firmly, “Beware of pretending to be something you are not!”

Applied to Married Life:

Charles: What matters more to you—what people think of you or what God thinks?
Myriam: I should say what God thinks… but the truth is, I put far more effort into my image in front of people. It’s sad, but that’s the reality.
Charles: Well, don’t worry. The Lord also sees your moments of repentance, and those aren’t things that others can see. You have a beautiful heart, and only God and I can see it.
Myriam: Thank you, my love. God is so merciful with me, and you truly love me just as I am.
Charles: I know the real you, and I love you despite your flaws. And what about me? Do you love me, even with my imperfections?
Myriam: I do. I love you—a lot.

Mother,

Help us to focus on loving more, rather than merely appearing better or feeding our pride. Praise be to the Lord.

Gospel

‘Why does this generation seek a sign?’
Mark 8:11-13

At that time: The Pharisees came and began to argue with Jesus, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, ‘Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.’ And he left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side.

The Gospel of the Lord

A Sign of Love

Two days ago, we celebrated the feast of Saint Claude de la Colombière. What stands out most about him is his great act of trust—something completely opposite to the distrust of the Pharisees, who demanded a sign from Jesus as proof.
Let it not be so among us. Let us trust, and we will see many signs.

Applied to Married Life:

James: We’ve fallen again. How embarrassing. It’s as if we were beginners.
Lucy: Yes. But the Lord has allowed it so we can realise that without Him, we are nothing. Still, we trust because we know how much He loves us. Trusting in Him, whatever has happened doesn’t matter. The Lord knows we love each other, and we love Him, even in our weakness.
James: In Him, we trust, and in Him, we find joy.

Mother,

We don’t need any more signs because we already know that the Lord loves us. Praise be to Him forever.