Author Archives: Esposos Misioneros

The Key Moment. Reflection for married couples. Jn 5, 24-29

GOSPEL

The dead will hear the voice of the Son of God
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John
John 5:24-29

Jesus said to the Jews:
I tell you most solemnly,
whoever listens to my words,
and believes in the one who sent me,
has eternal life;
without being brought to judgement
he has passed from death to life.
I tell you most solemnly,
the hour will come – in fact it is here already –
when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God,
and all who hear it will live.
For the Father, who is the source of life,
has made the Son the source of life;
and, because he is the Son of Man,
has appointed him supreme judge.
Do not be surprised at this,
for the hour is coming when the dead will leave their graves
at the sound of his voice:
those who did good will rise again to life;
and those who did evil, to condemnation.

The Gospel of the Lord

The Key Moment

There is a key moment that sets apart the life we live now from the moment when, God willing, we will enter His Glory. This is the incomparable moment of the beatific vision of God. In that moment, that vision will impact us so profoundly that it will bring about a sublime transformation within each of us.
In that instant, we will finally become what God envisioned for us—a version of ourselves we could never have imagined. Above all, through the beatific vision, we will reach the summit of love and communion for which we were created, leaving us with an insatiable thirst until we attain it.
Then, praises to God will arise from our depths with the full strength of our hearts.

Applied to Married Life:

Charles: The more my love for you and for the Lord grows, the deeper my thirst becomes, and the more I long to reach the fullness of love and communion.
Linda: We were made for heaven; we were created for Christ, and our hearts won’t rest until they find their home in Him.
Charles: That hope, honestly, makes me detach from worldly things and long for the day I leave this world. Otherwise, we’d be clinging to this life, and our end would be a true tragedy. Dying is no easy passage, but I long for it, just to be one with you and with God.

Mother,

How wonderful it is to know the destiny the Father has prepared for us. We are unaware and undeserving. Praise be to the Lord, and even greater praise will be given in the beatific vision of God.

What If I Give It a Try. Reflection for married couples. Mt 5, 1-12a

GOSPEL

How happy are the poor in spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew
Matthew 5:1-12a

Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up the hill. There he sat down and was joined by his disciples. Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them:
‘How happy are the poor in spirit;
  theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Happy the gentle:
  they shall have the earth for their heritage.
Happy those who mourn:
  they shall be comforted.
Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right:
  they shall be satisfied.
Happy the merciful:
  they shall have mercy shown them.
Happy the pure in heart:
  they shall see God.
Happy the peacemakers:
  they shall be called sons of God.
Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right:
  theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Happy are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.’

The Gospel of the Lord

What If I Give It a Try?

According to what the Lord tells us today, anyone can find happiness in marriage, even through tears and suffering, even if persecuted, insulted, or wronged by their spouse—so long as they are free from worldly interests, seek God’s will, live in grace, strive to purify themselves from worldly passions and standards, and are willing to give themselves for the salvation of the other.
What if I trust, give it a try, and stop complaining and making demands of my spouse?

Applied to Married Life:

Luke: Why do you say you’re not happy?
Martha: Because my husband is harsh with me, always focusing on what I do wrong. Plus, he mocks me with sarcastic jokes.
Luke: Can I ask—do you worry a lot about your image?
Martha: Well, yes. I try to look after myself.
Luke: And when your husband treats you poorly, do you focus more on the hurt you feel, or on understanding what might be troubling him so you can help?
Martha: Oh, come on! With the way he speaks to me, I’m supposed to be thinking about what he’s going through?
Luke: And do you have a spiritual path that helps you grow closer to the Lord and transform your heart?
Martha: No. But I do pray three Hail Marys every day and go to Mass on Sundays.
Luke: Aha! I think I have the diagnosis.
Martha: For my husband?
Luke: No, your happiness doesn’t depend on him. You need to start living the Beatitudes in your marriage.

Mother,

We love you. Thank you for the path you’ve shown us. Praise be to the Lord.

Spouses Under His Wings. Reflection for married couples. Lk 13, 31-35

GOSPEL

It would not be right for a prophet to die outside Jerusalem
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

Luke 13:31-35

Some Pharisees came up to Jesus. ‘Go away’ they said. ‘Leave this place, because Herod means to kill you.’ He replied, ‘You may go and give that fox this message: Learn that today and tomorrow I cast out devils and on the third day attain my end. But for today and tomorrow and the next day I must go on, since it would not be right for a prophet to die outside Jerusalem.
  ‘Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you that kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often have I longed to gather your children, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you refused! So be it! Your house will be left to you. Yes, I promise you, you shall not see me till the time comes when you say:
‘Blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord!’

The Gospel of the Lord

Spouses Under His Wings

Lord, today I weep with You for all the spouses who do not embrace the grace of the Sacrament, a grace You suffered so much to give us, flowing from Your pierced Heart. How many souls remain empty, how many of God’s Projects of Love remain unfinished, left barren. We want to keep walking with You, hand in hand with Mary, today, tomorrow, and the day after… for as long as You will it, for Your greater Glory and the salvation of marriages.

Applied to Married Life:

Mark: How much grace we’ve let slip away since the day God united us in our Sacrament. All that time without considering the Lord between us… Such pain for the Lord and for us.
Anna: Absolutely. It’s been awful. But today, we say, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” He has come to redeem our marriage.
Mark: Today, I also want to cry out to the heavens: “Blessed is the wife who has come to me in the name of the Lord.” Today, I welcome you as His messenger, as the true help He has given me for my sanctification.
Anna: The Lord has changed how I see you, and I want to cry out too: “Blessed is the husband who has come to me in the name of the Lord.” Thanks to the Lord, I see you today as a blessing from heaven.

Mother,

Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Clinging to You, we walk towards Him, helping other spouses to take shelter under His wings like young chicks.

The Front Door. Reflection for married couples. Lk 13, 22-30

GOSPEL

The last shall be first and the first last

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke
Luke 13:22-30

Through towns and villages Jesus went teaching, making his way to Jerusalem. Someone said to him, ‘Sir, will there be only a few saved?’ He said to them, ‘Try your best to enter by the narrow door, because, I tell you, many will try to enter and will not succeed.
  ‘Once the master of the house has got up and locked the door, you may find yourself knocking on the door, saying, “Lord, open to us” but he will answer, “I do not know where you come from.” Then you will find yourself saying, “We once ate and drank in your company; you taught in our streets” but he will reply, “I do not know where you come from. Away from me, all you wicked men!”
  ‘Then there will be weeping and grinding of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves turned outside. And men from east and west, from north and south, will come to take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.
  ‘Yes, there are those now last who will be first, and those now first who will be last.’

The Gospel of the Lord

The Front Door

How easy it is to be kind and friendly with friends, and yet how difficult it can be at home. How easy it is to contemplate and admire the Lord, yet how challenging it is to feel that same admiration when looking at my spouse. But it is there, at the narrow gate of my home, where everything is at stake. Let us strive to enter with hearts aflame through the narrow gate of our home, for that is where our true character is revealed. If I am one way with the Lord and another way with my spouse, in whom He also resides, the Lord will say, confused, “But who are you really? I do not know you.”

Applied to Married Life:

John: Darling, you’re always so gentle and kind with me. Don’t you ever get tired of it?
Ava: Not really, to be honest. At first, when I came home, I’d slip into “Finally home!” mode and let go of my manners, my kindness, and my attentiveness. But I knew that couldn’t be right because home is where I need to try hardest, with you, my top priority. It was hard initially, but now, the more I look after you, the more I care for you and make an effort, the more I love you, and the easier it becomes.
John: You’re wonderful. Your attitude really helps me, and it inspires me to do the same. Thank you.
Ava: No, thank God. I only put in my good intentions and effort; He does the rest. I promise you.
John: Then blessed be the Lord. And thank you so much for being my wife.

Mother,

You who see my deeds at home, grant me the grace to keep striving to love more here than anywhere else. Praise be to the Lord.

The Atomic Bomb of Love. Reflection for married couples. Lk 13, 18-21

The kingdom of God is like the yeast that leavened three measures of flour
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke
Luke 13:18-21

Jesus said, ‘What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it with? It is like a mustard seed which a man took and threw into his garden: it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air sheltered in its branches.’
  Another thing he said, ‘What shall I compare the kingdom of God with? It is like the yeast a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour till it was leavened all through.’

The Gospel of the Lord

The Atomic Bomb of Love

It’s clear that the kingdom of God doesn’t arrive all at once; instead, God plants it, and it slowly matures in my soul. The Lord stands before me on the cross, giving Himself for the salvation of what I hold most dear in this world—my spouse. He allows me to look upon Him, letting His sacrifice seep into my heart, drawing me to fall in love with Him.
He appears before me in the Eucharist, where I see Him break and pour out His Blood for my spouse. And He waits patiently for me to respond… He gradually conquers my heart, making me His own, until I surrender everything to Him, celebrating His enthronement in my heart.
“I am Yours, for You I was born; what would You have me do?”

Applied to Married Life:

Sophia: Can you believe it? We’ve been married for over 30 years, and our love keeps growing. With our stumbles to keep us humble, but still, it’s growing.
Arthur: Saint John Paul II’s teachings on marriage are a boundless treasure trove, revealing the riches of our sacrament little by little. I’m truly amazed by it.
Sophia: The Holy Spirit, an endless source of love, wisdom, knowledge… And the seed grows and grows, reaching our children, family, friends, even strangers…
Arthur: The atomic bomb of Love has exploded between us, and as long as we stay connected to the Vine, this is unstoppable. Long live Project Marital Love!
Sophia: Long live!

Mother,

I love this path you have called us to walk. Thank you, Blessed Mother. How could I ever repay you?