From the Gospel according to Mark 16:15–20

Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them:
“Go into the whole world
and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved;
whoever does not believe will be condemned.
These signs will accompany those who believe:
in my name they will drive out demons,
they will speak new languages.
They will pick up serpents with their hands,
and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them.
They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them,
was taken up into heaven
and took his seat at the right hand of God.
But they went forth and preached everywhere,
while the Lord worked with them
and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.

Missionary Spouses

The last time the Lord appeared to His disciples before ascending into Heaven, He said to them: “Go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.”

Jesus promises salvation to those who believe and are baptised. This is not merely an intellectual faith, but an active and missionary one — a faith that calls us to renounce worldly ways and a life of sin, in order to embrace the ways of the Kingdom of Heaven and a life of grace.

To be baptised is to be converted: to leave behind the old self and be reborn into a new life in the Spirit, as children of God. And He tells us that those who believe will be accompanied by signs: they will cast out demons, speak new tongues and heal the sick.

Spouses, we are called to live as new creations, being reborn together within our marriage. And today we see how the Risen Christ sends us out to proclaim the Good News to the whole world. It is His final command before His Ascension.

Jesus Himself told us: “You are my friends if you do what I command you” (Jn 15:14).

We cannot remain silent!

Let us proclaim to the whole world the joy of the Good News of marriage — announcing it through our witness, through our lives: by welcoming our spouse as a gift, looking upon them with mercy in difficult moments, without demands or reproaches; listening with patience; offering those gestures of tenderness and affection, those kind words that do so much good; asking for forgiveness…

Let us be missionary spouses within our families, and also among our friends, acquaintances, and at work — in all the ordinary realities of our daily lives. That is our world, and that is our mission.

Jesus promises us eternal salvation — what more could we possibly desire?

Brought into Married Life

Mary: I think we should be doing more, Vincent.

Vincent: What do you mean?

Mary: Since we went on the Project retreat and discovered what we are called to, we’ve hardly done anything. We’ve barely changed.

Vincent: But we’ve been going to the parish marriage group meetings! And many days we pray together as a couple. And we’ve been to some Adoration times…

Mary: Yes, but it still feels like very little. During prayer today, I felt that Jesus is asking more of us. He says that those who believe will be accompanied by signs — casting out demons, healing the sick… I see that if someone truly believes, they must put it into action; otherwise, they don’t really believe. He asks us to proclaim the Gospel.

Vincent (teasing): Right… and it also says they will speak new tongues. We don’t speak any new languages — does that mean we don’t believe?

Mary: The language of the world is not the language of love or of the things of the Spirit. That could be the new language.

Vincent: Forgive me, Mary. I’ve just mocked what you were saying — and in the end, I’m the one who looks foolish. I realise you’re right, and that it’s only my laziness that makes me look for excuses.

Mary: You see? You’re already beginning to speak a new language.

Vincent: It’s true — it is a new way of speaking. And you’re right: we’ve discovered the greatness of our marriage. We shouldn’t be afraid to be witnesses of what God is doing in us.

Mother,

Teach us to be living examples of divine love, always doing the will of the Father and proclaiming the Word of the Son without fear of the world or its consequences, but abandoning ourselves to His providence, just as you always did.

Blessed and glorious are you, Mother! May the Lord be praised for ever.

From the Gospel according to John 6:52–59

The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying,
“How can this man give us his Flesh to eat?”
Jesus said to them,
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood,
you do not have life within you.
Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood
has eternal life,
and I will raise him on the last day.
For my Flesh is true food,
and my Blood is true drink.
Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood
remains in me and I in him.
Just as the living Father sent me
and I have life because of the Father,
so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.
This is the bread that came down from heaven.
Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died,
whoever eats this bread will live forever.”
These things he said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

Jesus Remains with Us

In the Eucharist, Jesus is truly present — His Body, His Blood, His Soul and His Divinity. He is the same Jesus who was born in Bethlehem, who preached in Galilee, who suffered, died and rose again in Jerusalem. The Living Bread come down from Heaven, who waits for me, who waits for us, longing to satisfy His thirst for love.

What prevents me from being with Him?

It is clear that my spouse, my children, my parents and my work are duties of my state in life that I must not neglect. But what about the rest of my time? My hobbies, my series, my rest… me, me, me… Where is the Lord who gave His life for me?

Being aware of this — spouses! — let us go more often to the Eucharist, to Adoration, to pray before the Tabernacle. Our eternal life is at stake.

Brought into Married Life

Mary: Hello, Charles — how was your day?

Charles: Hello, my love — exhausting. I’ve had meeting after meeting and hardly even had time to eat.

Mary: Oh dear… what a day. I finished earlier today and was able to spend time with the children, helping them with their homework. My mother picked them up a little while ago and took them to the park for a walk.

Charles: Oh! Then we could make the most of this little bit of time and go to the Eucharist. I didn’t manage it this morning because I got caught in terrible traffic.

Mary: To Mass? But Charles, it’s not Sunday. You know I think it’s wonderful that you go whenever you can, but today I was hoping we could go shopping together. It’s been ages since we last went, and you know how much I enjoy it.

Charles: How about we try to do both? Let’s go to Mass at the parish — it’s just nearby — and afterwards we can head to the shopping centre next door.

Mary: Alright then, but afterwards let’s not rush, agreed?

Charles: That sounds good. I’ll be there with you for as long as you need.

(After Mass)

Mary: My love, shall we go to the park for a little walk with the children? Right now my heart is so full of the Lord, and all I want is to be with you.

Charles: Thank You, Lord… thank you, Mary. There is no better plan.

Mother,

Help us to become ever more aware that your Son is waiting for us in the Eucharist. He is the same Child Jesus whom you cradled in your arms and laid in the manger, offering Him as food for our souls.

Thank you, blessed Mother!

From the Gospel according to John 6:44–51

Jesus said to the crowds:
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him,
and I will raise him on the last day.
It is written in the prophets:

They shall all be taught by God.

Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me.
Not that anyone has seen the Father
except the one who is from God;
he has seen the Father.
Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever believes has eternal life.
I am the bread of life.
Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died;
this is the bread that comes down from heaven
so that one may eat it and not die.
I am the living bread that came down from heaven;
whoever eats this bread will live forever;
and the bread that I will give
is my Flesh for the life of the world.”

To Believe and to Live

How simple the Lord makes it for us — and yet how we complicate things. Today He tells us once again: “Whoever believes has eternal life.” We need only believe; it is that simple. To believe is not to understand — to believe is to accept: to accept without doubting, without asking for explanations. The Lord says to us, “Trust in Me.”

And so that we may never forget, Christ chose to remain with us in the Holy Eucharist. He came down from Heaven and has stayed here, truly present, so that we may have a foretaste of eternal life at any moment. He gave Himself completely on the Cross, and He remains with us so that we may be closer to Him.

In marriage too, Christ becomes present in the spouses in every act of self-giving and welcome.

Brought into Married Life

Mary: Hurry up, James — as always, we’re going to be late for the Eucharist. Can you leave that for later?

James: I’m going as fast as I can. I had to send that email urgently.

Mary: There’s always some excuse. What’s truly urgent is not being late for the most important appointment of the day.

James: You said it yourself — we go to Mass every day. It’s a gift from the Lord.

Mary: That’s true, but sometimes it seems that for you there are more important things.

James: Here we go again with the hints… Look, we’ve arrived on time in the end — it wasn’t such a big deal.

(After Mass that day — they have been attending daily together for some time)

Mary: Forgive me, James. I put a lot of pressure on you, focusing only on my own priorities, without considering everything you do.

James: There’s nothing to forgive. I didn’t rise to the occasion either. I left until the last minute something I could have done much earlier, and I made excuses instead of giving priority to what matters most.

Mary: It’s incredible how the Eucharist transforms us — receiving the Lord every day. Thank you for insisting so much and helping me to see how important it is.

James: It’s not really me — it’s the Lord who has led me to it. Some time ago, He made me realise how important the Eucharist is and what a great opportunity it is to be able to go every day. But something was missing — you. So I began to insist.

Mary: Just look at how I came to Mass today — burdened with temptations — and now I leave filled with grace, even more in love with you. I love you.

James: The greatest gift the Lord has given me is that He remains present in the Eucharist — and that I can live it daily with you. It is truly bringing us closer together. I love you very much too.

Mother,

You are present at every Eucharist alongside your Son. Help us to live that moment with an eternal perspective.

Blessed and praised be God.

From the Gospel according to John 6:35–40

Jesus said to the crowds,
“I am the bread of life;
whoever comes to me will never hunger,
and whoever believes in me will never thirst.
But I told you that although you have seen me,
you do not believe.
Everything that the Father gives me will come to me,
and I will not reject anyone who comes to me,
because I came down from heaven not to do my own will
but the will of the one who sent me.
And this is the will of the one who sent me,
that I should not lose anything of what he gave me,
but that I should raise it on the last day.
For this is the will of my Father,
that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him
may have eternal life,
and I shall raise him on the last day.”

Hungry and Thirsty

All of us carry within our hearts a desire for eternity — a longing for justice, beauty, love, and peace. Man seeks happiness and transcendence because he has been created for life, to live for ever. We have a thirst for fullness that nothing in this world can satisfy.

We try to fill that emptiness with many things, even with the people we love most, yet everything falls short. And today, Jesus reveals to us where our deepest longings are truly satisfied: “Whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

The question is: do I go to Him? Do I believe in Him? Or do I live relying on my own securities — work, health, money, reputation…?

It is in this search that Jesus offers Himself as food for the heart: “I am the Bread of Life.” He does not come to give us something; He comes to give us Himself.

So today, in prayer, I ask myself: do I truly hunger for God, or do I live as though I were self-sufficient? Do I recognise my need for His grace — a beggar for His mercy, His love, His presence in the Eucharist…?

Lord, grant me hunger and thirst for You — that I may seek You, find You, and then live only to love You and those You have entrusted to me.

Brought into Married Life

Lucy: (looking at her phone) I’ve bought myself another little thing online… and while I was buying it, I was thinking: “I don’t need this.”

Arthur: And yet you bought it?

Lucy: I don’t know… it’s as if, for a moment, it calms me, but the feeling doesn’t last at all…

(Arthur remains silent)

Lucy: And afterwards I feel the same… or even worse — empty. As though I’m trying to fill something, but I don’t even know what it is. But today, while I was buying it, I realised something.

Arthur: What was that?

Lucy: That I’m not really looking for things — I’m looking to feel safe, calm, fulfilled. And buying things is like a quick anaesthetic… I realise now that I’m missing something — or rather, Someone.

Arthur: That’s a beautiful realisation, Lucy. It’s the first step on the journey… The Lord is always waiting for us, and He will never reject us. So… shall we take up our prayer together again?

Lucy: Yes, let’s go to Him together! Lord, I am full of things, but empty of You. Give me hunger and thirst for You, because only You can satisfy me.

Mother,

It is comforting to know that the Father does not wish to lose a single one, and from our hearts we unite ourselves to that desire. Help us to reach Heaven!

Blessed are you, Mother!

From the Gospel according to John 6:30–35

The crowd said to Jesus:
“What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you?
What can you do?
Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written:

He gave them bread from heaven to eat.”

So Jesus said to them,
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven;
my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.
For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven
and gives life to the world.”

So they said to Jesus,
“Sir, give us this bread always.”
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life;
whoever comes to me will never hunger,
and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”

Hunger and Thirst for You

It is deeply moving to contemplate how, in the face of man’s disordered desire, You do not turn away or reject him, but draw near, understanding our blindness. With infinite goodness, You embrace our disorder in order to purify and elevate it, and with gentleness You reveal to us the true longing of our hearts.

Man, created for communion, hungers for love. Yet, through concupiscence, he seeks to satisfy that hunger in the wrong places: he asks for signs, for reassurance, to be filled from without. Like that crowd, he looks for bread that satisfies the body, while his heart, in truth, longs for something far greater.

And so it is also in marriage. That desire for communion, when it is not purified, becomes a demand: expecting from one’s spouse what only You can give; asking for words, gestures, attentions… as though the other could quench the thirst of the heart.

But You, Jesus, when You see us in such poverty, do not rebuke us harshly. You do not point out our misery; rather, You ask for it. And from within it, You lift our gaze so that, looking into Your eyes, we may allow ourselves to be led without fear, ever deeper, until we discover the true longing of our hearts.

You make us realise that we do not hunger merely for human affection, but for You.

And You, Lord, to satisfy this hunger for You, do not simply give us gifts, or solutions, or passing consolations… You give us Yourself, entirely.

“I am the Bread of Life.”

Jesus in the Eucharist is the true school of love for spouses. True love does not consist in demanding that the other satisfy my need, but in allowing You to satisfy it first. For only the one who is nourished by You can truly love — and will never again hunger or thirst.

Brought into Married Life

Peter arrives home after a difficult day at work, and Patricia is with the children, exhausted.

Peter: Hello…

Patricia: Hello… could you take James for a moment?

Peter: Yes, of course… (he does, but somewhat irritated)

(A few minutes pass in tense silence)

Peter: Aren’t you even going to ask me how my day was?

Patricia: I’m sorry, I just haven’t had the head for it… I’m exhausted.

Peter: Right… it seems you don’t really care how I am.

Patricia: Well, it seems you don’t care how I am either!

Peter: Honestly… I come home hoping for a bit of affection… a bit of attention… and nothing!

Patricia: And I hope that one day you’ll help me without my having to ask all the time!

A heavy silence falls. But, thanks be to God, they take time for prayer, and afterwards.

Peter: Forgive me, Patricia… I think I came in keeping track of whether you would ask about me or give me attention. I was only thinking about myself, to be honest.

Patricia: Me too, Peter… I was just waiting for you to come home so you could help me — I wanted your help more than I wanted you. I’m just so tired!

Peter: I know, my love… and I was only thinking that I came home hungry, needing to let things out and find some peace. But I’ve realised that’s not the way.

Patricia: I don’t do it well either, Peter. I still have so much to grow in love.

Peter: That makes two of us. Forgive me, my love. I love you.

Patricia: And I love you too!

Mother,

Lead us to your Heart and hide us within it. Form in us a Eucharistic heart, like that of your Son — capable of welcoming, of giving itself, and of loving to the very end.

May we always find in the Eucharist the source from which our strength is renewed, so that we may learn to become bread that is broken and given out of love.

And thus, united with you, may we be able to say with truth and humility: The Lord has done great things for me.

Glory be to God!