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Persevere with Joy. Reflection for married couples. Matthew 13:24–30

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Gospel of the Day

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew 13:24–30
Another parable he proposed to them, saying:
“The kingdom of heaven is likened to a man that sowed good seed in his field. But while men were asleep, his enemy came and oversowed cockle among the wheat and went his way. And when the blade was sprung up and had brought forth fruit, then appeared also the cockle.
And the servants of the goodman of the house coming said to him: ‘Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? From whence then hath it cockle?’
And he said to them: ‘An enemy hath done this.’
And the servants said to him: ‘Wilt thou that we go and gather it up?’
And he said: ‘No, lest perhaps gathering up the cockle, you root up the wheat also together with it.
Suffer both to grow until the harvest, and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers: Gather up first the cockle, and bind it into bundles to burn, but the wheat gather ye into my barn.’”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Persevere with Joy
We can’t afford to “fall asleep” thinking that everything is already going well — that our conversion is done, that we go to Mass, pray regularly, haven’t argued in a while… If this is where we’re at, then thanks be to God!
But what a mistake it would be to think the battle is over.
The Evil One never sleeps. He’s tireless. He lies in wait for us to lower our guard so he can sow weeds in the middle of our wheat.
Knowing this, what should we do when we discover weeds growing in our hearts?
Above all — never lose hope. Persevere in the essential path of purification.
Persevere in prayer and in the sacraments. And always give thanks to God — because even when we fall, He loves us. He makes us strong when we acknowledge our weakness.
Applied to Married Life
(Before beginning the path of purification, Pepe was an impatient person, which sometimes led him to act without charity toward his wife. Afterwards, he often felt bitter and sad for having fallen again, because he knew it wasn’t right.
Today, Pepe is praying…)
Pepe: Forgive me, Lord. I thought I had already overcome this impatience. It had been a long time since I last gave in.
But here I am — I’ve fallen again. And I made Maite feel bad.
But you know what, Lord? Something has changed in me.
Today I’m joyful, because in this fall, I’ve experienced my smallness.
I asked her forgiveness quickly, and I felt Your loving gaze encouraging me to keep going.
I want to be a saint, Lord. But I know I can’t do it alone.
What scares me now isn’t falling — it’s losing love.
Mother,
Today we celebrate the memorial of your parents, Saints Joachim and Anne — a holy marriage.
We ask you, Mary, to intercede for all the couples who read these Gospel reflections. May we always persevere and remember that Love is stronger than death, and that Jesus is always faithful.
Blessed be Jesus. Blessed be You, who do not break the bruised reed, nor extinguish the smouldering wick.

Will the Excuses Be Enough? Reflection for married couples. Matthew 20:20–28

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Gospel of the Day

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew 20:20–28
Then came to him the mother of the sons of Zebedee with her sons, worshipping and asking something of him.
Who said to her:
“What wilt thou?”
She saith to him:
“Say that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left, in thy kingdom.”
And Jesus answering, said:
“You know not what you ask. Can you drink the chalice that I shall drink?”
They say to him:
“We can.”
He saith to them:
“My chalice indeed you shall drink; but to sit on my right or left hand is not mine to give to you, but to them for whom it is prepared by my Father.”
And the ten hearing it were moved with indignation against the two brethren.
But Jesus called them to him and said:
“You know that the princes of the Gentiles lord it over them; and they that are the greater exercise power upon them. It shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be the greater among you, let him be your minister. And he that will be first among you shall be your servant.
Even as the Son of man is not come to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a redemption for many.”
The Gospel of the Lord.

Will the Excuses Be Enough?

As St John of the Cross said: “At the evening of life, we will be judged on love.”
Will our “buts” and excuses really hold up? “But my husband was…”, “But my wife…” — will they matter?
What is the commandment that sums them all up?
“Hear, O Israel!”
But do we really listen to the Lord?
Like the mother of the sons of Zebedee, we ask for “reasonable” things by human standards:
“Lord, I ask that my husband would change this, because it’s not fair…”
“I ask that my son would be this or that…”
But the Lord answers: Do you know what you’re asking?
Do you truly want to be great in My eyes? Then, like the Son of Man, go and serve. Give your life.
So, let’s stop making excuses. Let’s stop pointing at what others fail to do and instead focus only on serving, giving our lives, and loving — even when it’s hard.
And who will tell my spouse what they need to change? Leave that in the Lord’s hands.
You? You focus on doing God’s will, on giving yourself, on loving.
And then — just watch what the Lord will do through the grace of your marriage.

Applied to Married Life

Mar: I can’t take it anymore. Another fight with Ángel. He just doesn’t help at all. I have to do everything myself. It’s not fair. I’ve told him a thousand times. And I keep asking the Lord to change him, at least for the sake of setting a good example for the kids.
Mentors: Mar, have you taken this to prayer? What does the Lord say?
Mar: Of course I’ve prayed about it! I tell the Lord all the time how Ángel behaves, how he doesn’t help…
Mentors: The Lord already knows how you feel. But — do you read His Word and then listen to Him? In silence, with loving attention?
Mar: Hmm… I think I talk too much and don’t listen enough…
(One month later)
Mar: Dear mentors, thank you so much for what you told me. Since we spoke, I’ve been trying to really listen to the Lord, reading His Word and actually listening… and I’ve realised that I never stop judging Ángel, always focusing on what he does wrong. I’d forgotten to see his heart, how wonderful he is, and all the good in him. I was so fixated on the bad that I lost sight of the good.
And I’ve taken literally what Jesus said about serving and giving one’s life — so I’ve stopped demanding things from him. It’s hard, but I really feel God’s help.
Mentors: What joy, Mar!
Mar: And guess what? Last night during our couple prayer, Ángel said he’s noticed my effort, that before he felt awful about all the things I used to say to him, but now he sees me more affectionate, he sees how much I love him, and he’s trying to do better — not to upset me and to help me more.
Mentors: How great is the Lord! How deeply He loves us!
And don’t let your guard down — the struggle continues, but this is the way.
Listen to the Lord, give your life, and love more each day.

Mother,

A thousand thanks for everything — especially for your Son, who shows us the way.
Help us to listen to Him, to deny ourselves, to embrace the cross of each day and to follow Him.
Praised be the Lord!

Logic of the World or of God? Reflection for married couples. Matthew 13:10–17

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Gospel of the Day
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew 13:10–17
And his disciples came and said to him:
“Why speakest thou to them in parables?”
He answered and said to them:
“Because to you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven: but to them it is not given. For he that hath, to him shall be given, and he shall abound: but he that hath not, from him shall be taken away that also which he hath.
Therefore do I speak to them in parables: because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And the prophecy of Isaias is fulfilled in them, who saith: ‘By hearing you shall hear, and shall not understand: and seeing you shall see, and shall not perceive. For the heart of this people is grown gross, and with their ears they have been dull of hearing, and their eyes they have shut: lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.’
But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. For, amen I say to you, many prophets and just men have desired to see the things that you see, and have not seen them: and to hear the things that you hear, and have not heard them.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Logic of the World or of God?
What happens when we don’t understand our spouse?
We end up just like in the Gospel: “seeing, they do not see, and hearing, they do not hear or understand.”
We know the logic of the world often contradicts the logic of God. But we are children of God, and so we are called to use His logic — to listen, to speak, and to truly understand our spouse.
The Lord grants to His friends the grace to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven. But this requires a desire to be close to Him, to know Him, to deepen our relationship with Him.
The same is true in our marriage. Our spouse desires to be truly known — and that calls us to will to love, to desire to know, and to deepen our bond (especially through praying together).
When we begin to see the world through God’s eyes, we receive that supernatural vision in which our virtues help us to “know the secrets of the Kingdom” — and to know our spouse more deeply and lovingly too.
Applied to Married Life
Judit: Lately, every time I tell you something, it’s like I’m speaking Chinese…
Bernat: Darling, I’m sorry — I don’t know what you’re trying to tell me or what I’m supposed to read between the lines. It’s not that you’re speaking Chinese, but deciphering you has become difficult…
Judit: It’s true that lately we’ve been really stressed with work, the kids’ summer camps, house-hunting… We’re both exhausted by the end of the day and we haven’t been praying together at night.
Bernat: Since our schedule has shifted these days, how about we do our couple prayer in the morning instead of evening? If not, we know it’s not going to happen. What if we woke up 30 minutes earlier to do it?
Judit: You really do have the gift of organisation! It’ll be tough at first, but it’s totally worth it. Otherwise, we both know how this summer will go… Every summer ends up being a spiritual winter, and that can’t keep happening. Actually — what if we try going to weekday Mass together too?
Bernat: I start later on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so we could go together at 8am to start the day with the Lord.
Judit: I love you so much! Thank you for taking care of us and protecting our marriage by strengthening our relationship with the Lord.
Bernat: I love you more!
Mother,
We ask you to help us un-harden our hearts — so we may see, hear, and understand… as you do.
Glory to the Lord who enables us to learn from His logic.

The Magdalene Guide. Reflection for married couples. John 20:1–2, 11–18

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Gospel of the Day

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John 20:1–2, 11–18
On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came early, while it was still dark, to the sepulchre; and she saw the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
She ran, therefore, and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them:
“They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.”
But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping. And as she wept, she stooped down and looked into the sepulchre.
And she saw two angels in white, sitting one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been laid.
They said to her:
“Woman, why weepest thou?”
She said to them:
“Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.”
When she had said this, she turned back and saw Jesus standing; and she knew not that it was Jesus.
Jesus said to her:
“Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?”
She, thinking he was the gardener, said to him:
“Sir, if thou hast taken him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.”
Jesus said to her:
“Mary.”
She turned and said to him:
“Rabboni!” (which is to say, “Master”).
Jesus said to her:
“Do not touch me, for I am not yet ascended to my Father. But go to my brethren and say to them: I ascend to my Father and to your Father, to my God and your God.”
Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples:
“I have seen the Lord, and these things he said to me.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
“The Magdalene Guide”
The 5 steps of the “Magdalene Guide” to see Christ in my spouse:
1. Rise early. Take the first step. Go out to meet him, putting him first — even when things aren’t clear or easy.
2. Don’t live with indifference. Dare to look at the pain your spouse causes you. Let that pain expand and purify your heart.
3. Persevere. Even when you can’t recognise Jesus in your spouse, especially in the midst of chores and daily pressures.
4. Don’t get dragged down by routine. Call him by name again — not based on what you want him to be, but on who he really is.
5. Don’t try to hold him back. Love him freely, without trying to possess him — loving him as God loves him.
Lord, You live in my spouse! Blessed and praised be You.
Applied to Married Life
(A conversation between Rocío and her spiritual director about her marriage to Armando)
Rocío: Father, lately I feel so alone in my marriage… as if something has died between Armando and me. We don’t argue, but we don’t really connect either. And it hurts.
Director: What do you do with that pain, Rocío?
Rocío: At first I became indifferent. But lately, during prayer, I’ve found myself silently crying. Not out of anger… but sadness. Like standing at a tomb… like Mary Magdalene.
Director: How beautiful that you see yourself there. Mary didn’t run from the empty tomb. She stayed. She wept. Sometimes, true love doesn’t act — it simply stays and weeps faithfully. And that is already hope.
Rocío: But I feel weak, like crying for him doesn’t do anything…
Director: But isn’t that how God loves us? Didn’t Jesus weep over Jerusalem, over our rejection? Tears of love are not wasted — they are seeds of resurrection. Mary wept, and the Risen One appeared to her. Because faithful tears cleanse the eyes of the soul.
Rocío: So I shouldn’t run from this pain?
Director: No. Stay, like Mary. Don’t run. Don’t accuse. Cry with God — not alone. And tell Jesus: “Here I am… not understanding, not seeing… but I won’t leave.” That kind of faithfulness is faith. And one day, like Mary, He will say your name: “Rocío”… and you’ll recognise Him again — even in your husband. And He’ll begin to show you what to do, and especially how to receive every situation with Armando.
Rocío: (emotionally) Thank you, Father… I really needed someone to remind me that to love also means to stay and to weep… but with hope — not for myself, but for Him.
Mother,
Teach me to remain in those situations I don’t understand, so I may see your Son.
Praise be to the Risen Lord!

The Magdalene Guide. Reflection for married couples. John 20:1–2, 11–18

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Gospel of the Day

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John 20:1–2, 11–18
On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came early, while it was still dark, to the sepulchre; and she saw the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
She ran, therefore, and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them:
“They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.”
But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping. And as she wept, she stooped down and looked into the sepulchre.
And she saw two angels in white, sitting one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been laid.
They said to her:
“Woman, why weepest thou?”
She said to them:
“Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.”
When she had said this, she turned back and saw Jesus standing; and she knew not that it was Jesus.
Jesus said to her:
“Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?”
She, thinking he was the gardener, said to him:
“Sir, if thou hast taken him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.”
Jesus said to her:
“Mary.”
She turned and said to him:
“Rabboni!” (which is to say, “Master”).
Jesus said to her:
“Do not touch me, for I am not yet ascended to my Father. But go to my brethren and say to them: I ascend to my Father and to your Father, to my God and your God.”
Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples:
“I have seen the Lord, and these things he said to me.”
The Gospel of the Lord.

“The Magdalene Guide”
The 5 steps of the “Magdalene Guide” to see Christ in my spouse:
1. Rise early. Take the first step. Go out to meet him, putting him first — even when things aren’t clear or easy.
2. Don’t live with indifference. Dare to look at the pain your spouse causes you. Let that pain expand and purify your heart.
3. Persevere. Even when you can’t recognise Jesus in your spouse, especially in the midst of chores and daily pressures.
4. Don’t get dragged down by routine. Call him by name again — not based on what you want him to be, but on who he really is.
5. Don’t try to hold him back. Love him freely, without trying to possess him — loving him as God loves him.
Lord, You live in my spouse! Blessed and praised be You.
Applied to Married Life
(A conversation between Rocío and her spiritual director about her marriage to Armando)
Rocío: Father, lately I feel so alone in my marriage… as if something has died between Armando and me. We don’t argue, but we don’t really connect either. And it hurts.
Director: What do you do with that pain, Rocío?
Rocío: At first I became indifferent. But lately, during prayer, I’ve found myself silently crying. Not out of anger… but sadness. Like standing at a tomb… like Mary Magdalene.
Director: How beautiful that you see yourself there. Mary didn’t run from the empty tomb. She stayed. She wept. Sometimes, true love doesn’t act — it simply stays and weeps faithfully. And that is already hope.
Rocío: But I feel weak, like crying for him doesn’t do anything…
Director: But isn’t that how God loves us? Didn’t Jesus weep over Jerusalem, over our rejection? Tears of love are not wasted — they are seeds of resurrection. Mary wept, and the Risen One appeared to her. Because faithful tears cleanse the eyes of the soul.
Rocío: So I shouldn’t run from this pain?
Director: No. Stay, like Mary. Don’t run. Don’t accuse. Cry with God — not alone. And tell Jesus: “Here I am… not understanding, not seeing… but I won’t leave.” That kind of faithfulness is faith. And one day, like Mary, He will say your name: “Rocío”… and you’ll recognise Him again — even in your husband. And He’ll begin to show you what to do, and especially how to receive every situation with Armando.
Rocío: (emotionally) Thank you, Father… I really needed someone to remind me that to love also means to stay and to weep… but with hope — not for myself, but for Him.
Mother,
Teach me to remain in those situations I don’t understand, so I may see your Son.
Praise be to the Risen Lord!