GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Mark

Mark 2:1-12

When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days,

it became known that he was at home.

Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them,

not even around the door,

and he preached the word to them.

They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men.

Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd,

they opened up the roof above him.

After they had broken through,

they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying.

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to him,

“Child, your sins are forgiven.”

Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves,

“Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming.

Who but God alone can forgive sins?”

Jesus immediately knew in his mind what

they were thinking to themselves,

so he said, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?

Which is easier, to say to the paralytic,

‘Your sins are forgiven,’

or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’?

But that you may know

that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth”

–he said to the paralytic,

“I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.”

He rose, picked up his mat at once,

and went away in the sight of everyone.

They were all astounded

and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.” 

The word of the Lord

Thank you for your faith

The Lord is the Savior, and He takes advantage of any opportunity to rescue us. Today, we see how He relies on the faith of the bearers to save the paralytic. What merit does the paralytic have here? On the other hand, the Pharisees use any circumstance to condemn. The Lord’s attitude fills me with hope because I see Him wanting to cling to any reason to save me. Let us not be Pharisaic spouses towards each other but rather spouses who bear living water.

Grounded in married life:

Juan: Today, wife, I would like to thank you for your faith.

Julia: And I for yours, because it helps me a lot to move towards the Lord.

Juan: Today, I want to give thanks because the Lord, through your faith, pours out His redeeming power upon me when you pray for me and offer yourself for me.

Julia: That too. Thank you, Lord, for the faith of my husband.

Mother,

How far does the love of the Lord go for me? How far does His mercy? Praised be He forever.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Mark

Mark 1:40-45

A leper came to him and kneeling down begged him and said,

“If you wish, you can make me clean.”

Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand,

touched the leper, and said to him,

“I do will it. Be made clean.”

The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean.

Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once.

Then he said to him, “See that you tell no one anything,

but go, show yourself to the priest

and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed;

that will be proof for them.”

The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter.

He spread the report abroad

so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly.

He remained outside in deserted places,

and people kept coming to him from everywhere.

The word of the Lord

Wanting and Being Able

“Wanting” and “being able” are two verbs with a vast distance between them in situations like that of the leper. But for the Lord, they always go together, because what He wants to do, He can always do, and what He can do, He always wants to do. In our case, however, in matters of love and healing, we may want a lot and be able to do nothing. And other times, we may be able to do a lot and not want to do anything. There are many times when I could love my spouse more and I don’t want to love him/her more. I don’t want to because I’m tired, or because I’m fed up, or because I think s/he don’t deserve it, or because I’m hurt by something they’ve done, or I don’t want to because I believe they don’t love me. Today, Jesus returns the phrase to me and presents my spouse wounded by sin (I close my eyes and contemplate them in my heart). After looking at them for a few moments, Jesus says to me: If you want, you can love him/her more. Let’s see if I respond like Him and say: I want to!

Applied to married life:

Fran: If you want, you can forgive me.

Patri: I’m very hurt by you and I don’t want to forgive you.

Fran: Will you at least give me a hug?

Patri: I don’t want to hug you because you don’t deserve it. (The next day, Patri goes to confession and the priest does not give her absolution. Upon arriving home…) Patri: Husband, I’m home. Can you come?

Fran: I’m coming!

Patri: I wanted to forgive you for yesterday. The Lord taught me a lesson today because the priest couldn’t give me absolution for my sins for not wanting to forgive you.

Fran: Oh! Thank you for forgiving me.

Patri: Will you forgive me too?

Fran: Well, now I don’t want to forgive you… Just kidding! Of course, I do. Come into my arms!

Mother,

How many things the Lord wants to do through us and does not do out of respect for our freedom, all those times we can but do not want to. Today we say to you: We are your servants, Lord! Praised be you.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Mark
Mk 1:29-39

On leaving the synagogue
Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John.
Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever.
They immediately told him about her.
He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up.
Then the fever left her and she waited on them.

When it was evening, after sunset,
they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons.
The whole town was gathered at the door.
He cured many who were sick with various diseases,
and he drove out many demons,
not permitting them to speak because they knew him.

Rising very early before dawn,
he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.
Simon and those who were with him pursued him
and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.”
He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages
that I may preach there also.
For this purpose have I come.”
So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons
throughout the whole of Galilee.

The word of the Lord

Mr. Tired.

Clearly, Jesus slept very little that night. He finished late and tired, regardless He had to get up to pray, it does not matter that He is the Son of God, he still do it. Dear spouses, now is not the time to rest; the harvest is plentiful, and it is God’s will that none should be lost. So, it is not time to rest; it is time to give life.

Applied ton married life:

Carmen: There is something evil that plagues most of the population. Do you know what it is?
Luis: What is it?
Carmen: Tiredness. Today everyone is very tired. I myself complain very often about being tired. But I think I can’t afford it. There is much to do for the Lord and for the salvation of marriages.
Luis: You are right. I also realised that the only thing that truly rests, apart from necessary sleep, is prayer.
Carmen: Resting in the Lord. How right you are. I have resolved not to be so mindful of my supposed tiredness, because it is like a dark hole that traps me, and the more I let myself be absorbed by it, the more it traps me. So, when I feel tired, I will get up with the Lord and give more of myself or pray with Him. Will you join me?
Luis: But I’m tired.
Carmen: Hahaha, you silly. Come on, Mr.Tired, get up and give me a kiss.

Mother,

We have been created to give life as Christ did. Praised be He forever.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Mark

Mk 1:21-28

Jesus came to Capernaum with his followers,

and on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught.

The people were astonished at his teaching,

for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.

In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit;

he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?

Have you come to destroy us?

I know who you are–the Holy One of God!”

Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!”

The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him.

All were amazed and asked one another,

“What is this?

A new teaching with authority.

He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.”

His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

The word of the Lord

And if I get a hair implant?

Jesus speaks with authority because He does not speak used theories, instead what He says He will be able to do it. But there is a attribute of Jesus Christ that interests us especially today: the power over evil. He has the power to expel evil from my soul and from my marriage. Who can promise a transformation of the heart? Who can guarantee love? Who else can offer eternal life? The one who can is the one with the authority to whom I decide to submit.

Applied to married life:

César: I promised you, Rosa, that I would make you happy. I was naïve, without realising that it was not in my hands.

Rosa: Well, it would be infatuation that would lead you to make me that promise. I remember perfectly how you were drooling over me.

César: Actually, I never stopped loving you, but over time, I forgot how important you are to me.

Rosa: It is true that you have given me a lot, César, but you do not give me what I need.

César: Yeah. But… I’ve found the solution!

Rosa: What is that miraculous solution?

César: I am going to get a hair transplant like Brad Pitt.

Rosa: Hahaha. You’re always so witty. Look, no one can beat you at that… Hahaha. César: No, seriously. The solution is in Christ. He can indeed meet all your needs and expel from me all that harms you and affects our marriage.

Rosa: And… how are you going to bring Christ into our marriage? 

César: Bribing Saint Peter to give me the keys to His house.

Rosa: Hahaha. Again with your overwhelming ingenuity. You have no remedy… César: No, seriously. Going to the Eucharist more frequently and not missing any catechesis of Saint John Paul II even if you can’t go.

Rosa: How special you are… Thank you, César, for loving me so much.

Mother,

Only the authority of Christ convinces us. Praised be He forever.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Mark
Mk 1:14-20

After John had been arrested,
Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God:
“This is the time of fulfilment.
The Kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”

As he passed by the Sea of Galilee,
he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea;
they were fishermen.
Jesus said to them,
“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Then they left their nets and followed him.
He walked along a little farther
and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They too were in a boat mending their nets.
Then he called them.
So they left their father Zebedee in the boat
along with the hired men and followed him.

The word of the Lord

What is my cause?

Jesus does not present himself but hides behind the presentation of the kingdom of God. It is true that the kingdom of God is in Him, but it is not He who initially says it. The person is revealed in their cause, and the cause of the Savior is that the kingdom of God triumphs in our hearts. As always, I confront myself with Jesus and ask, what is my cause?”

Applied to married life

Pepe: Leli, would you be able to say what your cause is?

Leli: Of course. My cause is to give glory to God through my marriage with you. In my dedication to you and in our joint dedication to our family, everything I can offer to God with my life is at stake. Do you think I am doing it well, Pepe?

Pepe: For me, there is no better wife or mother than you.

Leli: Thank you, Pepe. Hearing that from you makes me think that the Lord is truly working in us.

Pepe: More and more, Leli, I see it more and more.

Mother,

The kingdom of God is here. May we know how to receive it, appreciate it, and proclaim it accordingly. Praised be Jesus Christ.