GOSPEL

A week later, Jesus came.

From the Gospel according to John 20:19-31

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.

The Gospel of the Lord

Accept the conditions

The mercy of the Lord is so great that He refrains from reproach Thomas and accepts Thomas’ conditions to believe in Him. Something as intimate and even humiliating as putting his hand into His wounds. The result the Lord obtains from Thomas is a precious confession of faith: My Lord and my God. The result we all obtain is a new beatitude: Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.

Applied to married life

Henry: I’m learning from Jesus’ example as a spouse that, when faced with grievances and doubts from His spouse, He responds with even greater love. To bring out from each situation a possibility for her to convert and grow in mutual love.

Ana: I suppose you’re referring to His response to Thomas’ disbelief in today’s Gospel.

Henry: Yes, I would be upset because he didn’t trust what I had told him so many times, that I was going to rise again, especially when the other disciples already testified that it had happened. I love learning from the Lord how to be a better husband.

Ana: Me too, but we have work ahead of us. Let’s make sure not to repeat Thomas’ mistake and trust in the Holy Spirit’s power within us.

Mother,

With you, we say to the Lord: My Lord and my God. Praise be to Him forever.

GOSPEL

“Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel”

From the Gospel according to Mark 16:9-15

When Jesus had risen, early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. She went and told his companions who were mourning and weeping. When they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.

After this he appeared in another form to two of them walking along on their way to the country. They returned and told the others; but they did not believe them either.

But later, as the Eleven were at table, he appeared to them and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they had not believed those who saw him after he had been raised. He said to them, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.”

The Gospel of the Lord

Witnesses? Who to believe?

Jesus “rebuked them for their unbelief.” It’s not common for Jesus to rebuke something. However, disbelief regarding the testimony of others must hold special importance, don’t you think?

The testimony of others is so significant for God and the Church that many saints are elevated to the honor of the altars. Many are considered models of Christian identification. Of course, there’s also falsehood. How do we discern when to trust and when not to? On one hand, there must be a connection between testimony and revelation for it to be reliable. On the other hand, there must be coherence in life so that the person is seen trying to practice what they preach. And then, when someone testifies, they personally commit to the cause, sometimes even to the point of giving their life.

Christ spoke of his resurrection on the third day (revelation), and then some disciples come saying they have seen him risen (they personally commit by coming and facing everyone), and yet they are not believed. Jesus, after rebuking them for their unbelief, sends them to proclaim the Gospel, and woe to those who do not believe them.

Applied to Married Life:

After a life of selfishness and using others for personal gain, James decides to live by the Gospel. Obviously, James had caused significant hurt to his wife and loved ones. Consequently, James, didn’t immediately become a positive example for others It all started with good intentions and with more or less frequent relapses, so his good deeds were interpreted as “surely expecting something in return”. But gradually, by the grace of the Lord, the Gospel was taking root in his attitudes, in his conversations, and in his priorities. James was truly changing. He was truly undergoing a transformation, shifting his focus away from his own interests and towards prioritizing his wife’s needs.

James was no longer as admired in his work, but he continued to dedicate himself to it out of love for God. He wasn’t such a “leader” in his home anymore, but he tried to give glory to God; nor did he impress his friends as much by knowing everything. Because the Good News is not effective if it’s not proclaimed by a “new man”. And that, no one denied, neither his wife nor his children. James was definitely a “new man” now.

Now James is, above all, a witness to the resurrection of Jesus, and his wife is madly in love with the “new” James.

Mother,

I thank you because I have believed. You have been watching over me until I believed. Christ has risen, and He is here, by my side, within me. And He loves me so intensely that He will never abandon me. And of this, I am a witness, Mother. Praise be to the Lord who has saved us. Hallelujah!

GOSPEL

From the Gospel according to John 21:1-14

Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way. Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We also will come with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.” So he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish. So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.”When Simon  Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea.
The other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards, dragging the net with the fish. When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.” So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three large fish. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.
Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.” And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they realized it was the Lord. Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them,
and in like manner the fish. This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead.

The Gospel of the Lord

How to conquer the spouse.

We often hear that only God can fully satisfies. And it’s true, because we are born to return to Him. But does that mean we can’t experience fulfillment on earth through our vocation? Is our marriage destined to not bring us happiness? Because in heaven, marriage will no longer exist. Has God called us to a vocation frustrated by our limitations?

We don´t think so. A loving Father doesn’t do that. We can achieve it! We believe we can find fulfillment in our marriage. Without God’s help? No. But it’s our union as spouses that He will give us that fulfillment. A fulfillment that will expand and can always be fuller, until we are prepared to embrace the infinity of God.

To do this, all I have to do is conquer my husband, following Christ’s instructions: The daily Gospel. He will tell us where we need to cast the nets each day.

Applied to Married Life:

They got married convinced that the love they had for each other will last forever. But as the years passed, their love began to deteriorate their affection began to wane, the burden of negative emotions became so heavy that they lost faith in their marriage. So they decided to work on it, to fight to change things. They tried to get to know each other better, to be kinder to one another, to learn to listen… but they didn’t see much progress. The pain of their mutual wounds, the chasm that separated them, was so deep that there seemed to be no way to bridge it. The bridges they tried to build were too weak and collapsed at the slightest strain. Sometimes they grew tired of trying because it seemed futile. But they kept fighting…

Then the Lord, whom they invoked together, opened up a new path for them, one they didn’t know. It was the path of true marriage: “Cast the net to the right side of the boat and you will find.” That’s what the Conjugial Love Project is, the direction where the Lord has told us to cast our nets. These nets are very strong because they are coherent and withstand any onslaught. They are the catechesis of Saint John Paul II on human love. In them, we have found our truth, the truth of our marriage.

Then comes each person’s response. In the Gospel, we see three types of responses: John’s, who is in love with the Lord and recognizes Him immediately. Peter’s, who jumps without hesitation to meet Jesus, and the rest of the apostles who gradually approach Him, rowing, mindful not to neglect the fish they have already caught. But they all reach Him.

Now the Lord waits for us every day, on the shore of our “Sea of Galilee,” with the table set for us to bring our offering and dine with Him. You can sign this story too.

Mother,

Grant us the hope to know that our marriage will fulfill us, that it is real, that we can build a deep communion with the help of God, and we can become one. It is the promise of the Lord through our Sacrament.  Mother, it is so important to keep hope alive!. We trust in you. We trust in Him. Praise be to the Lord, who will make it happen. This is the promise.

GOSPEL

“Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day”

From the Gospel according to Luke 24:35-48

The disciples of Jesus recounted what had taken place along the way, and how they had come to recognize him in the breaking of bread. While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.”
And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of baked fish; he took it and ate it in front of them.

He said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And he said to them,
“Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”

The Gospel of the Lord

Humans forever.

The eschatological human is destined to have a body as well. From the beginning, we will be soul and body, and we will continue to be so for eternity. God believes that the body is important for us, which is why Jesus shows his disciples that he is not a ghost; it was important for Him that they see he still has flesh and bones.

And why have a body for eternity? Because now and for eternity, we will express with our bodies the love that resides in our souls. We will still need to embrace each other, look at each other… because we are definitively, human.

Applied to Married Life:

Martin: Laura, do you love me?

Laura: Yes, I love you.

Martin: Then why don’t you show it?

Laura: Well, I express it to you in many ways.

Martin: Yes, but I mean with hugs, kisses, caresses…

Laura: Well, you know I’m not used to that, and it’s difficult for me. Although I understand I need to overcome it. Love should be demonstrated physically, or it’s not genuine. I recall a wife I was counseling to mend her relationship with her husband. She agreed with all the suggestions I gave her until I mentioned giving her husband a hug. Then, she outright refused.

Martin: Exactly, because deep down, she didn’t truly love her husband. I need to feel your love through those physical gestures. That’s how the grace of the sacrament is also transmitted between us.

Laura: Come here, you deserve a warm hug, my dear.

Mother,

We sanctify ourselves by expressing love with our bodies. Let us not forget that we were created human. Praise be to the Lord who also chose to become man.

GOSPEL

“He was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.”

From the Gospel according to Luke 24:13-35

That very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.
He asked them, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” They stopped, looking downcast.
One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?” And he replied to them, “What sort of things?” They said to him, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his Body; they came back and reported
that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive. Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things
and enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures. As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. But they urged him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing,
broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?” So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the Eleven and those with them who were saying, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

The Gospel of the Lord

It always wins.

We find it difficult to understand that in order to reach Glory, the Lord had to suffer a lot beforehand. Since God gave us freedom and we chose to fall into sin, there is the possibility of not loving ourselves and not loving Him. In such circumstances, the only possibility to demonstrate love is through suffering. There is no other way. So, there is no greater love than the one that gives life for one’s friends.

Christ establishes a new covenant of love between God and mankind, giving his life for the salvation of humanity, so there is no greater love than that of God and humanity, since Christ is also human and He did it on behalf of all of us. And for this reason, the Father glorifies him, and through Him, He will glorify us.

Applied to Married Life:

Susanne: I had pictured our marriage as a journey filled with delightful surprises, intimate confessions, and shared understanding, where we would be deeply connected. However, as our marriage began and I soon realized it wasn’t what I had hoped for, I was deeply disappointed. I married you with the expectation that we would love each other. Over time, I shifted my focus away from our relationship, believing I needed to find another path to find fulfillment within myself.

Charles: It’s true that we feel disappointed in each other. I had imagined a wife eager to welcome me every day, who would look at me with excitement every morning when we woke up, who would make me feel like a better  man and sweeten our life.

Susanne: Certainly, everything seemed fine until I encountered suffering. I resisted it, unwilling to accept it. However, I came to understand that marriage is a sacred bond, one that can only be lived by following the teachings of the Master of Love, who is Christ. He achieved the glory I sought, but it came through the path of the cross. A path where I first had to confront my sins of selfishness and pride and more. And then also surrender for yours.

Charles: I faced similar challenges. Learning to love by suffering to overcome the impulses of my self-love, and then learning to offer myself for you, like Christ .It’s been difficult, but I’ve begun to experience moments of profound fulfillment, when, by the grace of God, I surrender myself to Him and to you.

Susanne: Now, I see a deeper beauty in love, far beyond my initial expectations for our marriage. I didn’t expect so much from our marriage. Praise be to God who exceeds our expectations by far.

Charles: True love always conquers. Christ always triumphs. That’s what Saint John Paul used to tell us when we were dating.

Mother,

May we not fear suffering, for it is the path of Christ. With His guidance, we will find the glory. Praise be to Our Lord.