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That Power! Reflection for marriages. Matthew 9:1-8

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Gospel
They glorified God who had given such authority to men.
From the Gospel according to Matthew. Mt 9:1-8
After entering a boat, Jesus made the crossing, and came into his own town. And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “courage, child, your sins are forgiven.” At that, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.”
Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, “why do you harbor evil thoughts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” he then said to the paralytic, “Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.”
He rose and went home. When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to men.

The Gospel of the Lord.

 

That Power!

Matthew refers to the forgiveness of sins as a power that God grants to men. Specifically, the Church receives it through the priestlhood. If the Church did not have this power, it would not be the Sacrament of Christ on earth. But it does, indeed! It is! and we also praise God because He has given this power to men. Otherwise… what would become of us?

 

Applied to Married Life:

Ben: Forgive me, Blanca. I’ve made you suffer a lot this week because of my pride.
Klaire: I forgive you, Ben. I’ve had the opportunity to offer myself for you. I saw you were very troubled and blinded. But thanks to God, you have returned to the arms of the Father and mine.
Ben: Yes. I have attended confession. It was wonderful. It is true that before confession, it is always a bit difficult to take the step, but how marvelous it is to be forgiven by God! I was overwhelmed at the moment when the priest laid his hands on me and, by the power granted to him in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, told me that my sins were forgiven.
Klaire: It is an experience that, if lived with faith, is miraculous.

Ben: Praise be to God.

 

Mother,

How much we value the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Without it, what would become of us? Thank you, my God. Thank you, thank you, thank you…

Faith in Stubbornness. Reflection for marriages. John 20:24-29

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Gospel

My Lord and my God!
From the Gospel according to John. Jn 20:24-29
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 Thomas 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.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Faith in Stubbornness

Regarding the question of why Thomas was not with the other apostles that day, scholars suggest that his despair after Jesus’ death likely drove him away. The apostles had stayed in Jerusalem for eight days instead of going to Galilee as Jesus had instructed, unwilling to leave without him, and they were searching for him. Eventually, they found him and shared the good news that Jesus had appeared among them. This news brought him back, but his stubbornness prevented him from believing until the Lord reappeared and invited him to touch His wounds. It was then that Thomas made his confession of faith. However, it is beautiful how the community of apostles did not leave without Thomas and supported him with their faith despite his stubbornness.

Applied to Married Life:

Martha: It is very hard to see that our son has stopped going to Mass and, of course, has lost his faith.

Andy: Yes, it is very hard. We have a mission, and it is to pray for him and offer ourselves for him so that he returns to the arms of Our Lady Mary. 

Martha: Shouldn’t we talk to him? 
Andy: We have done so several times, and it doesn’t help. But our offering will not fall on deaf ears. You’ll see. 
Martha: There is much suffering we can offer. I trust you and I trust in the Lord. 

 

Andy: Amen. Even if we don’t see it, Christ is always capable of anything.

 

Mother,

 

Today we ask you for those children and loved ones who have strayed from the faith and the ecclesial community. We place them in your hands, Mother. You already know what to do. Thank you because you never disappoint.

The Fear´s Fear. Reflection for marriages. Matthew 8:23-27

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Gospel

Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was great calm.
From the Gospel according to Matthew. MT 8:23-27.
As Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him. Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea so that the boat was being swamped by waves; but he was asleep.
They came and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?”
Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was great calm.
The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey?”
The Gospel of the Lord.

The Fear´s Fear

In the Bible, there are 365 references to fear, one for each day of the year. We can be afraid of today’s life and tomorrow’s death, of saying yes and of saying no… Yet, fear fears only one thing against which it cannot endure, and that is faith. The Lord wants us to have faith and to stop being afraid. There is only fear when love is absent. Those who have not experienced unconditional love live to “earn” acceptance; they believe they must fight to gain the affection of others. However, those who have experienced God’s Love are not afraid because they know they are infinitely loved.

Applied to Married Life:

Monica: Andrew, do you love me? 
Andrew: Indeed. 
Monica: Yes, but why do you love me? 
Andrew: I don’t know, there is no why. Simply, you are very important to me, and you deserve me to give you my life. 
Monica: Then, if I am so important, why don’t you value my work and my skills? 
Andrew: I do value them, but you are more important than your skills. You might lose your skills one day, and I will still love you. If my love depended on your achievements, it would not come from God, because He loves us for who we are, not for our successes, which, moreover, we always owe to Him.

Mother,

How much fear we have when we lack charity, and charity is united with faith. Praise be to the Lord for instilling the theological virtues in us .

I am so sorry. Reflection for marriages: Matthew 8:18-22

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Gospel
Follow me
From the Gospel according to Matthew. Mt 8:18-22.
When Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other shore.
A scribe approached and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”
Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.”
Another of his disciples said to him, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.” But Jesus answered him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
I am so sorry.
It is common for us to desire stability—a setting where we feel comfortable and free from disturbances. However, the path of the Lord does not find stability in the comfort of a life without surprises; it seeks stability in remaining in God and being amazed every day by doing His will, guided by His Spirit.
Applied to married life:
Paula: If you could change somthing about me, what would you change? 
Greg: Nothing, absolutely nothing. 
Paula: But there are things that trouble you sometimes. 
Greg: But it’s not because of you. You are as God intended you to be. That is unsurpassable. And you, what would you change about me? 
Paula: Whatever God wants to change in you. Only He knows who you are called to be. For now, I quite like you. 
Greg: Just quite? 
Paula: Quite a bit more than you like me. 
Greg: No, I like you more. 
Paula: Look at us, we sound like a couple who can’t find the right moment to hang up. Haha. 
Greg: Haha. You hang up…
Mother,

I don’t know why we intend to change our spouses when we are yet to discovered all of their greatness. God has given me so much, and I have not been able to appreciate it. I am so sorry.

Life Full of Life. Reflection for Marriages. Mark 5:21-43

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From the Gospel according to Mark
Mk 5:21-43 or 5:21-24, 35b-43

When Jesus had crossed again in the boat
to the other side,
a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea.
One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward.
Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying,
“My daughter is at the point of death.
Please, come lay your hands on her
that she may get well and live.”
He went off with him,
and a large crowd followed him and pressed upon him.

There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years.
She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors
and had spent all that she had.
Yet she was not helped but only grew worse.
She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd
and touched his cloak.
She said, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.”
Immediately her flow of blood dried up.
She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.
Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him,
turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who has touched my clothes?”
But his disciples said to Jesus,
“You see how the crowd is pressing upon you,
and yet you ask, ‘Who touched me?'”
And he looked around to see who had done it.
The woman, realizing what had happened to her,
approached in fear and trembling.
She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth.
He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you.
Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.”

While he was still speaking,
people from the synagogue official’s house arrived and said,
“Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?”
Disregarding the message that was reported,
Jesus said to the synagogue official,
“Do not be afraid; just have faith.”
He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside
except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.
When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official,
he caught sight of a commotion,
people weeping and wailing loudly.
So he went in and said to them,
“Why this commotion and weeping?
The child is not dead but asleep.”
And they ridiculed him.
Then he put them all out.
He took along the child’s father and mother
and those who were with him
and entered the room where the child was.
He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum,”
which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!”
The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around.
At that they were utterly astounded.
He gave strict orders that no one should know this
and said that she should be given something to eat.

Word of the Lord.

Life Full of Life.

Above all, God is the God of life. He brings us into existence and keeps us alive. It is also through Him that life makes sense because there are those who do not wish to live or complain about their lives. God gives us life out of love, calls us into existence to love us, and fills our existence if we allow ourselves to be loved by Him.

Grounded in Marital Life:

Myriam: We are approaching our golden wedding anniversary. What would you highlight about our marriage?
Juanjo: I would highlight the life it has given since our conversion. Before that, there was a lot of darkness between us and around us, but since we discovered and nourished the Love of Christ between us, it is incredible the fruits it has borne in us and around us.
Myriam: Life, lots of life, yes. I love it. Praise be to God.

Mother,

We are united to Him who is life, and His life is sown among us and spread around us. Praise be to God.