GOSPEL

He appointed Twelve, that they might be with him.

From the Gospel according to Mark 3:13-19

Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him. He appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles, that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach and to have authority to drive out demons: He appointed the Twelve: Simon, whom he named Peter; James, son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder; Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus; Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.

The Gospel of the Lord

What are your thoughts?

The Lord chooses those He wants for what He wants. Injustice has no place here because He is God, and God decides the plan for His creatures for which He has created them, and it is simply perfect. He gives us everything we have, which is already much more than we deserve. Therefore, there is no room for discontent, only for gratitude and praise.

He chose me to be the life partner of my spouse, and my spouse to be my life partner, and that is the vocation He has chosen for us. So, all that remains is to say: Thank you, Lord, for my spouse, and praised be You forever for this wonderful mission that You entrust to me. And you, spouse? What are your thoughts?

Applied to married life:

Alison: What are you staring at so intently?

Simon: The will of God for me: You.

Alison: And what do you think?

Simon: That indeed, God knows how to choose.

Alison: Thank you… I’m going to blush.

Simon: No, I mean the husband He has given you.

Alison: What do you mean?

Simon: Haha, just kidding, dear. I give many thanks to God for you. After all these years together, I realize more and more each day what a precious gift I’ve received from Him.

Alison: Ah! Okay, because you almost miss a kiss, a hug, and a romantic dinner.

Simon: Oh! Thank goodness I corrected myself in time!

Alison: Haha.

Mother,

Thank you for choosing us. Blessed be you forever

GOSPEL

Whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him and shout, “You are the Son of God.” He warned them sternly not to make him known.

From the Gospel according to Mark 3:7-12

Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples. A large number of people followed from Galilee and from Judea. Hearing what he was doing, a large number of people came to him also from Jerusalem,
from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan, and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon. He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him. He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him. And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him and shout, “You are the Son of God.” He warned them sternly not to make him known.

The Gospel of the Lord

They comfort me.

It’s true that we have a certain respect for the power of concupiscence over us. It may seem like we are dominated by our disorders, leading to a feeling of hopelessness. Hooweve, in today´s Gospel, we witness the profound fear that evil spirits have of the Lord—they bow before Him, screaming terrified that He might issue an order they’d have to unquestionably obey. So why worry so much? I should pray as David did in Psalm 23:4, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

Applied to married life:

Marcus: Helen, I am very concerned about my pride. I realize the harm I’m causing you. I genuinely don’t want it. t, Yet, I find myself reacting in ways that dominate me, and I’m not in control of my thoughts or my aggressive way of speaking to you.

Helen: I understand, Marcus. I experience the same with resentment towards you. Unconsciously, dark thoughts come to me about things you did in the past that hurt me.

Marcus: What do you think if we pray for each other before the Lord regularly? Our sacrament has great power. I’m sure the Lord will act in us as ministers of grace for each other.

Helen: That sounds wonderful, especially considering that God’s grace has much more power than all the advice we give each other. I feel very reassured that we are placing ourselves in His hands.

Mother,

We trust in the Lord. We want to be united to Him like branches to the Vine. His rod and His staff comfort us. Praise Him forever

GOSPEL

“Is it lawful to save life rather than to destroy it?”

From the Gospel according to Mark 3:1-6

Jesus entered the synagogue.There was a man there who had a  withered hand. They watched Jesus closely to see if he would cure him on the sabbath so that they might accuse him. He said to the man with the withered hand, “Come up here before us.”
Then he said to the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?”
But they remained silent. Looking around at them with anger
and grieved at their hardness of heart, Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel
with the Herodians against him to put him to death. 

The Gospel of the Lord

Against the ground.

Then there is pride, which leads a person to want to retaliate against another simply because they don’t do things the way the person believes they should be done according to their personal criteria. There’s the individual who commits a traffic violation and honks at you, there are Christian communities where members get upset because things are not organized as well as they should be, and there are also spouses who constantly correct their partners because they think they’re smarter. Imagine being stuck in traffic; choosing one lane will prompt them to claim the other lane is always faster… Regardless of the trivial example, where does love fit into these scenarios? Perhaps something could be improved, but to reach a state of lack of love for that reason, and even revenge or hatred? Well, this is one face of pride, and anyone without it in some form should cast the first stone.

Applied to married life:

Sue: What are you doing lying there?

Anthony : I’m trying to crush myself against the ground because I have temptations to be more valued by you, and since I know I don’t deserve it, I’m trying to put myself in my place. But no matter how much I squash myself against the ground, I can’t do it.

Sue: Hahaha, you’re so funny. But you’re so right. Can I squash myself next to you against the ground?

Anthony: Of course, there’s room for you here. I think my nose is starting to poke through the ceiling below. If you help me, maybe we’ll make a hole and see the neighbors.

Sue: I love your sense of humor, especially when you laugh at yourself. I have a lot to learn from you in that respect.

Anthony: Shhh, because then I have to come down my pride, and I’m going to end up in the sewers…

Mother,

How insignificant I am before God, I am small, very very tiny.  Praise be to the only Holy One.

GOSPEL

The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath.

From the Gospel according to Mark 2:23-28

As Jesus was passing through a field of grain on the sabbath, his disciples began to make a path while picking the heads of grain. At this the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?” He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry? How he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest and ate the bread of offering that only the priests could lawfully eat,and shared it with his companions?” Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath. That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

More than Self-Love.

Understanding is the faculty of intellectual knowledge. Essentially, it allows us to discern, to choose what is central, what is essential. Understanding is also affected by concupiscence, making it difficult for us to discern the best choice, something that should be automatic. But our understanding is conditioned by educational, sensual, and and various experiences that make us look without truly seeing, hear without fully understanding.

Therefore, our understanding must be purified. This purification is done with the light of the Holy Spirit in prayer and by forming our consciences based on the Church’s doctrine and teachings, where the Holy Spirit has illuminated numerous saints over many centuries, providing profound insights. With this awareness, should I rely on my own criteria? That’s what the Pharisees did, sought to correct the Son of God. Let us not be like them; let us be more humble.

Applied to married life:

James: Every action throughout my day should be subject to the law of love. If I think we shouldn’t buy something, it’s not the right time for a home renovation, or if the priority is to eat (because it’s mealtime) instead of doing laundry, but you have a different opinion, shouldn’t I be delighted to please you out of love even against my own judgment?

Anne: Well, it’s true that if we love, our actions should contribute to a common good. That’s what needs to be discerned.

James: I have to admit that most of the time it’s my stubbornness that prevents me from yielding. So, if my stubbornness is stronger than my love for you, I’m on the wrong path. That’s why I want to change my behaviour. I love you too much to let my self-love prevail. I want to be able to say to you: I love you more than I love myself!

Anne: Well, that sounds intense, but it’s true that it happens to us. To me too, and I’m not willing to allow self-love to be more than my lover for you and, therefore, my love for the Lord.

Mother,

May our love for God and our spouse truly be the first and foremost priority in our lives.  Praise the Lord whom we love so much.

GOSPEL

From the Gospel according to Mark 2:18-22

The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were accustomed to fast.
People came to Jesus and objected, “Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?”
Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day. No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak. If he does, its fullness pulls away, the new from the old, and the tear gets worse. Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are ruined.
Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.”

The Gospel of the Lord

Without patches.

We have been designed by God with specific talents and for a particular purpose. We cannot pull in a different direction than what God has planned for us, because that would be like patching things up in our own way, and we would eventually, burst. May our body and soul be well disposed, in harmony with His plan for us, when we receive the Lord’s wine.

Applied to married life:

Peter: I sense a hesitancy in your prayer. It seems like you’re not surrendering to the Lord, not allowing Him to lead you.

Sarah: Yeah, I’m scared of what He might ask me. He’s very demanding, and I’m comfortable and stable as I am.

Peter: Sarah, avoid clinging to the things of this world or to your own judgments. Don’t be afraid. Trust in the Lord who loves you so much and trust in His plan. You are created for Him.

Sarah: Thank you, Peter. That gives me peace.

Mother,

We entrust ourselves into your hands. Thy will be done!