To see upcoming RETREATS AND MISSIONS click HERE

GOSPEL

Why did you not put my money in a bank?

From the Gospel according to Luke 19:11-28

While people were listening to Jesus speak, he proceeded to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem and they thought that the Kingdom of God would appear there immediately. So he said, “A nobleman went off to a distant country to obtain the kingship for himself and then to return. He called ten of his servants and gave them ten gold coins and told them, ‘Engage in trade with these until I return.’ His fellow citizens, however, despised him and sent a delegation after him to announce, ‘We do not want this man to be our king.’ But when he returned after obtaining the kingship, he had the servants called, to whom he had given the money, to learn what they had gained by trading. The first came forward and said, ‘Sir, your gold coin has earned ten additional ones.’ He replied, ‘Well done, good servant! You have been faithful in this very small matter; take charge of ten cities.’ Then the second came and reported, ‘Your gold coin, sir, has earned five more.’ And to this servant too he said, ‘You, take charge of five cities.’ Then the other servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your gold coin; I kept it stored away in a handkerchief, for I was afraid of you, because you are a demanding man; you take up what you did not lay down and you harvest what you did not plant.’
He said to him, ‘With your own words I shall condemn you, you wicked servant. You knew I was a demanding man, taking up what I did not lay down and harvesting what I did not plant; why did you not put my money in a bank? Then on my return I would have collected it with interest.’ And to those standing by he said, ‘Take the gold coin from him and give it to the servant who has ten.’ But they said to him, ‘Sir, he has ten gold coins.’ He replied, ‘I tell you, to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their king, bring them here and slay them before me.'” After he had said this, he proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem.

The gospel of the Lord.

Faithful in the small things.

It’s undeniable that we are insignificant, and our efforts, no matter how great they may be, have no intrinsic value before God. But look at the Blessed Sacrament. Look at Jesus in the bread. He teaches me: His Holy Spirit transforms the bread into Christ, won’t He do the same with us? We just have to be faithful in the little that we are and surrender it to the Lord for Him to work the miracle.

Applied to married life:

Ana: Thank you, James, for insisting and inviting me to breakfast this morning. It’s not so much about the food, but because I needed to talk to you.

James: Thank you for accepting my offer after I messed up with you yesterday. Also, thank you for valuing my effort to restore communion with you.

Ana: You are very important to me. When you are far from my heart, anxiety and sadness take over. You are the most important to me. Being well with you gives me strength to overcome all the challenges and crosses I bear, but without you, the world collapses on me.

James: It makes me happy seeing you happy. Just that. I don’t need more. Because that’s when I know I am doing God’s will, and the Lord is present with us and will act in us by the power of our sacrament.

Ana: Can I have a hug?

(And this scene doesn’t conclude with a fade to black but with both of them blending into a beautiful hug ..both human and divine. The end.)

Mother,

The mine that God has given me is worth more than all the gold mines in the world. It is my spouse. May I know how to respond to such a wonderful gift. Praise be to our King.

To see upcoming RETREATS AND MISSIONS click HERE

GOSPEL

“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.”

From the Gospel according to Luke 19:1-10

At that time Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.” And he came down quickly and received him with joy. When they saw this, they began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.”

The gospel of the Lord.

“You are important to me”

Zacchaeus feels valued. He knows he is important to Jesus, and this leads him to convert and be saved. As spouses, to help each other towards salvation, we have to make the other feel important to both, me and God. We tend to diminish each other with our corrections, but it is only love that heals and saves. Jesus involves Himself in Zacchaeus’s salvation by y disregarding public opinions, that would affect his reputation, and staying at his house. Today, Jesus tells me: “Hurry, set aside all your securities because it is necessary that I rest within you today.”

Applied to married life:

Tony: Laura, I know you’re suffering. I want to accompany you in your suffering. Can I do so in the presence of the Lord?

Laura: Yes, thank you, Tony. Let’s place ourselves in His presence, and I’ll share it with you.

(After a few minutes)

Laura: Holy Spirit, guide me in expressing to Tony the challenges I’m facing. Tony, I felt hurt when you corrected me in public. I know it wasn’t your intention to hurt me, but that’s how I felt. I know you love me and don’t want to harm me, but I can’t help experiencing this pain that creates distance between us.

Tony: Wow, Laura. I truly regret being the cause of your suffering. Making you suffer is the last thing I want. How can I help you in moving past this? I’ll do whatever it takes.

Laura: It would be helpful if we prayed and contemplated certain stations of the cross together, aligning ourselves with the Lord’s sacrifice. Would you join me?

Tony: Certainly, Laura. I love the idea. Together, we can see this situation through God’s eyes to understand His loving designs.

Mother,

May we help each other with and for love. Praise be to the Lord.

To see upcoming RETREATS AND MISSIONS click HERE

To see upcoming RETREATS AND MISSIONS click HERE

Gospel:

For your faithfulness in small matters, enter into the joy of your master.
From the Gospel according to Matthew. Mt 25:14-30

Jesus told his disciples this parable: “A man going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one; to each according to his ability. Then he went away. Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. Likewise, the one who received two made another two. But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money.

After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents came forward
bringing the additional five. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’
His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’
Then the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.’
His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’
Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.’
His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter? Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.'”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Our merits.

The Lord grants us natural gifts and sanctifying grace that transforms our acts of love into supernatural merits. It involves managing our gifts through natural virtues so that supernatural virtues may bear fruit within us.

Applied to married life.

Helen:I remember when we would have been satisfied with reliving what we experienced when we were dating.

Rob: Yes, many people would settle for the visible, for natural satisfaction.

Helen: Of course, but if we go back to recreating the same as during our courtship and stay there, what progress would we have made?

Rob: Well, none at all.

Helen: Let’s focus then on the supernatural fruits, the fruits of God’s love in us. That is what will allow us to grow.

Mother,

May we, like you, center our lives on receiving grace so that the Almighty may do great works through us. Praise be to the Lord.

To see upcoming RETREATS AND MISSIONS click HERE

Gospel

God will administer justice to His chosen ones who cry out to Him.

From the Gospel according to Luke. Lk 18:1-8

Jesus told his disciples a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. He said, “There was a judge in a certain town
who neither feared God nor respected any human being. And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, ‘Render a just decision for me against my adversary.’ For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought, ‘While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being, because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.’”
The Lord said, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Justice!

Many times, I want to enforce justice. That’s why I am demanding, that’s why I defend myself, that’s why I get angry… Anger enters due to the desire for justice in my heart. That desire is good, God has placed it in me, but the path to achieve justice is not to demand it or impose my own. The path is to ask it of God and be gentle, patient, persevering, with the faith that He will do it without delay. Will this faith be found in me? Blessed are the meek.

Applied to marriged life:

David: I want to be meek, but I can’t achieve it. My passions drag me in the face of what I consider injustice, and anger takes over me. I would like to control it, and I make resolutions, but I can’t achieve them.

Carmel: That’s because your lack faith.

David: I don’t understand… What does faith have to do with this?

Carmel: It’s okay to set resolutions, but you also have to ask for it insistently, with the double assurance that God will give you meekness and that He will be the one to administer justice. How will He give you meekness if you don’t believe that He will administer justice, and you have to impose it yourself?

David: You’re right, Carmel. Now I understand. I lack faith. I will ask the Lord day and night until He administers justice. Thank you, Carmel. Thank you, Lord.

Mother,

Increase my faith. Lord, administer justice to me. I trust in you.