Gospel

From the Gospel according to Matthew. Mt 1:1-17

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Abraham became the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse, Jesse the father of David the king.
David became the father of Solomon, whose mother had been the wife of Uriah. Solomon became the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asaph. Asaph became the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, Joram the father of Uzziah. Uzziah became the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah. Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amos, Amos the father of Josiah. Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers
at the time of the Babylonian exile.
After the Babylonian exile, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel the father of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, Azor the father of Zadok. Zadok became the father of Achim, Achim the father of Eliud, Eliud the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.
Thus the total number of generations from Abraham to David is fourteen generations; from David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations; from the Babylonian exile to the Christ.

The Gospel of the Lord

The Only Source of True Rest

From David to Jesus, about 1,600 years passed. An eternity during which God’s plan slowly and steadily unfolded. Yet, we often want everything to happen instantly—our own conversion, the conversion of our children, our journey to holiness. But what is an 80-year lifespan compared to God’s eternity? “What is man, that You are mindful of him?”
This is why praying is the only thing that truly brings rest—it’s the only thing that puts me in my rightful place. It helps me see my problems in perspective when I remember that God’s great plan took thousands of years to unfold. And yet, I get frustrated when a problem takes a year to resolve, as if that’s too long. Trusting in God is the key to all of this.

Applied to Married Life:

John: I’ve been waiting for you in the car for 10 minutes. What were you doing?
Ellen: Folding and putting away the laundry. You just leave, and don´t think how much needs to be done before we can go.
(Later that night, in prayer)
John: Lord, when I reflect on how patient You are, I see how impatient I am. I complain about waiting 10 minutes, yet You have waited for me for years. Forgive me, Lord, for demanding of my wife what You do not demand of me.

Mother,

Teach us to see our lives through God’s eyes. May He be praised forever.

Gospel

From the Gospel according to Matthew. Mt. 21, 23-27.

Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. 
“By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”
Jesus replied,  “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?”
They discussed it among themselves and said,  “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”
So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”
Then he said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

The Gospel of the Lord

He Delights.

Sometimes we try to place ourselves on the same level as the Lord, but the Lord is God. We cannot provoke Him by trying to force our plans upon Him, nor can we negotiate with Him. He is God! We must see ourselves as small, as tiny as we truly are in comparison to Him. The distance between God and us is far greater than the dimensions of the universe.
If I were standing at the edge of the universe, what would He see of me? I would appear utterly insignificant, infinitely small compared to God’s immensity in every way: in greatness, wisdom, power, glory, love… In everything. The diference between Him and me is beyond measure. That’s why today, with all respect and bowing before His presence, I say: Majesty, what do You wish to make of me?

Applied to Married Life:

Bob: Wife, let our “yes” truly mean yes, and our “no” truly mean no.
Lorrain: Let us live with transparency, without pretense or hidden intentions.
Bob: Let us be honest with each other, with nothing left to hide.
Lorrain: I love the purity of the path the Lord lays out for us.

Mother,

Blessed be your purity, and may it forever be so…
Praised be God, who delights in that purity.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Luke
Lk 3:10-18

The crowds asked John the Baptist,
“What should we do?”
He said to them in reply,
“Whoever has two cloaks
should share with the person who has none.
And whoever has food should do likewise.”
Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him,
“Teacher, what should we do?”
He answered them,
“Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.”
Soldiers also asked him,
“And what is it that we should do?”
He told them,
“Do not practice extortion,
do not falsely accuse anyone,
and be satisfied with your wages.”

Now the people were filled with expectation,
and all were asking in their hearts
whether John might be the Christ.
John answered them all, saying,
“I am baptizing you with water,
but one mightier than I is coming.
I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor
and to gather the wheat into his barn,
but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
Exhorting them in many other ways,
he preached good news to the people.

The word of the Lord.

Fragile love.

Today we spouses also ask John: What should we do?

And he tells us: Just as I baptised with water, you love each other with a fragile love that does not quench thirst. Your love is like the water of the Samaritan woman, but Christ, through your Sacrament, has brought you water that can make you never thirsty and make your love spring up to eternal life.

Grounded in Married Life:

Salva: Lord, I recognise that I cannot fill Herminia’s heart with my love.

Herminia: Lord, I need to satisfy myself with Your love. Salva wants to, and I see how the poor man tries, but he cannot fill it.

Salva: But Lord, give me that living water that you sowed in our marriage from the day of our wedding, so that Your love may be present between us and my wife’s heart may be satisfied. Your love is overflowing. Give me that love, Lord.

(And the peace of the Lord came upon them and His joy was with them)

Mother,

Full of grace, lead us to the Heart of Christ. Praise be to Him.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Matthew
Mt 11:16-19

Jesus said to the crowds:
“To what shall I compare this generation?
It is like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another,
‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance,
we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.’
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said,
‘He is possessed by a demon.’
The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said,
‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard,
a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’
But wisdom is vindicated by her works.”

The word of the Lord

The right choice

With Elias they did what they wanted. He was a gift from God with a very special mission and they did not recognise him because of the hardness of their hearts. And with my husband, what do I do? What I want or what God wants. Criticism is included in the 5th commandment as one of the mistakes, and perhaps I am not achieving the 5th commandment when I criticise my husband.

Landing in Married Life:

Diego: So what do we decide Monica, what do you think or what do I think?

Monica: I choose to do what you say, Diego.

Diego: But if you disagree…

Monica: Yes, but I make fewer mistakes if I do not do what I want but what you want. At least this way, I choose love.

Diego: “The right choice is love.” How beautiful, Monica. How much I learn from you.

Mother,

Not recognising my husband’s gift can lead me to not recognising God in many situations. Give me faith to see Him better in him or her. Praise the Lord. We do want to recognise Him.