Category Archives: Sin categoría

What is your gorban?Reflection for marriage. Mark 7:1-13

Leave a Reply

From the Gospel according to Mark 7:1-13

When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus,
they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands.
(For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands,
keeping the tradition of the elders. And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed,
the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds.) So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?”
He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written:
This people honors me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me;
In vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines human precepts.
You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.”
He went on to say,
“How well you have set aside the commandment of Godv in order to uphold your tradition! For Moses said, Honor your father and your mother,
and Whoever curses father or mother shall die. Yet you say, ‘If someone says to father or mother,
“Any support you might have had from me is qorban”‘ (meaning, dedicated to God), you allow him to do nothing more for his father or mother. You nullify the word of God in favor of your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many such things.”

The Gospel of the Lord

What is your gorban?

God does not want cold, mechanical obedience to rules; God wants your heart. “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” And that wounds God, because He did not create us for distance, but for communion. God wants your heart close to His, not your good deeds carried out apart from Him. Holiness is not a race toward outward perfection or a checklist of rules completed; it is God’s invitation to live united to Him in a living, burning relationship of love.
Yet how hard it is for us to realize that this is about loving, not just doing. And so we distort everything: we misorder love, we focus on actions instead of the heart, and we even end up using “the law” as an excuse not to love. In this way, we drift away from God while believing—what a terrible deception—that we are serving Him. But God does not want busy, distant servants; He wants friends. “I no longer call you servants; I call you friends.” He wants intimacy, constant closeness, a heart that rests in Him. He is not interested in service that does not spring from love.
Be attentive, because this same lie easily creeps into marriage. We create our own personal “gorbans,” so pious, so reasonable, so justifiable, that they keep us from truly loving and from building real communion: “The children need me more than you do,” “I have to take care of my parents,” “There’s so much to do at the parish,” “My friend is going through a hard time.” Everything is good. Everything matters. But when everything is always placed ahead of one’s spouse, we fail to build the love of communion we so deeply long for.
In the end, we stop welcoming the heart of the one to whom we gave our own in covenant, and we stop offering our own as well. First love is pushed aside, left to wither, and this painful verdict can be spoken: “This wife, this husband, honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.”

Applied to married Life.

Robert: Leslie do you love me?
Leslie : Robert, after all these years together, why would you even ask that?
Robert: I know, but tell me…
Leslie: Didn’t I marry you?
Robert: Yes—and I married you—but do you love me?
Leslie:What is this obsession? Don’t we have two children? Don’t I iron your shirts? Don’t I cook for you? Don’t I buy your clothes?
Robert: Yes… but do you love me?

Mother,

teach us to love Jesus the way He longs to be loved.Praised be Jesus and Mary.

 

Give Glory to God. Reflection for marriages. Matthew 5:13-16

Leave a Reply
From the Gospel according to Matthew 5:13-16

Jesus said to his disciples: “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket;
it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”

Give Glory to God

Jesus, how do I do that in my marriage? Can good works be done without the light shining? Can good works be done and still not serve to give Glory to God? Yes, You know they can, my Jesus, because You know my heart. Many times I do things not really trying to love through them, not the way You would do them. In subtle ways, my self-love takes over and I seek myself. Then what seems good is nothing more than using the other person for my own benefit, doing things so I’ll be recognized. And then darkness comes: when I’m not recognized for how “good” I am, I get upset, even if it is only felt as sadness or discomfort in my heart.
But when I let myself be guided by You, when my heart lets itself be burned in the Furnace of Love that is Your Heart and is purified of self-love, then I see that it’s by loving my wife in every circumstance, when she’s well, when she’s not, when she asks for what I like, when she asks for what I don’t, when I give myself in those small details… that’s when You make that Light shine, the Light that comes from Your grace, and it lets us enjoy a small piece of heaven on earth. And our small works give Glory to God the Father, because they have the value of having been done not by us, but through the Son. How much light a marriage like this radiates in the middle of the world, a marriage that lives surrendered into the Lord’s hands. How much joy they carry in their hearts. I want that. And you?

Applied to married life:

Rose: For a while now I’ve been reading a daily Gospel reflection on a website. It’s made for married couples. Most of the time I feel like it’s not for me, like it’s not real.
John: Oh yeah, the Conjugal Love Project one. The dialogue part can be a bit cheesy sometimes, right? And other times it feels a bit too intense for me. It doesn’t always feel very real to me either.
Rose: Yeah… and since I don’t really have that kind of faith, the kind where you actually feel that “Love of God”. It sometimes puts me off. But today I met a couple who give off this peace, this different kind of happiness. The way they look at everyday things, at problems, it’s different. It’s like they reflect a different light, a different kind of joy.
John: Really? And who are they?
Rose: A couple from the parish. They’re in Conjugal Love Proyect. I only spoke with them for a little while, but the light they reflect really impacted me. I want that. I don’t know how they have it, I don’t know what they’ve done, but I promise you, it’s different. They’ve got something.
John: It can’t be that big a deal, can it?
Rose: I promise you, what I saw in them is something I’d love for us to live too. Do you want me to ask them about it next time I see them?
John: Yeah… it wouldn’t hurt to give our marriage a little push.

Mother,

Lead us to the Heart of Jesus, to His Furnace of Love, so that He may purify our hearts and make our works give glory to God.
Praised be the Lord forever!

Come and rest with me. Reflection for marriages. Mark 6:30-34

Leave a Reply
From the Gospel according to Mark 6:30–34

The Apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat. So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them. When Jesus disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

Come and rest with me

Jesus notices how tired His apostles are. He doesn’t ask more of them than they can give, He doesn’t put pressure on them or judge them; on the contrary, He understands them deeply and invites them to step away with Him to rest, embracing them with mercy. This attitude of Jesus speaks directly to married life. What do we spouses do when our husband comes home exhausted after a long day at work? Do we complain and say, “you’re never home,” or do we welcome him with gratitude, recognizing the huge effort he makes for his family?
“Come and rest with me, my husband.”
Welcoming your husband or wife also means quietly and lovingly asking yourself: what’s hurting him/her? what’s weighing on him/her? Having compassion for your spouse doesn’t mean justifying everything; it means not hardening your heart, even when it’s hard. It means choosing understanding over reproach, proximity over distance. This is how we live marital charity: being a loving presence, a gift from God that lives in our heart and is constantly knocking at our door. If we open it, our life becomes self-giving and Eucharist for others.

Applied to married life:

Emily: Honey, can you come shopping with me? I’m completely overwhelmed today.

Henry: Emily… I was just about to go for a run. I’ve been looking forward to it all week. But I see you’re stressed, so of course, let’s go together.

Emily: Thank you, really. I know how much you love your workout time, and I hate cutting it short, but I really appreciate the effort you’re making.

Henry: Don’t worry. Sometimes the Lord invites us to love in the small things, even when it messes with our plans. Come on! let’s go, and we’ll use it as time together.

Emily: That helps me so much, Henry. And when we get back, if there’s time, you can still go out for a run.

Henry: Perfect. And now, let’s go get those groceries… but with a good attitude, okay? Because even here, we can choose to love.

Mother,

model of charity, teach us to love and serve as you do. Make our hearts simple, humble, and ready to serve. Blessed and praised be the Lord forever.

Give Your Life. Reflection for marriages. Mark 6:14-29

Leave a Reply
From the Gospel according to Mark 6:14–29

King Herod heard about Jesus, for his fame had become widespread, and people were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him.” Others were saying, “He is Elijah”; still others, “He is a prophet like any of the prophets.” But when Herod learned of it, he said, “It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up.”
Herod was the one who had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married. John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so. Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him. Herodias had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his courtiers, his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee. His own daughter came in and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.” He even swore many things to her, “I will grant you whatever you ask of me, even to half of my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?”  Her mother replied, “The head of John the Baptist.” The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request, “I want you to give me at once on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”
The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word to her. So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head. He went off and beheaded him in the prison. He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl. The girl in turn gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

Give Your Life

Today we see John becoming the first martyr for defending the Truth, the one and only Truth, which is God’s truth about marriage. And we see that where there is no truth, sin comes in, and one sin leads to another, like dominoes: the first piece falls and knocks down the next, and so on. Because Herod does not live in the truth; he lives in lies and deception, married to his brother’s wife. That leads him to pride of not wanting to look bad in front of his guests and that leads him to murder…
When we break the plans God has for us, we enter a destructive spiral that can be hard to get out of if we don’t count on God. The Lord shows us the Truth. We need humility and to live in truth, to recognize our limits and our offenses against God and against my spouse, in order to restore communion with Him and with my spouse. Today we ask ourselves: How many times do I fail in my covenant with God and fail to truly value my spouse? Am I faithful in hard times, or only when things are going well? Do I love my husband the way God wants me to love him, or just in the way that suits me?
John gave his life to defend marriage and me… How am I giving my life for my spouse in the little things of everyday life, through time, listening, patience, faithfulness? And when difficulties come, do I fight for my marriage, or do I look for comfort through shortcuts that avoid effort and struggle? Am I giving my life to defend something as sacred as my marriage? Am I giving myself completely?

Applied to married life:

Adele: I’ve had an awful day… as soon as Declan gets home, we’ll eat and go straight to bed.
Declan: Adele, I’m home! I’ve made plans to grab a few beers at the bar downstairs, then go watch the game with everyone and have dinner out. Want to come?
Adele: Declan, I’m exhausted… no way!
Declan: Here we go again with the tiredness, the job… honestly, I feel like I married my wife’s work.
Adele: How dare you? I´m working nonstop so we can have a decent vacation! Oh, just get lost! Go by yourself! I’m better off at home alone.
Declan: Fine! I’m going!
On the way, Declan sees that his parish church is open, and there, with a contrite heart, the Lord works in him… He shows him how he has slowly drifted away from Adele, how the distance between them has grown, and He reminds him that with humility, the Lord can do everything. So Declan decides to go back home, cancel his plans, and ask for forgiveness.
Declan: Adele, I’m back home. Forgive me. I’ve been going through a phase where I don’t stop to really pay attention to you.
Adele: No, forgive me. I’ve had weeks of so much work, and once again I’ve put my job above everything else.
Declan: How about I make dinner, we can have that soup you like and then we pray together?
Adele: That sounds amazing, Declan. I thank God so much for your humility.
Adele: And I thank Him for the way you always welcome me.

Mother,

May we, like you, truly live out the reality that the Lord is present in our sacrament, and may we always remember that by loving my spouse, I am loving Him.
Praised be the Lord!

It Is Jesus Who Calls. Reflection for marriages. Mark 6:7:13

Leave a Reply
From the Gospel according to Mark 6:7–13

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick –no food, no sack, no money in their belts. They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic. He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there. Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them.” So they went off and preached repentance. The Twelve drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

It Is Jesus Who Calls

It is Jesus who calls, who sends, who gives authority, and the disciples preach, cast out demons, anoint, and heal. But it is not they who do it, it is Jesus. All power belongs to Him. He is the Word; He is the One who casts out demons and who heals. How important it is to know that the initiative always belongs to God. He looked upon the humility of His servant. For Him to be able to act in us, in our marriage, in the mission… He needs our humility, our “yes,” and our awareness of our own nothingness.

Applied to Married Life:

(Sunday, after having served as custodians at a Conjugal Love Project retreat)

Shawn: Today the Lord has put me in truth. During the retreat there were several moments when I felt important, like the main character. I internally gloried in myself, taking for myself the glory that belongs only to God.

Matilda: Well, it’s normal to be aware of your self-giving and of the fruits it bears in other marriages.

Shawn: Yes, but I know what happened in my heart. I took for myself part of what belongs only to the Lord. I recognized myself as a thief, I felt great shame and pain and then a great joy at seeing myself as such a small thing.

Matilda: Do you want us to pray the Magnificat?

Shawn: Yesss. I need it.

Shawn and Matilda: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord…

Mother,

Do not allow any vainglory in me. Place me in truth so that I may know that He is the Lord. Blessed and praised be the Lord forever.