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The Magdalena Plan. Reflection for marriages. John 20, 1-2. 11-18

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GOSPEL

‘Mary, go and find the brothers and tell them’
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John
Jn 20:1-2,11-18

It was very early on the first day of the week and still dark, when Mary of Magdala came to the tomb. She saw that the stone had been moved away from the tomb and came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved. ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb’ she said ‘and we don’t know where they have put him.’
  Meanwhile Mary stayed outside near the tomb, weeping. Then, still weeping, she stooped to look inside, and saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head, the other at the feet. They said, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ ‘They have taken my Lord away’ she replied ‘and I don’t know where they have put him.’ As she said this she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, though she did not recognise him. Jesus said, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said, ‘Sir, if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and remove him.’ Jesus said, ‘Mary!’ She knew him then and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbuni!’ – which means Master. Jesus said to her, ‘Do not cling to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go and find the brothers, and tell them: I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ So Mary of Magdala went and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord and that he had said these things to her.

The Gospel of the Lord

The Magdalena Plan

Today we celebrate the feast of Mary Magdalene, a testament to transformation through God’s forgiveness and love. After Jesus exorcised seven demons from her, Mary became a brave and faithful follower, even accompanying Him to Calvary during His Passion and Death. Her loyalty earned her the reward of being the first to witness the resurrected Jesus and to announce it to others. She was the first witness of the resurrection in the history of the universe. What a reward for her faithfulness!

Applied to Married Life:

Laura: Sometimes I worry that there are no changes in our married life, but today, reading about Mary Magdalene has given me hope. She transformed from a person with a complicated past into one of Jesus’s most devoted followers. I think her devotion and ability to change could teach us a lot. Don’t you agree?

David: Yes, I find her testimony very powerful and hopeful. How do you think we could respond like Mary Magdalene in our marriage?

Laura: The first thing she did was to bravely present her troubled past to Jesus and, once forgiven, leave it behind. I believe it’s unhealthy to try to hide and excuse our mistakes. We should face them with courage, acknowledge them, forgive ourselves, and let them go, just as she did. Cleansing our past could lead to the transformation of our marriage.

David: What you’re suggesting sounds like a sort of purification of our marital memories, doesn’t it? That is, ensuring there’s no lingering resistance to God’s forgiveness and mutual forgiveness in our recollections.

Laura: Exactly. As a second step, I suggest we commit to being very faithful to our mutual dedication for each other’s salvation. This means that whenever one of us falls into temptation, the other should be brave and remain steadfast in the face of the challenges that come our way.

David: I understand. And the reward will be being the first witness to your resurrection and you to mine. It sounds like an amazing plan. We’ll call it the Magdalena Plan. What do you think?

Laura: It sounds more like a breakfast plan than anything else. Hahaha, but okay…

David: I think you’ve just ruined my plan. Hahaha…

Mother,

We wish to live out the transformation and courage of Mary Magdalene. You loved her dearly and supported her in her faithfulness. Guide us by the hand as well. Praise be to the Lord who rewards us with His Resurrection.

Disrupted plans. Reflection for marriages Mark 6, 30-34

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Gospel

They were like sheep without a shepherd.
A reading from the holy 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 he 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.
The word of the Lord.
Disrupted plans.
It turns out that the Lord was making plans, and the Spirit was also disrupting them, just as it happens to me, but He, despite His tiredness and moved by love, surrendered to divine providence with all His Heart. For me, on the other hand, it is more difficult, but I recognize that the Spirit sneaks into my life precisely in the unexpected moments. How good it is to be open to the action of the Spirit.
Grounded in married life:
Alejandro: Yesterday I spent the whole afternoon wishing to get home and sit down to rest during dinner while watching a good movie. On the way back, I saw you needed to talk to me, and…
Carmen: Ah! Yes, yesterday! I had a bad day and needed to share it with you and have you help me interpret everything that happened from God’s perspective.
Alejandro: Well, that’s it, Carmen, when I saw you needed that, the world came crashing down on me because I needed to rest. But I didn’t say anything because I understood your need, and I had to prioritize yours over mine. But it was hard for me, you know? I admire the Lord, how despite not having rested and having almost no time even to eat, He continues to have compassion for the needy and gives Himself abundantly.
Carmen: I’m sorry, Alejandro, if I had known, I wouldn’t have shown you my distress… But I am immensely grateful to you because you helped me so much to see things through God’s eyes.
Alejandro: Yes, because despite my lack of generosity, the Spirit took advantage of my small “yes” to give you what you needed. How great God is.
Carmen: I thank God for you.
Mother,
You were always open to the interventions of the Spirit, and many of them contradicted your plans. Teach us to welcome the interventions of the Spirit with the same generosity that You had. Blessed be God who intervenes in our lives.

Marital ointment. Reflection for marriages Saint Matthew 12, 14-21

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Gospel

He commanded them not to reveal him. Thus, what was said by the prophet was fulfilled.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 12, 14-21
The Pharisees went out and took counsel against Jesus
to put him to death.
When Jesus realized this, he withdrew from that place.
Many people followed him, and he cured them all,
but he warned them not to make him known.
This was to fulfill what had been spoken through Isaiah the prophet:
Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,
my beloved in whom I delight;
I shall place my Spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
He will not contend or cry out,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.
A bruised reed he will not break,
a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice to victory.
And in his name the Gentiles will hope.
The word of the Lord.
Marital ointment.
Jesus, beloved Son of the Father, receives the Holy Spirit, which represents the union between God and humanity. The spouses, who participate in that nuptial love, are like that bruised reed that the Lord will not break until He establishes His justice in them. Let us not be the ones to break it. Let us be patient and understanding with one another as God is with us, because His Love is in our marriage, and it is capable of overcoming any obstacle and leading us to the victory of Conjugal Charity.
Grounded in married life:
Almudena: I have lost my peace again. I’m sorry.
Juanjo: Thank you for acknowledging it. You have a great heart, and the Lord loves you very much, so He will lead you to live in His Heart. Stay strong. It has also happened to me when you have lost your peace. I have also reacted poorly towards you. Please forgive me.
Almudena: I forgive you. But it’s true that we can transmit life or death to each other, and I haven’t transmitted life to you. I’m sorry.
Juanjo: I forgive you, dear. You are my life.
Mother,
May we be ointment for one another. Blessed be the Lord who will bring His justice to victory in us.

 

Climate of mercy. Reflection for marriages Saint Matthew 12, 1-8

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GOSPEL
The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath
Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew 12, 1-8
Jesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath.
His disciples were hungry
and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them.
When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him,
“See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath.”
He said to the them, “Have you not read what David did
when he and his companions were hungry,
how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering,
which neither he nor his companions
but only the priests could lawfully eat?
Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath
the priests serving in the temple violate the sabbath
and are innocent?
I say to you, something greater than the temple is here.
If you knew what this meant, I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
you would not have condemned these innocent men.
For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.”
Word of the Lord.
Climate of mercy.
A faith that brings me closer to God (at least apparently) and not to my sinful husband cannot be real. God’s mercy is embodied in Christ who gives himself for us for our salvation. That is what God expects a good spouse to do for their partner and vice versa.
Applied to Married Life:
Lucia: I wanted to go to confession and to do an examination of conscience, I would like to know if you feel loved and cared for by me, if you feel that you are my priority along with the Lord.
Manolo: You have your moments, but lately it’s amazing how you are creating a beautiful atmosphere of love between us. I see and appreciate every smile, every look or gesture of affection, every attention, every caress. You have me on cloud nine.
Lucia: Thank you. You are so good to me and how beautiful your look towards me is. I adore you.
Manolo: You are the one who enchants me.
Mother,
May we, through mercy, create an atmosphere of love with our spouse and our family, full of joy and hope. Amen.

I never get tired of you. Reflection for marriages Saint Matthew 11, 28-30

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GOSPEL
I am gentle and humble of heart
Reading from the holy Gospel according to St. Matthew 11, 28-30
At that time, Jesus said:
Jesus said:
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
I never get tired of you.
One of the characteristics of the action of grace is that, unlike when we act with our own strength, what we do moved by grace does not tire us, much less overwhelm us.
The good news is that the Nuptial Love of Christ is among us, and therefore we will never tire of loving each other.
Applied to married life:
Jaime: When we got married, I was afraid that with time and difficulties our love would suffer a wear and tear that would end in indifference or a certain apathy.
Carmen: And what conclusion are you drawing after more than thirty years of marriage?
Jaime: My conclusion is that I am more in love with you every day, and I clearly know that this love I am experiencing between us is supernatural.
Carmen: We have fought a lot and have faced serious difficulties, but staying close to the Lord and sharing a conjugal spirituality is making us one in the Lord.
Jaime: Well, and learning about marriage through the Catechesis of Saint John Paul has also been crucial in knowing how to take advantage of the grace of our Sacrament.
Carmen: Absolutely.
Jaime: Can you give me a huge hug that will burst?
Carmen: Hahaha
Mother,
We can never thank enough for the gift of marriage. A mystery that clearly surpasses us. Praise the Lord for this gift.