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Always waiting. Reflection for married couples. Matthew 10:17-22

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Gospel of the Day
From the Gospel according to Matthew 10:17-22
At that time: Jesus instructed his Apostles: ‘Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.’
Always waiting

How often we feel troubled, as though the Lord has gone away and we can no longer see Him. Worries, work, countless things to do — and we feel we have no time to be with the Lord. It may seem that He is the one who has gone, when in reality it is we who have drifted away. He tells us that He is “the way, the truth and the life,” yet we become distracted and fail to see Him. Spouses! He is always waiting for us to come and spend that little moment with Him. He is waiting in the Eucharist, waiting for us in prayer, waiting for us in our spouse. Let us set the world aside and enter into His Heart, because He is waiting for us. Only in Him do we find Truth and Life. Only through Him, with Him and in Him will we live fully. Take courage, spouses! Christ is with us.

Applied to married life:

Charlotte: Look, James, I’ve realised that lately I’ve been letting myself get carried away by worldly things.
James: And why do you say that, Charlotte?
Charlotte: Well, while praying yesterday, I realised that I’ve been far too focused on the social events we’ve had, worried about shopping, often for things that were unnecessary. Concerned about details that really are not worth it.
James: To be honest, I have noticed that sometimes you’ve seemed a little absorbed in shopping.
Charlotte: Not only that… I’ve also become attached to certain television series as a way to unwind. I told myself it was just to de-stress.
James: Well, I share that passion for series too, but I’m not quite sure where you’re going with this.
Charlotte: What I mean is that if I devote myself to these things, I neglect what is truly more important — prayer, the Eucharist, even you, my husband. And I start to think that I no longer have time for them, when in fact they are the most important things. Without Him we can do nothing, and He is the Way, the Truth and the Life.
James: Now that you mention it, I realise that I too have neglected our journey of faith and have allowed myself to be trapped by the excuse of “I don’t have time.”
Charlotte: Then we need to redirect ourselves and return to our path of holiness and happiness: our Sacrament, prayer, and attending the Eucharist whenever we can. What do you think?
James: I love that. In moments like this, I discover that you truly are the suitable help God has given me to lead me to Him.
Charlotte: And I give thanks to God for the husband He has given me.

Mother,

Watch over us so that we may never drift away from the Lord, and thus journey towards Heaven, where we may all rejoice together giving glory to God. Blessed and praised be the Lord forever!

Dwelling within us. Reflection for married couples. John 14:1-12

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Gospel of the Day
From the Gospel according to John 14:1–12
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.’ Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.’
  Philip said to him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the Father”? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
  ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.’

Dwelling within us

The love between spouses goes beyond mere feeling. On our wedding day, we committed ourselves to keep our marital promises. I give myself to you and promise to be faithful to you… in health and in sickness… When you are having a difficult day, in moments of weakness… when we wholeheartedly accept and live out these promises, we allow Jesus and the Father to make their dwelling in our marriage, and we allow the Holy Spirit to manifest His gifts in our hearts. This transforms our whole life. The Holy Spirit, who has been present between us since the day we were married, needs us to give Him “permission” through our intention and our actions in order to work within us.

Applied to married life:

Arthur: Lucy, since I became aware that when I promised at our wedding to be faithful to you, it also meant maintaining purity in my actions and in my thoughts, how much my heart has changed! Thank you for how much you have helped me in this.
Lucy: I have changed a great deal too. Before, I often thought badly of you, and that caused my heart to receive you with distrust. I was not being the help God was asking me to be.
Arthur: At first it was very difficult for me, and it was a great struggle, but over time it has become the most natural thing — embracing this logic of God.
Lucy: This is what we saw the other day in the catechesis: when we manage to grow in the virtue of purity, which is usually difficult for us, it disposes us to receive it as a gift of the Holy Spirit, just as today’s Gospel says.
Arthur: What joy that the Holy Spirit has manifested Himself in this. Now that Pentecost is approaching, it is a wonderful time to celebrate it.

Mother,

May we fulfil the commands of Jesus through love, so that He and the Father may make their dwelling in our hearts. Praised be God!

Act as you believe. Reflection for married couples. John 14:7-14

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Gospel of the Day

Gospel according to John 14:7–14
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.’ Philip said to him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the Father”? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
  ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me for anything in my name, I will do it.’
The Gospel of the Lord

Act as you believe

In this Gospel, Jesus reveals a central truth of our faith: “whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” In Him, God becomes visible, close, human. Christ does not only speak about God; He shows Him through His very life. And this mystery deeply illuminates the sacrament of marriage: we, as Christian spouses, united in Christ, are called to be a living sign of God’s love. Through the grace of our sacrament, we participate in His love and, as Saint John Paul II teaches, we are called to make the invisible visible.
In our daily lives, through acts of self-giving, forgiveness, and communion, we reflect the true love of God. What greatness in our marital vocation—to be, in the midst of the world, a living reflection of divine love. To be a sign, a presence, and a witness. To be, with humility and truth, a place where our spouse and those around us can glimpse the face of the Father.

Brought Down to Married Life:

Yvonne: James, do you remember when we started praying together? For me it felt natural, but with you it was often difficult.
James: Yes… I really struggled. I felt uncomfortable and even resisted letting you accompany me.
Yvonne: And I, without realising it, sometimes pressured you. I so deeply wanted to bring you closer to the Lord, but I didn’t always do it with the gentleness He would have wanted.
James: That made me close off even more. But over time, through perseverance, the Lord began to change my heart, and I started to see your faith as a gift.
Yvonne: James, and I learned to wait and to trust God more than my own efforts, because I realised that insisting only created resistance.
James: Yvonne, now I understand that God also speaks to me through you, and that letting myself be guided by your hand brings me closer to Him.
Yvonne: And it teaches me to love you with patience, self-giving, and embracing, always trusting in God’s timing.

Mother,

Lead us to the Father through Jesus and guide us to live in His heart and in His works. Blessed and praised be the Lord forever.

The Way, the Truth, and the Life. Reflection for married couples. John 14:1-6

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Gospel of the Day

Gospel according to John 14:1–6
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.’ Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’
The Gospel of the Lord
The Way, the Truth, and the Life

The Lord speaks to His disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” He prepares them for the moment of the Cross. And He also tells them: “I am the way and the truth and the life.”

Here He gives us the key to living the Kingdom of Heaven, and even to begin living it here on earth.

The Lord is the way: He guides us through His Word, gives us His grace, and through His Passion and His Cross, He gives us the sacraments especially, for us, the sacrament of marriage. Through spousal charity, we make Christ present, who makes our love grow and allows it to overflow to those around us.

The Lord is the truth: the truth inscribed in our hearts as spouses and in fact we are called to love one another with His Love.

The Lord is the life: because whoever believes in Him will have eternal life. And so, if we live with Christ, through Christ, and in Christ, we begin to live Heaven here on earth.

Isn’t that attractive? And as if that were not enough, He gives us His Mother as our Mother, to lead us to Him.

Brought Down to Married Life:

Fiona: Do you know, Robert, love? I’ve been reflecting lately on how much we’ve grown over these years since we started the marriage journey.

Robert: Oh really, Fiona? And what conclusion have you reached?

Fiona: That if we hadn’t discovered this, we’d probably be like many of our friends, separated or each doing our own thing… Because it’s so easy to drift, especially if you don’t know this truth we’re coming to know. Honestly, we’re so fortunate… well, actually, I now see we’re more than fortunate, we’re truly cherished by the Lord.

Robert: That’s true, Fiona, you’re right… I hadn’t stopped to think about all the light we’ve been receiving and how it has brought us closer together. And all because we said yes when your friend Claire invited us to start, one thing led to another…

Fiona: I know! It’s incredible what a single “yes” can do, isn’t it?

Robert: And now it’s time to say yes to a romantic dinner, alright?

Fiona: Of course, Robert, always!

Mother,

May we, like you, say “yes” to God’s plan. Blessed and praised be the Lord.

Blessed Are You. Reflection for married couples. John 13:16-20

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Gospel of the day

Gospel according to John 13:16–20
After Jesus had washed the feet of his disciples, he said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, “He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.” I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.’

The Gospel of the Lord

Blessed Are You

Those of us who, as married couples, have taken part in the Proyecto Amor Conyugal retreat and follow the catechesis of Saint John Paul II know how God intended marriage to be. And in this Gospel, it is as if Jesus were saying to us: dear spouses, you know how my Father designed marriage — blessed are you if you put it into practice.
But we cannot do it alone. Without him we can do nothing. Because, through our fallen nature, what comes naturally to us is to want to be served, to fight to be right, to try to dominate the other, to want the other to change.
Let us not betray the one who shares bread with us — our spouse. Instead, let us do as Jesus did: let us wash one another’s feet, giving ourselves in the small details of each day. It is to him that we do it.

Brought down to Married Life

Peter: Emma, I think today I put myself above you…
Emma: Yes, but I also wanted to be right instead of serving you.
Peter: And that is exactly what Jesus speaks about — placing ourselves at the feet of the other.
Emma: Yes, and he says we will be blessed if we put it into practice.
Peter: Sometimes I feel that I give more than you, and that poisons me…
Emma: The same happens to me. I feel it too. And I think that is the trap — staying in what we feel.
Peter: How important it is to trust and to receive one another as a gift from God, to help each other become holy. To purify what is ugly within us by filling our hearts with blessing.
Emma: Even when we fail… to keep choosing one another. It is beautiful to choose to love. We need his help — shall we spend some time praying with this Gospel together?
Peter: Yes!

Mother,

Blessed are you who put into practice all the teachings of the Father.
We enter into your Heart so that you may teach us.