GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to John 20:19-23

On the evening of that first day of the week,

when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,

for fear of the Jews,

Jesus came and stood in their midst

and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.

The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.

As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,

“Receive the Holy Spirit.

Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,

and whose sins you retain are retained.”

The word of the Lord

 

Fruitful Poverty

I may feel discouraged when I give myself to my husband and see no fruit in our marriage. It could even seem as though Christ’s own self‑giving had achieved nothing: His disciples hidden away in fear. And yet, from that pierced side on Good Friday until today, Pentecost, the heart of His Bride, the Church, has been forming. It has been a painful but necessary labour. A time of gestation marked by fear, tears, silence, doubts, purification… a time that has led her to recognise her own misery. And it is there, in that acknowledgement, that communion with Christ the Bridegroom is born, and where true evangelisation begins. It is in that poverty that the Holy Spirit finds space, and true fruitfulness comes to life.

 

Applied to married life

Mary has been trying for some time to care more attentively for John, her husband. 

She tries to listen to him better, avoid reproaches, show small gestures of affection, and pray for him every day. Deep down, she hopes that all of this will improve their marriage — that he will change and that the unity they once had will return.

But time passes, and nothing seems to improve. He remains distant, absorbed in work, and not very expressive. Little by little, Mary begins to grow weary inside: “Why should I keep giving of myself if I see no fruit?”

In the midst of that sadness, the Holy Spirit shows her something unexpected: that her self‑giving has not been sterile. All that time of silence, waiting, tears, and struggle has been bringing something far deeper to the surface of her heart: her need to be reciprocated, recognised, and valued.

And right there, in that acknowledged poverty, something within her begins to change. Christ begins to soak her soul. Her love becomes freer, less demanding, more sustained by God than by her husband’s response. She no longer needs to impose or force anything. Without realising it, she begins to radiate peace, patience, and above all, a new and unfamiliar joy.

Then she understands that true fruitfulness had begun long before any visible change appeared in her marriage: it had begun in her own soul.

Mother,

Teach us to purify our hearts so that we may be born anew in your Son. Blessed and praised for ever be He who redeemed us with His Blood.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to John 21:20-25

Peter turned and saw the disciple following whom Jesus loved,

the one who had also reclined upon his chest during the supper

and had said, “Master, who is the one who will betray you?”

When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?”

Jesus said to him, “What if I want him to remain until I come?

What concern is it of yours?

You follow me.”

So the word spread among the brothers that that disciple would not die.

But Jesus had not told him that he would not die,

just “What if I want him to remain until I come?

What concern is it of yours?”

It is this disciple who testifies to these things

and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true.

There are also many other things that Jesus did,

but if these were to be described individually,

I do not think the whole world would contain the books

that would be written.

The word of the Lord

 

You, follow Me.

In this Gospel, the Lord shows us that the only way to truly know ourselves is to know Him. And when we ask Him how to do that, He tells us: “Fix your gaze on Me.” That is why, when we turn our eyes towards others, He says to us, “What is that to you?” Do not compare yourself with anyone; do not focus on what others do; do not justify yourself by pointing out the faults of others. You follow Me. Look at Me, only at Me, and do what you are called to do.

In marriage, we cannot justify ourselves by what our spouse does or fails to do. Husbands and wives must not compare themselves or keep score of who does what. I must pour all my love into every act of the day, even if it is not returned, just as Jesus did. My mission in this life is to give myself without reserve to my spouse, until death, as Christ did for me — He who shed the very last drop of His blood for me, and also for you, and for each one of us, for His Bride, the Church.

Let us not lose heart, let us not grow weary. Let us remain faithful and steadfast, as Our Lord taught us.

 

Applied to married life

Mike: You know, Susana, today as I was reflecting on the Gospel, I felt very much like Peter… looking at someone else, comparing myself, asking the Lord: “And what about him?”

Susana: Yes… it’s striking how comparison appears there. Peter has just received an immense mission — to be the head of the Church — and yet straight away he looks at someone else’s path. And Jesus replies with such tenderness and firmness: “What is that to you? You follow Me.” As if He were saying to us as well: “Don’t look at what others are doing… look at Me, and walk together.”

Mike: How often we lose our peace by comparing ourselves: thinking that this couple prays more, that those others seem more united, that that marriage has everything sorted… and sometimes I think, “If only we were like them.” And without realising it, I end up disregarding the beautiful story God is writing with us.

Susana: And today the Lord reminds us that our story is unique. Our love has a specific mission. We must recognise ourselves as chosen, called, and sent as spouses. We don’t need to live anyone else’s life.

Mike: And we need to trust that God doesn’t make mistakes with our story. He doesn’t want us to be “like other couples”; He wants us to be fully ourselves. It moves me to think that Jesus has chosen us and trusts us just as He trusted Peter, despite his weaknesses. He didn’t ask him for perfection… only love and discipleship.

Susana: That brings such peace… Not competing, not pretending, not measuring ourselves. Simply following Christ together. Because then our marriage also becomes a “witness”: a small story where Jesus continues to act.

Mike: So today I just want to hear that: “You follow Me”… with you, hand in hand, towards Him.

Susana: And I with you, Mike. Whatever comes, looking more to Christ and to our mission than to our limitations.

Both together: “Lord, teach us to follow You together, with humility, faithfulness, and joy, without comparing ourselves, living the unique mission You have dreamed for our marriage.”

 

Mother,

Teach us to lift up our gaze and look to Him alone. Blessed and glorious are you, Mother! May the Lord be praised for ever!

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to John 21:15-19

After Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and eaten breakfast with them,

he said to Simon Peter,

“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”

Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”

He then said to Simon Peter a second time,

“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”

He said to him the third time,

“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time,

“Do you love me?” and he said to him,

“Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger,

you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted;

but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands,

and someone else will dress you

and lead you where you do not want to go.”

He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God.

And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”

The word of the Lord

 

Three Times 

It may seem surprising that Jesus insists on asking Peter three times in a row whether he loves Him, whether he cares for Him. But we remember that Peter himself denied Him three times on the night of the Passion; Christ now gives him the opportunity to affirm his love, once for each denial.

And the Lord is always lovingly ready to draw near to us so that we may ask for forgiveness in the sacrament of penance and become like little lambs in the arms of our Good Shepherd. Let us not desire to be anything else; there is nothing better than allowing ourselves to be guided by Him, who is Love.

Applied to married life

Peter: The children still haven’t tidied their room… I honestly don’t know what else to say to them. They completely ignore me; I’m sure that if you go in now, they’ll obey you straightaway. They’re always waiting for your confirmation before they pay any attention to me, and when you’re not around there’s no way of getting them to do anything I ask. Truth be told, I’m getting rather tired of it — it’s always the same.

Magda: Always the same, always the same… you’re the one who’s always the same with this constant moaning. I’m the one who’s tired of having the same conversation over and over again.

Peter: Always the same, the same conversation… forgive me, Magda. I let myself get carried away by old feelings I thought I’d overcome. I didn’t sleep well last night and I’ve slipped back into it again.

Magda: No, forgive me, Peter. I jumped straight in without thinking… truth is, I didn’t sleep well either. That programme we were watching made me quite anxious and it took me ages to fall asleep.

Peter: Same here. Thank God we’re starting to recognise these bursts of temper and cut them off as soon as they appear. I remember that before our conversion, we’d end up in an argument that could leave us not speaking to each other for days.

Magda: Absolutely… I shudder just thinking about it. If you agree, we could change the time of our conjugal prayer and do it before going to bed. That way we can spend more time on it, and we’ll go to sleep with the peace that comes from being with the Lord.

Peter: I think that’s a brilliant idea. Less telly and more prayer — sounds like a great plan. Thank you, my love, for pulling me back onto the right path.

 

Mother

We want to be those little lambs who walk beside Jesus; at times He takes us by the hand and we walk together, and at other times He has to carry us in His arms. Do not allow us to stray from Him. Blessed and praised be He for ever in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar!

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to John 17:20-26

Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying:

“I pray not only for these,

but also for those who will believe in me through their word,

so that they may all be one,

as you, Father, are in me and I in you,

that they also may be in us,

that the world may believe that you sent me.

And I have given them the glory you gave me,

so that they may be one, as we are one,

I in them and you in me,

that they may be brought to perfection as one,

that the world may know that you sent me,

and that you loved them even as you loved me.

Father, they are your gift to me.

I wish that where I am they also may be with me,

that they may see my glory that you gave me,

because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

Righteous Father, the world also does not know you,

but I know you, and they know that you sent me.

I made known to them your name and I will make it known,

that the love with which you loved me

may be in them and I in them.”

The word of the Lord

 

Our Union

This passage from the Gospel is one of Jesus’ most intimate prayers. It offers a profound light for Christian marriage: God’s dream for spouses is not merely to live together, but to become one, a reflection of the love between the Father and the Son.

This unity does not mean thinking the same about everything, but learning to walk towards a communion where the “I” gives way to the “we”.

Marital love matures when each spouse stops constantly defending themselves and begins instead to care for one another as a sacred treasure. Christ desires to live within the marriage — not simply to accompany it from the outside, but to dwell in the very midst of the spouses. That is why, when a couple prays together, forgives one another, listens with patience, and sacrifices themselves for the other, they are allowing Christ to love from within them.

In a society marked by division, haste, and individualism, spouses who love each other faithfully, who remain united in difficulties, and who continue choosing one another each day become a visible testimony of God. Moreover, this Gospel reminds us of something essential: unity does not arise on its own; it is both a gift and a task, built in the ordinary rhythm of daily life.

Marital love cannot be sustained by human strength alone. Spouses are called to love with the very love that comes from God, and when that love enters the home, even wounds, differences, and trials can become a path to communion. For the true success of a marriage is not simply living many years together, but becoming a visible reflection of God’s love.

 

Applied to married life

Vincent: What’s going on, Eva? I can see you’re a bit down, and you’re usually so cheerful.

Eva: Yes… I’m still upset about what happened yesterday at dinner with our friends.

Vincent: But everything went really well — we all got together, which we hadn’t done in ages, and we had such a good laugh.

Eva: I know, but I really didn’t like the way the women ended up on one side and the men on the other, as if we needed to split up to enjoy ourselves more.

Vincent: I wasn’t too keen on it either, but at least we managed to stay close — divided by “zones”, but still together.

Eva: That I loved, and it helped me so much having you by my side. But it led to a few hurtful comments about the way we do things, and it really upset me.

Vincent: The men also made a few comments that were out of line, but I managed to help them see how we try to live our unity even in the small things.

Eva: It’s just that men are a bit simpler — and rougher — and you don’t dwell on things you don’t see the same way.

Vincent: It’s not worth going round in circles. What matters is what we show when we defend and live out our union. Besides, for me the best part of the dinner was being next to you.

Eva: You’re absolutely right — it’s in the small details that it shows the most. I didn’t tell you: at the end, when we were saying goodbye, Inma came over and told me she loves seeing us always so united, and that nothing gets in the way of that, no matter what others say. She asked for help, admitting that things with Pedro are a bit difficult.

Vincent: See? It’s always worth it, despite the comments from outside. Pedro also came up to me and hinted that he’d like us to talk.

Eva: Well then, that settles it. You’ve completely turned around the sadness I was feeling and helped me see the importance of our unity. I’m going to call Inma right now and invite them over for dinner so we can talk.

Vincent: That’s my wife — the two of us facing everything together, whatever the situation.

 

Mother,

Help us to reflect the love between the Father and the Son through the unity in our marriage, so that many may come to believe in marriage as God intended it. Blessed be God.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to John 17:11b-19

Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying:

“Holy Father, keep them in your name

that you have given me,

so that they may be one just as we are one.

When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me,

and I guarded them, and none of them was lost

except the son of destruction,

in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

But now I am coming to you.

I speak this in the world

so that they may share my joy completely.

I gave them your word, and the world hated them,

because they do not belong to the world

any more than I belong to the world.

I do not ask that you take them out of the world

but that you keep them from the Evil One.

They do not belong to the world

any more than I belong to the world.

Consecrate them in the truth.

Your word is truth.

As you sent me into the world,

so I sent them into the world.

And I consecrate myself for them,

so that they also may be consecrated in truth.”

The Word of the Lord

 

The Invisible Enemy

It is moving to hear Jesus speak with the Father, and even more moving to discover that we are the reason for His prayer. Jesus prays just before going to Gethsemane, and it is striking to contemplate how, at such a moment, He does not think of Himself but of His disciples. And among them are also we ourselves, our marriages, our families…

In an individualistic world, full of attractions that scatter and divide the human heart between God and the things of the world, Jesus asks the Father for this gift for us: “that they may be one.” This is the great longing of the Heart of Jesus. And it is also our desire: to live united to the Lord. In marriage, that unity involves becoming one with our spouse. But what prevents it? Self‑love. That great invisible enemy that divides, hardens the heart, and makes communion difficult. There lies the battle — against myself.

Guard us, Lord, from this evil; may I stop looking so much at myself and learn to protect and support my spouse so that we may walk together towards You. Thank you, Lord, for this beautiful vocation, in which I am united to You through union with my spouse. And when together we live united to Christ, we can remain in the midst of the world… without losing our soul.

Applied to married life

Beatriz: Charles… do you realise we’ve spent forty minutes arguing about which series to watch?

Charles: It’s because the ones you choose are painfully slow.

Beatriz: Well, and you only ever want explosions and car chases.

(The argument escalates, and their hearts end up distant.)

Charles: Wait… Bea, in the end what’s pushed us apart isn’t the series — it’s our self‑love, wanting to impose our own way… We started with something silly, but look how we’ve ended up.

Beatriz: True. We’re always trying to impose our own will.

Charles: That famous self‑love always shows up… “My plan is better”, “I’m right”, “Why should I be the one to give in”… Me, me, me, me…

Beatriz: And while we’re fighting over a series… Jesus is praying to the Father that we may be one. The Lord has such patience with us.

Charles: Right then, here’s my proposal: you choose the series, and I’ll offer up my renunciation… for the sake of our communion.

Beatriz: (laughing) A martyr of conjugal love!

Charles: Well… one step at a time. Holiness begins with forty‑minute episodes, hahaha…

 

Mother,

Teach us that our unity so often begins with small daily acts of self‑denial. Help us in this battle, so that our unity may speak to the world of the love of Christ.

Blessed be the Lord!