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GOSPEL
From the Gospel according to Luke
Lk 10:21-24

Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said,
“I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to the childlike.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows who the Son is except the Father,
and who the Father is except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”

Turning to the disciples in private he said,
“Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.
For I say to you,
many prophets and kings desired to see what you see,
but did not see it,
and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”

The Gospel of the Lord

Addressed to the “simple-minded.”

While the Lord overlooked the wise, powerful, and prominent, He deliberately chose to reveal His mysteries to us—the “simple-minded,” the seemingly ineffective, the awkward. In doing so, He unveiled insights that many esteemed individuals would have coveted. Praise the Lord!
May we, O Lord, consistently acknowledge our simplicity, clumsiness, and apparent inadequacy, allowing You to continuously illuminate our understanding.

Applied to Married life:

John: Our relationship thrives until we arrogantly assume superior knowledge over each other. It’s at that point that blindness clouds our perception.
Amanda: True. There’s a resistance to feeling humbled within me, which leaves me vulnerable to any actions of yours that might be construed as belittling. That’s when I begin to view you with disapproval.
John: Recognising this tendency is beneficial, as it indicates that the Lord is still guiding you. Undoubtedly, our journey mirrors the path of the cross, akin to any devout Christian.
Amanda: Indeed. Let’s use this Advent season to embrace the humility symbolized by the manger, where the Child will find repose.

Dear Mother,

Although we are feeble and prone to stumble, our love for you and your Son is profound. Mother, do not forsake us. All glory to the Lord, our God.

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GOSPEL

Watch, therefore; you do not know when the lord of the house is coming
Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark 13:33-37

Jesus said to his disciples: “Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come.
It is like a man traveling abroad.
He leaves home and places his servants in charge, each with his own work,
and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch.
Watch, therefore; you do not know when the lord of the house is coming,
whether in the evening, or at midnight,
or at cockcrow, or in the morning.
May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping.
What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’”

The word of the Lord.

Attentive to the “little jet.”

It is necessary to remain in grace so that our actions can have some supernatural value for eternal life. Because it is Sanctifying Grace that God has given us through the merits of Christ for our salvation. If we do not accept His merits, there is no salvation.
To remain in grace, we must be vigilant, attentive to the “little jet” that enters through the crack and precedes the great avalanche of turbid water that will overwhelm us if we do not cut it off at the root as soon as it begins to appear.

Applied to married life:

Marta: Why do you know that you love me?
Carlos: Above all, because I fight for your salvation.
Marta: And what do you do for my salvation?
Carlos: Well, above all, I am attentive not to make it more difficult for you with my sin. Every time I fall into temptation, it is easy for me to drag you into evil as well. Therefore, it is my first obligation: Out of love for you, I would rather die than sin.
Marta: How beautiful! Thank you, Carlos, for loving me so much.

Mother,

Help us to live this Advent as befits such a wonderful event. Thank you, Blessed Mother.

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GOSPEL

Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent.
Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke 21, 34-36

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap.
For that day will assault everyone
who lives on the face of the earth.
Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mr. Hyde

I was surprised by the phrase “be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down,” because it is true that sometimes I forget that the true enemy is within! In my own disordered passions in my memory… I tend to think that it is my spouse who incites me to sin, but the Lord is calling my attention today: Be careful with your own heart!

Applied to married life:

Merche: In a way, the Holy Spirit is dwelling in my heart, but there is also a Mr. Hyde that comes out at any moment and tries to make himself noticed and take control.
Juan: That happens to you and it happens to all of us.
Merche: Plus, that cursed Mr. Hyde has memory, and as soon as he appears, he hooks onto all the evil that is in my memory and in my emotions.
Juan: That’s true. We have to be constantly vigilant so that he doesn’t come to light and sweep away everything that has been built between us through God’s grace.
Merche: Yes, yes, it’s really dangerous. Lord, please, assist us.

Mother,

Do not let us fall into temptation so that we may remain standing before the Son of Man.

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GOSPEL

When you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.
Reading of the holy Gospel according to St. Luke 21:29-33

Jesus told his disciples a parable.
“Consider the fig tree and all the other trees.
When their buds burst open,
you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near; in the same way, when you see these things happening,
know that the Kingdom of God is near.
Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Stages of love.

When we begin to see the fruits of love growing between us, then we are drawing near to the kingdom of God. The Lord opens the doors of heaven for our souls to progress in an intimate relationship with Him. He always waits for us, and we wait for Him together.

Applied to married life:

Antonio: I’m reading “The Interior Castle,” and I realize that practically everything St. Teresa applies to the path of union with God must be in accordance with the path of union between us.

Mónica: Ah! That’s interesting that there are dwelling places in our journey towards Conjugal Love.

Antonio: Yes, in our relationship, there is also a purgative, illuminative, and unitive stage. And, moreover, they go hand in hand with the stages of the spiritual journey. We cannot move on from the purgative stage if we have not also overcome that stage between us.

Mónica: It makes perfect sense. That’s why some people try to progress towards the Lord and cannot because they are not faithful to their marital vocation.

Antonio: Exactly.

Mother,

Help us so that there may be fruits of unity between us. Thank you, blessed Mother, for not abandoning us on this path of marriage as God intended.

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GOSPEL

You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.
Reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 21:12-19

Jesus said to the crowd:

“They will seize and persecute you,
they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons,
and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name.
It will lead to your giving testimony.
Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking
that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.
You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends,
and they will put some of you to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.
By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Great Opportunities.

Naturally, we do not like the idea of being persecuted. It can cause fear or concern about jeopardizing our honor. Being alone, ridiculed, perhaps even slandered can befall us.

But the Lord gives another interpretation that can only be understood from a perspective of faith: they are opportunities to bear witness. Few occasions are as powerful as those moments that initially seem like great failures but over time reveal themselves as the actions of the Spirit through the saints.

Applied to married life:

Laura: At this rate, we will end up being martyrs. For now, we are ridiculed by many, going completely against the current.

Juan: It certainly seems that way, Laura. But martyrdom is the shortest path to total union with Christ. If God wills it, we hope to embrace it as the gift that it is.

Laura: Yes. It is a heroic act that clearly cannot be achieved on our own.

Juan: That’s why the martyrs have sustained the Church from the beginning, starting with our Master who gave His life for His Church in obedience to the Father. For now, my plan is to initiate small “martyr-like” acts in our relationship, surrendering my honor in every opportunity that presents itself to me. I hope God helps me because, for me, it is impossible.

Laura: It seems like a good plan for this Advent. May the Lord help us.

Mother,

A sword pierced Your Heart, making You the Queen of the Universe. Thank you for your witness, dear Mother.