The Lord speaks to all of us. But how is our heart prepared to receive Him? And how ready are we to welcome the heart of our spouse, through whom the Lord also manifests Himself?

Sometimes we receive His Word like seed fallen on the path, disguising our pride with reasons such as: “Christ’s message is not for me, this is just the way I am, it’s my wife who needs to change.”

At other times, like seed on rocky ground: I may feel called during a retreat to live our marriage as God desires, but then I return home and, at the first argument, pride swells up in me and I dismiss what I experienced at the retreat as worthless.

Or again, like seed among thorns: I believe in what St John Paul’s catechesis teaches, I believe my spouse is the helper suitable for leading me to Christ, yet I still put my attachments first: my outings, my daily reading, my hours at the computer, my beers, my coffees with friends, my football matches, before my spouse and family.

But it can also be like seed on good soil: I receive God’s Word with humility, recognising that on my own I cannot manage, surrendering myself to my spouse without expecting anything in return, savouring in prayer and the sacraments the grace of God, which makes His work sprout, grow, and bear fruit in our marriage, in our family, and in all those around us.

Brought Down to Married Life

Nora: Asher, I’ve just received the invitation to the start-of-year gathering of Marital Love Project this Sunday. Shall we go?

Mother,

Thank you for showing us the fruits of the seed of Your Son’s Word in our hearts.
Blessed and praised be our Lord!

Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another,
preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God.
Accompanying him were the Twelve
and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities,
Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,
Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza,
Susanna, and many others
who provided for them out of their resources.

When we read this Gospel we picture Jesus proclaiming the Truth, from town to town, from village to village.
And today He tells us to join in that proclamation so as to show the Truth to the whole world. But in order to carry His word, we must be united to Him. To proclaim Him we must be united in everything — in prayer, in the Eucharist, in confession, and especially in our marriage: we receive one another so that we may receive Him. That is why we were made spouses, and He planned us from all eternity to see Him in my husband. And when the Cross comes too? Yes — there He is, so that I may welcome Him in my spouse and our love may be stronger than death. This is how we will be saved. This is how we will proclaim You! Lord, we want to be Your mouth, Your eyes, Your ears.

Brought Down to Married Life:

Victoria: Hello, love. This is something we’re living that we simply cannot keep quiet about!
Joseph: Yes, but we still have a lot to grow in before we can speak about God, about the Lord…
Victoria: I think we should simply tell what has happened to us — nothing more, just what we are living. It is the best way to proclaim the Truth: by witnessing what the Lord is doing in us and in our marriage.
Joseph: Do you really think so?
Victoria: Yes — haven’t you seen a transformation in our marriage? Well, that is the Lord’s work! We are witnesses to what He has done.
Joseph: It’s true, Victoria — that is what He has done, and we cannot keep it to ourselves. This afternoon, when we meet Beatrice and Nathan, we’ll tell them…

Mother,

We want to do as You do and speak as You do: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord. And we proclaim: Blessed and praised be the Lord!

Today’s Gospel presents us with two people and two ways of being before Jesus. The Pharisee is a “religious” man, proper, polite, well-educated, with sound judgement. Faced with a question posed by the Master, he answers and receives Jesus’ praise: “You have judged rightly.”
The sinner, on the other hand, was a woman of the world, ordinary, without any learning. She “only” had in her heart the desire to repair, to humble herself, to love. And before such great love, the Lord tells her the most beautiful words we could ever hear: “You have loved much, your faith has saved you.”
In our marriage we run the risk of “judging rightly” our spouse’s actions. Rightly, yes; but without love. Before “objectively” wrong deeds, even before the sin of my spouse, the Lord does not call me to “judge rightly” but to welcome and to love — to love much.

Brought Down to Married Life:

(Theresa is speaking with Catherine, her mentor)

Theresa: Look Catherine, I just can’t take any more of Edward’s lack of seriousness.
Catherine: What’s happened?
Theresa: The same as always. We had a meeting at school with our son’s teacher, and, as usual, Edward turned up half an hour late. And then he spent the whole time looking at his phone. He always does the same thing. He makes me feel so embarrassed.
Catherine: No wonder you had a difficult time. And how did you respond?
Theresa: Very angrily. I told him he was rude, that he embarrassed me. That people have already “clocked” him. That he always promises it won’t happen again but that he’s unreliable and ill-mannered.
Catherine: It’s true that being late and not paying attention in a conversation is “objectively” wrong. But you are not called to react by giving in to anger and frustration, but rather to respond with love. Correct him, but with love. Tell him — when you’re able to do it calmly.
Theresa: I know you’re right, but it’s so hard for me to stay calm. Poor thing, deep down he suffers from that lack of order and attention. I want to be a helper suitable for him.

Mother,

We want to kiss and anoint the precious feet of Jesus; we want to love much. Help us, you, Mother of conjugal love. Blessed be the Lord for His love and mercy towards us!

Jesus said to the crowds:
“To what shall I compare the people of this generation?
What are they like?
They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another,

‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance.
We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.’

For John the Baptist came neither eating food nor drinking wine,
and you said, ‘He is possessed by a demon.’
The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said,
‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard,
a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’
But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”

My beloved Jesus, these words of Yours pierce my heart. I feel as though You are saying to me, with a gaze both sorrowful and merciful, “What are you waiting for? Will you respond now? Will you truly listen to Me and do what I ask of you?”
You want me to be truly happy. You have given me everything I need to begin to be so here on earth, and to rejoice with You for all eternity. You love me beyond measure, You have died for me, You have remained with us in the Eucharist, You have sent me the Holy Spirit, You have given me Your Mother, the Sacraments… And yet You look at me with sadness, because You see that I still go on seeking happiness where it cannot be found. I still cling to other masters in my heart, which prevent You from reigning there. Masters that seem harmless: that extra time on my phone, that little “necessity,” my work, insisting on being right… But they are not harmless — they are hidden chains that bind my heart and keep it from being filled with Your Love.
And filled with Your Love, my heart could then truly love — to love You, to love my spouse, my family… just as You desire. And that is where true happiness lies.
Lord, today I want to say “yes” to You, once and for all. With the firm determination to do Your Will in every moment. With the help of Your grace, I know I will succeed. Thank You so much, Jesus.

Brought down to Married Life

Brian: Oh Alice, what a fright — what a dream I had! I dreamt that you died. How dreadful! And I realised just how much I love you, and how many opportunities I have wasted to tell you, to look into your wonderful eyes, to be tender with you…
Alice: How sweet you are! I often think that if I were to die today, how much would be left undone. Of what use would all the time spent on chats, series, my little whims… have been? That is why I try each day to begin with prayer and Mass, so that the Lord may centre me and I may only seek to do His Will, not mine.
Brian: The truth is, it shows. I’ve been noticing for some time how you’re more affectionate with me, you lose your temper less, and I see you more joyful and happy. And I want to follow you. I don’t want to waste any more time. I see clearly that true happiness lies in ceasing to look at myself and beginning to look only at the Lord and at you. Please help me to start building daily habits — you know how hard I find it. Shall we go to Mass together and pray beforehand? Or is there something else you think would help me?
Alice: What helps me a great deal is making small hidden sacrifices: that piece of bread I don’t eat, that shirt left on the floor which I pick up without saying anything, that last word I hold back… Those little sacrifices, made with love, I offer to God for our marriage, and they really help me to turn away from myself and focus on what matters.
Brian: That’s wonderful! I’ll pray about what I can do. It will be hard for me, but I know that with the Lord’s help — and yours — I will manage.

Mother,

What joy it is to see how, by Your Hand, this path of prayer and the sacraments is already bearing fruit. And through mortification, helping me to overcome my selfishness… A thousand thanks, Mother! Praise be to the Lord!