Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.” 

When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, “Who then can be saved?” 

Jesus looked at them and said, “For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”

Then Peter said to him in reply, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?”

Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

From the Gospel according to Matthew. Mt. 19:16-22

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Luke 12:49-53

Jesus said to his disciples:

“I have come to set the earth on fire,

and how I wish it were already blazing!

There is a baptism with which I must be baptized,

and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished!

Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth?

No, I tell you, but rather division.

From now on a household of five will be divided,

three against two and two against three;

a father will be divided against his son

and a son against his father,

a mother against her daughter

and a daughter against her mother,

a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law

and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law

The Gospel of the Lord

 

Servants of Unification

Sin divides my inner being and affects my relationship with God and with others, leading me to coexist superficially with evil—a division that breeds chaos.

Jesus, by contrast, brings a purifying fire that exposes this division and demands a choice; His message provokes conflict because I cannot love God and sin at the same time. He brings the division that restores the cosmos.

The deception is believing that the struggle, in Jesus’ name, is against my spouse, or against my children or siblings.

Benedict XVI wrote:

“Love is the fire that purifies and unites reason, will, and feeling; it unifies man within himself through the unifying action of God, so that he becomes a servant of the unification of those who were divided: thus man enters the dwelling place of God and can see Him.”

His love unifies me and enables me to serve the unity of those who are divided, allowing me to enter into communion with Him.

How beautiful is our vocation as spouses.

Applied to married life

(Oscar arrives home burdened and exhausted from key meetings that affect his professional future, and is met with Ana’s reproach.)

Ana: “You know how badly I’m doing, and you couldn’t even call me all day—and on top of that, you arrive late.”

Oscar: “I’ll go to the kitchen and bring you a glass of water.”

(As he walks to the kitchen, Oscar feels his blood boiling.)

Oscar: “My God, help me see Ana’s pain. Don’t let me revel in my own. May Your Spirit govern my thoughts, my feelings, and my gaze. May it be You who comforts her. I place myself at the service of Your daughter.”

(He returns to the living room and sits beside her.)

Oscar: “Sweetheart, forgive me if I haven’t been by your side as you need. How are you?”

Ana initially responds coldly, but he neither defends himself nor corrects her; he listens. Eventually, she feels welcomed and begins to calm down. She opens up, and little by little, she relaxes until she rests her head silently on his shoulder.

In that moment, Oscar feels as though his problems shrink. His mind clears. New possibilities emerge that he hadn’t considered when he walked through the door. He feels a peace that allows him to see everything from a new perspective. That embrace with Ana, that shared silence, leads him to glimpse the truth about his marriage, his work, and his own life. He feels a strength that integrates him inwardly and enables him to comfort Ana and face his fears.

Mother,

You who unite divided hearts, pray for us. Blessed are you!

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Matthew 19:13-15

Children were brought to Jesus

that he might lay his hands on them and pray.

The disciples rebuked them, but Jesus said,

“Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them;

for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

After he placed his hands on them, he went away.

The Gospel of the Lord

 

Let Yourself Be Blessed by Jesus

In this Gospel passage, we see how—most likely—some parents or grandparents bring children to Jesus so that He might bless them. Despite the disciples’ reluctance, Jesus lays His hands on them and blesses them. How important it is to draw near and present ourselves before Jesus to ask for His blessing!

But how do I approach the Lord? With self-sufficiency, with human logic? Or with the trust of a child—a little one who knows he is in need of his Father? Do I present my husband to Jesus each day so that He might bless him? Or, like the disciples, do I scold him and keep him away because I see him as “unclean” with his little sins, or unworthy because he has offended me?

Jesus makes it very clear that His logic is not ours. He looks deep within and sees the disposition of the heart. He blesses the children who come to Him simple, docile, and trusting. And what a surprise! The Lord tells His disciples that the Kingdom of Heaven belongs precisely to those who are like children.

So, if I become like a child—if I recognise my need, if I place all my trust in my Father God and believe that what He gives me is truly the best plan I could have—then I can begin to live the Kingdom of Heaven here and now.

Let us not forget to thank God for those who have brought us closer to the Lord, and let us never stop presenting Jesus to those who do not yet know Him—especially those closest to us.

Applied to Married Life

Rafa: Hi, María, I’m home.

María: Hello, Rafa. How was the flight?

Rafa: Phew! This time I was really scared—there were some awful turbulences, so much so that I even prayed. And you know how little I believe in all that praying business… But do you know what surprised me the most?

María: No… What was it?

Rafa: A child was completely calm while the rest of us were trembling. And when someone asked if he wasn’t afraid, he said no—because his dad was the one flying the plane. What trust he had in his father!

María: That’s no surprise. He was with his dad! If a child trusts his earthly father because he believes he’s the best, that he’s capable of anything, and that because he loves him he’ll give him the very best—then becoming like a child is just that, but in relation to God, our Father. And since He loves each of us, knows everything, and can do all things—would He ever give us something bad? To have that kind of faith in Him, in His plans, in the belief that He always gives us what’s best for us, even when we don’t understand it—that’s what it means to become like a child before God.

Rafa: What a beautiful reflection. María, could you help bring me closer to the Lord? You know I don’t have your faith, but I’d like to.

María: Of course, Rafa. What joy! How about we go on that marriage retreat with “Proyecto Amor Conyugal” that our friends spoke so highly of? I think it would be a great start…

Rafa: Why not? I trust you—and them. It won’t do us any harm. And if it helps us and brings us closer to the Lord…

María: You’re the best. I love you.

Mother,

Take us by the hand, and just as You presented Your Son in the temple, present us to Jesus each day so that He may bless us. Blessed are You, Mother! Praised be the Lord!

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Luke 1:39-56

Mary set out

and travelled to the hill country in haste

to a town of Judah,

where she entered the house of Zechariah

and greeted Elizabeth.

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,

the infant leaped in her womb,

and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,

cried out in a loud voice and said,

“Blessed are you among women,

and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

And how does this happen to me,

that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,

the infant in my womb leaped for joy.

Blessed are you who believed

that what was spoken to you by the Lord

would be fulfilled.”

And Mary said:

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior

for he has looked with favour on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:

the Almighty has done great things for me

and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him

in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm,

and has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,

and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel

for he has remembered his promise of mercy,

the promise he made to our fathers,

to Abraham and his children forever.”

Mary remained with her about three months

and then returned to her home. 

The gospel of the Lord

The Greatness of the Lord.

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, who is, and who is to come” (Revelation 4:8).

It is awe-inspiring that the very Almighty God became the blessed fruit of Mary’s womb, His humble servant. One must remove their sandals before this immense mystery that completely surpasses us. And that He did it all—and continues to do it—all out of Love, an infinite Love beyond our understanding.

Out of love for you, out of love for me, out of love for all, out of love for each one…

And this little One, this God who loves me so much He became a Child, who died for me, for you, awaits us each day in the Eucharist, in the Tabernacle.

Are we going to keep Him waiting?

Come on, spouses! Let us walk swiftly to meet Him—He will make us one.

And there, always at His side, is Our Mother proclaiming the greatness of Her Son.

 

Applied to married life

Robert: Laura, today is a beautiful day for Our Mother. My soul trembles at the thought of how Heaven must have received Her at the moment of Her Assumption. What a great celebration! Can you imagine Her smile upon seeing Her Son?

Laura: I’d never really stopped to think about it—it must have been absolutely incredible… what a hug they must have shared. How beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing that with me. I struggle to have your sensitivity toward the mysteries of Mary. I’m so grateful to the Lord for choosing you from eternity to be my Suitable Helper. I love you so much, Robert!

Robert: I love you so much too, Laura. What do you think about organising a Rosary with our catechesis group today? I know we’re on holiday and everyone’s scattered, but we could do it online and invite whoever can join. It’s a way to help them participate in the importance of this day, which might otherwise get lost in the summer break.

Laura: I think it’s a beautiful idea, and I’d love to see everyone and ask how they’re doing these days. And encourage them to keep praying and drawing near to the sacraments. I’ll start inviting them right away!

Mother,

With your cousin Saint Elizabeth, today we also say:

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!”

Who are we, that you have chosen us for this mission?

Humble servants of the Servant—that is what we aspire to be.

Praised be the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar!