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Two Loves in One. Reflection for married couples. Jn 14:21-26

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GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to John
Jn 14:21-26

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Whoever has my commandments and observes them
is the one who loves me.
Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father,
and I will love him and reveal myself to him.”
Judas, not the Iscariot, said to him,
“Master, then what happened that you will reveal yourself to us
and not to the world?”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“Whoever loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.
Whoever does not love me does not keep my words;
yet the word you hear is not mine
but that of the Father who sent me.

“I have told you this while I am with you.
The Advocate, the Holy Spirit
whom the Father will send in my name–
he will teach you everything
and remind you of all that I told you.”

The word of the Lord

 

Two Loves in One

The one who loves will keep His Word, His commandments. And what is His commandment? That we love one another, as spouses, just as He has loved us. Therefore, I cannot love God, whom I do not see, if I do not love my spouse, whom I do see. But the reverse is also true: I cannot love my spouse except with the help of the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send, because He will teach me everything. He will teach me to love my spouse and remind me of all that Christ has said, so I may apply it to my marriage. We must strive to unify our love for God and our spouse.

 

Applied to Married Life:

Carlos: First, I loved you, but as time passed, my love has cooled, disappointed by how I judged your love for me. Then, you helped me encounter the Lord, and I fell in love with Him, but I was not united with you. Something was missing, and I was not happy. Then, I had my marital conversion, and I understood that loving God and loving you are one and the same. Now, I am complete.

Alicia: Yes, I helped you fall in love with the Lord. I saw His perfection, His mercy, and His infinite greatness, whereas with you, I saw only imperfection—I considered you unworthy of me. I endured faithfully, for God, but it was mere resignation. But then, you helped me discover and fall in love with my vocation. The process has been beautiful. Now, the Spirit is within us and guides us—it is truly amazing.

Mother,

Pray for us, Holy Mother of God, that we may be worthy to attain and enjoy the promises of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

A Love That Doesn’t Hold Back. Reflection for married couples. John 14:7-14

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Gospel

‘Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.’
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

A Love That Doesn’t Hold Back

Just moments before being handed over, Jesus speaks of being glorified. Here, “glory” does not mean human triumph or success; rather, it is the supreme manifestation of God’s love in the sacrifice of Jesus. In the divine logic, His Passion is the deepest revelation of His glory: a love that holds nothing back, that gives itself completely. Don’t hold back your love—the love God has placed in your heart is meant to be given entirely.

Applied to Married Life:

Alice: You know what Theresa told me the other day? She’s afraid to give herself fully to her husband… because she’s scared he might disappoint her.
Thomas: That’s tough… It’s like having wings but choosing not to use them out of fear of falling. Sure, you never crash—but you never fly either.
Alice: Exactly. It’s the fear of truly loving, of trusting without reservation. But if she doesn’t give herself sincerely, how will she ever experience complete love? It’s like giving up before even trying.
Thomas: Right… without giving yourself, there’s no glory. Real love requires risk, faith, and surrender. Instead of protecting herself, she’s actually losing out.
Alice: I feel so sorry for her. I want to help her see that only by giving herself entirely can she truly discover who she is—and who she can become.
Thomas: Do it. She needs someone to remind her that her worth doesn’t depend on someone else but on who she is and who she belongs to. Loving genuinely is the only way to find true glory.

Mother,

You said “yes” without hesitation, without knowing what would come. Teach us to love with courage. You didn’t shield yourself from pain or place conditions on your self-giving. You trusted the Father, and that’s why you were glorified. 

Help us not to live halfway, not to fear giving our hearts, not to shut ourselves off for fear of suffering. Thank you, blessed Mother.

Hope in the Waiting. Reflection for married couples. John 14:1-6

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Gospel

‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life.’
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

Hope in the Waiting

When parents are expecting a baby, they prepare the nursery and all the little things with great love and excitement. In the same way, the Lord is preparing a place for me. Right now, that place may be empty, but He is joyfully making it ready, anticipating my arrival and the rest I will find there.
Imagine that—a whole God, eagerly waiting for me, preparing everything to welcome me by His side. His anticipation is even greater than that of parents awaiting the arrival of their newborn.

Applied to Married Life:

Megan: I’m so excited about our baby’s arrival. Sometimes I just go into her little room and look at all the things we’ve set up, just waiting for her.
Nathan: If only she knew how much we’re looking forward to meeting her… Sometimes I think this must be similar to how the Lord feels. He’s also prepared a place for us, with every detail thought out. I’m sure He’s waiting for us with even more excitement than we feel. We’re His children, after all…
Megan: That’s true. I hadn’t thought of it like that. It makes me want to live this waiting period more like the Lord would. Thanks, Nathan—how sweet you are!

Dear Mother,

When Jesus has finished preparing our dwelling place, I’m sure You’ll come in to add those final motherly touches. We can’t wait to share our home with You.
Thank you, blessed Mother.

I in You, You in Me. Reflection for married couples. John 13:16-20

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Gospel

‘Whoever receives the one I send receives me.’
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

I in You, You in Me
Lord, the Father is in You, and therefore, whoever receives You also receives the Father. But how much of You is in me, so that whoever receives me also receives You, and thus the Father? When we serve one another, we leave a part of ourselves in those we serve, and part of them remains in us. Entering into someone’s intimate space means that part of their heart becomes inscribed within ours. You came to serve, and in doing so, You remained with us. Your Heart became human, and humanity became part of You—each and every one of us. We are no longer just body and soul; now we are body, soul, and Spirit. What a beautiful gift it is to give myself to my spouse and to receive my spouse’s gift in return, making us one through the Spirit that now dwells in us. The dynamic of love is so beautiful: I in You, You in me, my spouse in me, I in my spouse, You in us, and the Father in all of us… United by the same Spirit.

Applied to Married Life:

Matthew: Darling, we need to live with a sense of “supernatural awareness”. If the Spirit is already part of us, we can’t live as if we are just body and soul. Our body needs to be governed by our soul (understanding and will), and our soul by the Spirit: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Knowledge, Piety, Fortitude, and Fear of the Lord. These are the powers that guide us.
Michelle: I get it, but that sounds quite abstract. How do we actually use the Spirit’s power in our daily lives?
Matthew: Well, we don’t need to worry about that. We just need to stay close to Him, acknowledge His presence, and make ourselves available to Him. Then, He will act, guiding us and giving us the gifts we need at each moment. We just need to be with Him and let ourselves be led. Alright?
Michelle: I don’t fully understand, but I trust what you’re saying.
Matthew: That’s the right attitude. Holy Spirit, who dwells within us, You have free rein. We are ready for You to lead us.

Mother,

We welcome the Lord with joy in every prayer, in every Eucharist, and we strive to make our lives a personal Eucharist by giving ourselves to others in His name—whenever, however, and wherever He wills.
Praise be to the Lord.

With Your Motives. Reflection for marriages. John 15:9-17

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Gospel

‘Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.’
John 15:9-17

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, ‘As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
  ‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.’

The Gospel of the Lord

With Your Motives

That phrase, “Love one another as I have loved you”, reminds me that I must live my life in You—not build my relationships outside of You, but within You. I need to place myself in situations as You would, experiencing what I am living as You did, interpreting it as You would, and acting with Your motivations. How? By loving as You love.

Applied to Married Life:

James: (Thinks: I can’t believe it. Just when we’re having our moment, the phone rings and my wife picks it up. Does everyone else always come first? Even now, in our time together, it seems like other things take priority over me.)
(Prays, asking for help)
Lord, I can’t take it. This thought torments me—I don’t understand. I’m getting anxious… How can I love in this situation? I can’t help feeling angry at her. On top of that, she’s being so cheerful on the phone… I’m sitting right here, waiting for her to finish, and she doesn’t seem to care. She’s in no rush at all. Lord, help me to love her in this situation.
The Lord: I understand. Because I, too, often wait for you while you’re caught up with other things. You’ve noticed that, haven’t you? Yet, I always bear your faults and impatience. So, put this situation in My hands. I will be the one to judge it fairly. Leave it to Me and find rest in Me. Right now, focus on loving her—that is your mission. Look at her with tenderness, despite her shortcomings. Be merciful as the Father is merciful. Pour all your efforts into that, and My joy will dwell in you.

Mother,

We constantly struggle between pride and love, between comfort and service. This battle is exhausting, Mother, and at times it overwhelms me. I stray from Your Heart and lose my joy. Help me in those moments, Mother. I need Your maternal embrace.
Lord, have mercy on me and on my family.
Amen.