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So We Never Doubt Again. Reflection for marriages. Saint John 6:1–15

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Gospel of the Day

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Saint John 6:1–15
At that time, Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd followed Him, because they had seen the signs He was performing on the sick.
Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with His disciples. The Jewish Passover was near.
Lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward Him, Jesus said to Philip:
“Where can we buy bread for these people to eat?”
He said this to test him, for He Himself knew what He was going to do.
Philip answered Him:
“Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to have a little.”
One of His disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to Him:
“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?”
Jesus said:
“Make the people sit down.”
There was much grass in that place. So they sat down, about five thousand men in number.
Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were seated—as much as they wanted—and the same with the fish.
When they had all had enough, He said to His disciples:
“Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.”
So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
When the people saw the sign that He had done, they said:
“This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”
Realising that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by Himself.
So We Never Doubt Again
Just as in the beginning, humanity underwent the original test to discover its identity, now we must go through the trial of faith—until we come to truly understand that we are children in the Son, that God is our Father, and that He acts like a Father.
We need to reach the point where we live with complete trust in Him, so that we may be born of the Spirit.
Applying It to Married Life
Carlos: I still remember the day I said to myself, totally convinced: “Our marriage has no solution.” And it was true—humanly, it had no solution. But then Mary intervened, and pulled us out of that bottomless pit.
Marta: There have been so many situations God has rescued us from that I can’t understand how we can still have doubts sometimes.
Carlos: Exactly. After delivering us from addictions, from attachments, from disorder, from pride… it’s enough never to doubt again.
Marta: Jesus, I trust in You.
Carlos: Jesus, I trust in You.
Mother,
I believe—but increase my faith.
Praised be the Lord forever.

Conjugal Creed. Reflection for marriages. Saint John 3:31–36

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Gospel of the Day

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Saint John 3:31–36
“He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. He who comes from heaven is above all. He bears witness to what He has seen and heard, yet no one accepts His testimony. Whoever does accept His testimony has certified that God is truthful.
For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for He gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in His hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; but whoever refuses to believe in the Son will not see life, for the wrath of God remains upon him.”
Conjugal Creed
After God “invented” becoming man to reveal who He is—to speak our language and live our life—the least we can do is believe in Him.
He who is above all humbled Himself to our level, to make Himself understood through His Word and His life.
Now it’s our move. His effort and His sacrifice—doesn’t it deserve a firm decision to believe and follow Him? Of course!
On this decision depends our conversion to the Life that comes from above.
Applying It to Married Life
Pedro: How has your view of life changed since you fell in love with the Lord?
Isabel: Oh, I’d take less time telling you what hasn’t changed—because everything has changed.
Pedro: And if we focus on your view of marriage, what stands out most?
Isabel: That I exist for you; that you are my suitable help, the one God gave me to reach Him; that my mission is to offer myself for your salvation, united to the Sacrifice of Christ; that you and I are one; that we were created different but complementary… and so many more. You say some now.
Pedro: That we are united by the love of Christ, because we share in it through our Sacrament; that we truly know ourselves when we give ourselves to each other; that the marital embrace is sacred—a continuation of the Eucharist in which spouses do what He did; that when you deserve it least is when you need me most; that by obeying you, I obey Christ; and that from our mutual submission, a beautiful harmony is born… Like you said, there are countless truths.
Isabel: It really is a conjugal creed. Glory to God, who has transformed our lives!
Pedro: Glory to Him. May we always view our love from above.
Mother,
Because we have believed in Him, we give ourselves to one another as to the Lord.
Praised be He forever!

What I Had Missed. Reflection for marriages. Saint John 3:16–21

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Gospel of the Day

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Saint John 3:16–21
“For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.
Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the Only Begotten Son of God.
And this is the judgement: the light has come into the world, but people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light and does not come into the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen that his deeds are done through God.”
What I Had Missed
When the things of God provoke rejection, it’s often because our lives are not in line with the Gospel.
As the saying goes: “Tell me who you walk with, and I’ll tell you who you are.”
The real question is: If I’m not walking with God, with whom am I walking? And then, who am I really?
We heard about a married couple: the husband was living in adultery. When they attended a retreat, he rejected it completely. For a moment, it seemed like he might be touched by God’s call, but ultimately, he hardened his heart.
In contrast, the one who lives in the truth naturally draws near to the light, so that it may be seen that his works are done according to God.
Applying It to Married Life
Juan: I remember that when I drifted away from God, I felt a real rejection toward people in the Church. I saw them as naive, or I prejudged them as thinking they were better than me.
Later, when I had my conversion, my view changed completely.
Then they taught me about living sexuality chastely with you. Again, I rejected it strongly at first—I was used to living it my own way and thought the Church’s teachings would steal our joy.
But once I listened and tried it, our relationship took a huge qualitative leap.
Only then did I realise how much I had been missing by not living it God’s way.
Luisa: So basically, as you’ve been converting, your whole perspective on life has changed.
Juan: Totally. Now, everything the world offers seems like rubbish to me, and everything from God fills me with wonder.
Mother,
Thank You, Lord, for Your immense Love and for showing us the beauty of truth.
Praised be the Lord forever!

M&H. Reflection for marriages. Saint Matthew 11:25–30

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Gospel of the Day

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew 11:25–30
At that time, Jesus said:
“I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to little ones. Yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.
Come to me, all you who labour and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”
M&H
It is the Father Himself who hides His wisdom from the proud heart and reveals it to the humble.
It is only the gentle and humble of heart who can find rest in the Heart of Christ.
Before the world, such a one may seem like a poor fool, but in truth, he is rich and full of wisdom—a wisdom unknown to the worldly man.
I must practise these two virtues if I want to have a heart ready to enter into the Heart of Jesus:
M&H — Meek and Humble, Meek and Humble, Meek and Humble…
May I never forget: this is the mark of true wisdom.
Applying It to Married Life
Catalina often found herself complaining because she always had to push everything forward at home—chores, the children, even their life of faith.
But one day, in prayer, the Lord showed her His gentle and humble Heart—how He adapted Himself to the slowness and awkwardness of His disciples. Some were mere fishermen, yet He approached them with love and patience. He, being God, lived a simple life and offered it for our salvation.
From that moment, Catalina’s attitude changed. She realised she needed to follow her Master’s example and adapt herself to her husband’s pace, performing her tasks simply and humbly.
Whenever she was tempted to self-pity, she asked forgiveness from the Lord—because Jesus never looked at Himself, but always loved.
Little by little, she discovered the true value of meekness, which raised her higher than all the books about holiness she had devoured before.
Thus, Catalina grew in wisdom, because God Himself shared it with her.
Mother,
Bless the Lord, O my soul; let all that is within me bless His holy name!
I give thanks to You, my God, for all Your blessings, because You are compassionate and merciful.
You never accuse, You do not hold grudges.
Thank You, Lord, for Your tenderness, for loving my poor clay. Thank You for Your covenant with my husband and me. Amen.

The “Master Pass”. Reflection for marriages. Saint John 3:1–8

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Gospel of the Day

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Saint John 3:1–8
There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. He came to Jesus at night and said:
“Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can perform the signs you do unless God is with him.”
Jesus answered him:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
Nicodemus asked Him:
“How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born?”
Jesus answered:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wills, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

The “Master Pass”
Jesus teaches us that two things are necessary: to be born of water and of the Spirit.
It is not enough to have received the sacrament of Baptism if afterwards I do not allow myself to be born of the Holy Spirit. If I continue to live according to the flesh—my passions, disordered desires, preferences—then I am not truly living in the Spirit.
It is not enough to pray and attend the Eucharist.
How do we truly be born of the Spirit?
By allowing the Spirit to transform us through the events of everyday life, both the small and the great.
The Spirit must govern my life, my marriage, my fatherhood or motherhood, my work, my relationships, my leisure. Christ is present through the Holy Spirit and acts in my life and the lives of those around me—but only if I allow Him to act, without blocking Him with my own plans, decisions, or whims.
This demands total surrender—everything, forever.
Always ready to change, to convert anew, with no place to lay my head, open to the unpredictable movement of the Spirit.
It may seem drastic, but God is great and generous. In His hands, we have nothing to fear.

Applying It to Married Life
Carlos: Love, there are situations that make me really anxious, and I tend to get angry—like when I have a plan and it falls apart. I really struggle with the unexpected. Could you help me work on this?
Lourdes: Let me shed a little light. Imagine that you are the Holy Spirit, and you want to redirect someone onto a better path than the one they’re on. Wouldn’t you introduce a change of plans into their life to steer them in the right direction? Or, imagine you know they are about to face something very hard, and you love them infinitely. Wouldn’t you open new roads for them from that painful situation—better roads than before?
Carlos: I suppose I would, yes.
Lourdes: Then from now on, every time you face an unexpected change, think of it as a “master pass” from the Holy Spirit—He’s passing you the ball to follow His play. He’s on your team, playing for your good, for the good of our marriage and our family. Read the play, and use the opportunity for good. Remember: the unexpected is a master pass from God!
Carlos: That’s brilliant! Now I understand. A “master pass” from God. Thank you! I’ll try to remember that next time.

Mother,
Help me to renounce my own self, to be born anew from the will of my spouse, so that the Holy Spirit may remove from me anything that separates me from love—love for God and love for him.
Thank you, because through my spouse, I can be born of the Spirit, for the Spirit dwells in our conjugal unity.
“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.”
Christ is risen in our marriage! Alleluia!