GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Matthew 8:28-34

When Jesus came to the territory of the Gadarenes,

two demoniacs who were coming from the tombs met him.

They were so savage that no one could travel by that road.

They cried out, “What have you to do with us, Son of God?

Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?”

Some distance away a herd of many swine was feeding.

The demons pleaded with him,

“If you drive us out, send us into the herd of swine.”

And he said to them, “Go then!”

They came out and entered the swine,

and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea

where they drowned.

The swineherds ran away,

and when they came to the town they reported everything,

including what had happened to the demoniacs.

Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus,

and when they saw him they begged him to leave their district.

The word of the Lord

 

Loving through difficulty

Just days ago, we reflected on the Gospel passage of the Good Shepherd—where Jesus leaves the ninety-nine to seek out the one lost sheep. In this case, despite the rejection of the two demon-possessed men by everyone else, Jesus goes further: He chooses to love, has compassion on them. As always, He takes the initiative—He approaches, He calls the one in need. Christ doesn’t walk away from the sinner; He rejects the sin but draws near to the sinner to heal them.

But He needs our acceptance—our desire to want to live with Him, through Him, and in Him—acknowledging that on our own, we cannot do it. We bring our almost nothing—our will—and Christ brings His Everything, filling our hearts with His healing and merciful love.

Applied to married life:

Juan: Angélica, I feel so happy after the Proyecto Amor Conyugal retreat we just experienced.

Angélica: I know… I left feeling so hopeful, with a renewed vision. But now it’s been two weeks and I’m starting to think it’s just not possible.

Juan: Why do you say that? It’s true—we prayed together the first four days, but haven’t prayed since.

Angélica: I’m not sure it’s worth the effort. Things feel the same. I still think the worst of you—like yesterday when you came home late, or this morning when you didn’t kiss me good morning.

Juan: Angélica, those days we prayed together, you said there was peace in the house—something we hadn’t felt in a long time. You said you were happy because you weren’t thinking the worst of me anymore. I want to keep trying. Like they told us: God only asks for our almost nothing, our will to persevere.

Angélica: You’re right. You know it’s hard for me—so I ask for your patience. But what gives me hope is that I can already see a change in you, and I know that can only come from God. Thank you, Juan, for insisting we live our marriage as God intended.

Juan: You remembered the sign! We mustn’t forget it, okay? Do you also remember: “After acting so much like a man in love, he fell in love again”? That’s what’s happening to me.

Angélica: Oh, Juan! Let’s call on the Holy Spirit and pray with today’s Gospel.

 

Mother,

We ask that you help us act like Your Son—coming to our spouse in their sin, as a sacrifice and offering born of the love that unites us in communion. Praise be to our Savior.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Matthew 8:23-27

As Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him.

Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea,

so that the boat was being swamped by waves;

but he was asleep.

They came and woke him, saying,

“Lord, save us! We are perishing!”

He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?”

Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea,

and there was great calm.

The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this,

whom even the winds and the sea obey?”

The word of the Lord

 

Rescued

Lord, today You tell us that we hold back a part of our heart for ourselves, and that we don’t give it to You as Your children because we lack faith in the face of difficulties.

You tell us to rest in Your plan—that when challenges arise between us, You become stronger and more powerful if we turn to Grace through prayer and the sacraments, especially the sacrament of our marriage.

In times of trouble, if we act as Your children and come to You, You show Your power and rescue us from the storm, lifting up our sacrament with all Your Grace and with all Your Power.

Applied to married life:

Carmen, arriving home for lunch: Hi love, how was your morning?

Elías: Bad. I don’t even want to talk.

Carmen: Well, what fault is it of mine that your day went badly? Go deal with it yourself! I’ve got enough on my own plate!

(Later that afternoon, after prayer and with God’s Grace and the grace of his sacrament, Elías approaches Carmen…)

Elías: Love, forgive me. At lunch today, my pride came out because of the difficulties I’m going through at work. And instead of turning to the Lord for help, I lashed out at you.

Carmen: It’s okay, Elías. I didn’t help either. Instead of welcoming and understanding you, I also hurt you.

Elías: What do you think—should we pray now and ask the Lord to help us trust more in His plans?

Carmen: That sounds like a wonderful idea! And tomorrow we’ll offer it to the Lord at Mass.

Both together: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit…

Mother,

May we, like You, say Yes to God’s Plan. Teach us to say: “Let it be done to us according to Your word.” Praised be the Lord.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Matthew 8:18-22

When Jesus saw a crowd around him,
he gave orders to cross to the other shore.
A scribe approached and said to him,
“Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”
Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests,
but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.”
Another of his disciples said to him,
“Lord, let me go first and bury my father.”
But Jesus answered him, “Follow me,
and let the dead bury their dead.”

The word of the Lord

 

Lord, we want to follow You

So often the past holds us back—it keeps us from being close to the Lord because we cling to what we did, to how poorly we lived out our marriage for so many years, to the fear of falling again. We look at ourselves, our own strength, our own ideas and plans. We lick our wounds. And we lose hope.

Today the Lord tells us to leave behind our “dead”: our bad experiences, our sins, our lack of love and tenderness—and to look at Him. To begin again, with renewed desire to live out our marriage as the Father intended. Now it’s different, because we are walking hand in hand with Him—His hand wounded by love—and filled with the joy of having found Him. Yes, Lord, we want to follow You and not remain behind burying our dead.

What great joy it is to walk this path with You. Blessed are You, Lord. You are our Love.

Applied to married life:

Sara: Husband, I see you’re sad.

John: Yes. Sometimes I remember the years we lost in destroying our marriage, how much we made each other suffer, and I feel sorrow.

Sara: It’s true, we went through very hard years. But now, with this new way we see one another, with this joyful hope to rebuild our marriage, and with Jesus present in our lives, the truth is that each day should be filled only with praise and thanksgiving to the Lord.

John: Thank you, Sara. You help me so much. You know I have a bit of a melancholic temperament, and I feel like the devil pokes right there to make me lose hope and joy.

(And J and Sara looked back to the Lord, following Him along the way, singing and praising Him—delighted by His call to live marital charity.)

Mother,

Help us to look at Jesus—to be filled with joy each day for the beautiful path He has opened for us to live our marriage as the Father intended. Praised be He for showing it to us.

From the Gospel according to Matthew 16:13-19

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippihe asked his disciples,“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”Simon Peter said in reply,“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter,and upon this rock I will build my Church,and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Sure! Here’s a paraphrased version of the text in more accessible and contemporary language, while keeping the original meaning and tone:

Listen closely.

You are the Messiah, the Savior, the Son of God.
Lord, and who am I to you?
And I pray that you say to me:
“You are a child of God in me, and your mission is the same as mine. I love you endlessly, and I want you to be united with me. Your purpose is to give yourself with me, to seek only the Father’s will, to love as I love… and together, we will help save the world.”
But Lord, that sounds too big for me!
“It’s supposed to be! Because you are our child, a child of God, meant to live forever with us, called to love as we do. So why wouldn’t your calling be something great?”
So that’s what you’re inviting me to! How amazing! And… how do I do it?
“Listen to my Word, live it out, let go of your ego, carry your daily cross, and follow me. With prayer, the sacraments, and sacrifice, trust that we’ll do this together.”

Applied to married life:

Ana: I can not take It anymore.  I keep trying, but it’s not working. He doesn’t listen, does his own thing, and leaves me to deal with everything. I’m overwhelmed. And now our kids are starting to act like him too—ignoring everything. I don’t know what to do anymore—maybe give him an ultimatum or stop doing my part for a while so he sees what it’s like…

Mentors: Ana, I’m really sorry you’re going through this situation.  Please, bring this to the Lord, and to the Virgin Mary—ask your self how would they act in your shoes.

Ana: well they are God and Virgin Mary, And Saint Joseph wasn’t like my husband…

Mentors: That may be true, but we’re all human, we all fail—and still, the Lord loves us, forgives us, waits for us. Please, pray about it. Then we’ll talk.

(The next day, Ana calls back…)

Ana: Thank you so much. I sat at the foot of the Cross and looked at Jesus. He gave me everything—his life, his forgiveness. And I realized he’s asking me to love Juan, to forgive him, and to learn to truly love. I tend to focus too much on myself, but Jesus was all about others. Juan is struggling right now—he’s stressed and doesn’t realize how much I need help. So I’m going to ask for his help gently. And where he can’t reach, I’ll fill in with love. It’ll be hard, because I’m used to thinking about my own needs… but with God’s help, with prayer, the Eucharist, and strength from our marriage sacrament—I believe I can do it.

Mentors: That’s beautiful, Ana. Your kids will see their mom loving their dad even when it’s hard—and that kind of witness is incredibly powerful. Every little act of love you offer “through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ,” through your marriage, has eternal value. It becomes a source of grace and Christ’s love for both of you.

Mother Mary,

Help us listen to your Son and give ourselves as you do—not thinking only of ourselves.
Through Christ, with Him, and in Him.
Praise to Jesus crucified.

From the Gospel according to Luke 2:41-51

His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.  And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast.  When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it;  but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him.  Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.  And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.  So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.”
And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.
Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart.

Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

When we read this Gospel passage, it’s clear that Joseph and Mary never blamed each other for losing Jesus. Even in their worry, they searched for Him together. Our children—and everyone around us—need to see us united as a couple, living out God’s will. More than words, they learn from the way we live our faith.

Today we remember the Immaculate Heart of Mary. She was humble and small in the eyes of the world, but the greatest of all because she became the Mother of God. We’re called to become Her servants, just as She was a servant of the Lord. Like her, we should always seek God’s will, no matter the situation.

As married couples, we can serve each other in love. Not to push our own opinions, but to grow in humility—trusting that the Holy Spirit works through both of us. By doing this, we build true unity. And what better way to do that than by giving our hearts and our marriage to Mary?

Mary was the first to carry Jesus within her. She received Him fully into her body and heart, which makes her the perfect guide for us. St. Louis de Montfort said in his True Devotion to Mary that Mary is the easiest, shortest, and surest path to Jesus. That’s why we invite you to consecrate yourselves to her—to let go and trust in her, so she can lead you closer to Christ.

Applyed to Married Life:

Dan: I was thinking we could take a trip to the beach this weekend. How does that sound?
Mary: (She thinks: we had actually planned a mountain hike because of the heat…) That sounds like a great idea, love! I’ll get the swimsuits and towels ready.
Dan: I don’t know if it’s just me, but lately it seems like you agree with me on everything. We used to argue over what to do…
Mary: You’re right, Dani. A month ago, I made my consecration to the Virgin Mary, and I’m trying to live like she would. Before I respond or make a decision, I pray and ask what she might do. It’s becoming easier, and I feel more at peace.
Dan: I’ve tried it before, but I find it hard to stay committed. I lose motivation.
Mary: What if we do the consecration together?
Dan: But you already did it. Would you really do it again?
Mary: Of course! First, because we should renew our consecration every day. And second, doing it with you would be so meaningful—it would give us more time to pray together.

Mother Mary,

Help us to become your faithful servants, so that we may have a heart like yours— a heart that treasure and pray over the plans God has for our marriage.