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Prerequisite. Reflection for marriages. Saint John 21:1–19

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Gospwel of the Day

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Saint John 21:1–19
At that time, Jesus revealed Himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed Himself in this way:
Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together.
Simon Peter said to them, “I’m going fishing.”
They said to him, “We’ll go with you.”
So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the shore; but the disciples did not realise that it was Jesus.
Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?”
They answered Him, “No.”
He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.”
So they cast it, and they were unable to haul it in because of the great number of fish. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.”
When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards.
When they came ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them:
“Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”
So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish—153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn.
Jesus said to them: “Come and have breakfast.”
None of the disciples dared to ask Him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.
This was now the third time Jesus appeared to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter:
“Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?”
He said to Him: “Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.”
Jesus said to him: “Feed My lambs.”
A second time He said to him:
“Simon, son of John, do you love Me?”
He said: “Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.”
Jesus said: “Tend My sheep.”
He said to him the third time:
“Simon, son of John, do you love Me?”
Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” and he said to Him:
“Lord, You know everything; You know that I love You.”
Jesus said to him: “Feed My sheep.
Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and take you where you do not wish to go.”
He said this to signify by what kind of death Peter would glorify God. After this He said to him:
“Follow Me.”
Prerequisite
Jesus entrusts His sheep to Peter only after confirming that Peter truly loves Him.
Just days earlier, Peter had denied Him. Now, before giving him responsibility for His flock, Jesus gently but firmly leads Peter to declare his love three times—in the presence of the same community who had witnessed his failure.
To care for the Lord’s sheep, it is essential first to love deeply the Lord of the sheep.
Applying It to Married Life
Marcos: I worry that I might not be capable of loving you as much as the Lord expects me to.
Paula: The very fact that you’re asking that question is a sign of your love for the Lord. You don’t want to fail Him—and that’s what love looks like. If you love Him, you’ll love me, because you know how much He loves me.
Marcos: That comforts me, because it’s true—I love the Lord deeply now. And that wasn’t the case when we got married.
Mother,
You know everything. You know how much I love my spouse, and how much I love my Lord.
To Him be glory and praise forever.

The Best Use of the Will. Reflection for marriages. Saint John 14:6–14

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Gospel of the Day

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Saint John 14:6–14
At that time, Jesus said to Thomas:
“I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
If you know Me, you will also know My Father. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.”
Philip said to Him:
“Lord, show us the Father, and that will be 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 I say to you I do not speak on My own. The Father, who dwells in Me, is doing His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me. Or at least believe because 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. And whatever you ask in My name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”
The Best Use of the Will
It is deeply moving to contemplate how the Father is in the Son, and the Son in the Father. It’s a perfect communion, and from it, we have much to learn.
The Son represents the Father—He has the Father’s complete trust. He speaks only what the Father wants to say, and acts exactly as the Father would act.
At this point, one might ask: And what about my own will?
But here’s the truth: the best use of your will is to surrender it.
In doing so, there is no room for selfishness, laziness, anger, greed, lust, or envy.
Whoever surrenders their will to God’s Will can never go wrong.
Applying It to Married Life
Pablo: Carolina, I’ve deleted a few words from my vocabulary.
Carolina: Oh really? Which ones?
Pablo: “I feel like…”, “I’d prefer…”, “I need…”
Carolina: Why those?
Pablo: Because I’ve realised that I prefer to do what pleases you. That way, I’m not focused on myself. That’s what love is, right?
Carolina: That is love, my dear. Come here, because I feel like, I’d prefer, and I need to give you a huge kiss. You’re wonderful!
Mother,
Today, as we pray the Our Father, we want to pause on that beautiful phrase:
“Thy will be done.”
Yes, Mother, we surrender our will. We are yours.
What would you have us do?
Amen.

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!