From the Gospel according to Luke 2:22-40

When the days were completed for their purificatio naccording to the law of Moses,Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord,just as it is written in the law of the Lord,Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,and to offer the sacrifice ofa pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons,in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.This man was righteous and devout,awaiting the consolation of Israel,and the Holy Spirit was upon him.It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.He came in the Spirit into the temple;and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:
“Now, Master, you may let your servant goin peace, according to your word,for my eyes have seen your salvation,which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples:a light for revelation to the Gentiles,and glory for your people Israel.”
The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,“Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel,and to be a sign that will be contradicted-and you yourself a sword will pierce-so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”There was also a prophetess, Anna,the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.She was advanced in years,having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage,and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.She never left the temple,but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.And coming forward at that very time,she gave thanks to God and spoke about the childt to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.
When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord,they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom;and the favor of God was upon him.

Never Alone

It is evident who orchestrated this moment: the Holy Spirit. Jesus never acted by Himself; He was always accompanied by the Father and the Holy Spirit. Here, we see how both Simeon and Anna are guided by the Spirit. The Gospel explicitly states it, but even if it didn’t, who else could have revealed to them that this Child was the Savior?
Jesus was never alone.

Applied to Married Life:

Alice: James, I rely on you more than you realize.
James: And I rely on you too, Alice. I used to be more independent, but now I understand how much I depend on God first and then on you. Each day, it becomes clearer why God brought us together.
Alice: God made us with limitations so we would recognize how much we need Him and each other.
James: It’s surprising that some people haven’t realized this yet. They will have to go through a lot of hardship before they do.
Alice: Let’s pray for them.

Mother,

If even the Lord, being God, chose not to be alone, how much more do we, who are so small, need companionship? Blessed be the Lord, who is always with us.

From the Gospel according to Mark 4:35-41

On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples:“Let us cross to the other side.”Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was.And other boats were with him.A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat,so that it was already filling up.Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion.They woke him and said to him,“Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”He woke up,rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!”The wind ceased and there was great calm.Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified?Do you not yet have faith?”They were filled with great awe and said to one another,“Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?

Passions Without Faith

There are two ways to face life’s challenges: without faith, which stirs up all kinds of emotions—fear, doubt, suspicion, blame, sadness, and anger—or with faith, trusting that we are loved by God.

In today’s Gospel, the disciples question Jesus’ care for them when they ask, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are perishing?” They don’t doubt His power but His love. How sad it is to question God’s love.

Applyed Marriage Life:

Marisa: Lord, forgive me for the times I’ve doubted that Javi is the right man for me.
James: I’m glad you’re asking for forgiveness, but honestly, I’m the one you’ve hurt the most with that doubt.
Marisa: Yes, I hurt you too, but above all, I offended God by not trusting in His love when He chose you to be my husband.
James: So basically, I’m just a challenge God sent you to help with your spiritual growth?
Marisa: Not at all! You are the wonderful husband God gave me out of love. When I forget that, I fall into fear, suspicion, and sadness.
James: Well, if you see me as your wonderful husband, that’s good enough for me.
Marisa: Haha, of course, silly! I’m so happy with you.

Mother,

Nothing can separate us from God’s love. May He be praised forever!

From the Gospel according to Mark 4:21-25

Jesus said to his disciples, “Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light. Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear.”

He also told them, “Take care what you hear. The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you. To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

The gospel of the Lord

Love: A Gift or a Transaction?

The gospel last statement might seem a bit unfair, but it isn’t. We could rephrase it this way: Whoever loves selflessly, through God’s grace, will receive even more. But whoever engages in relationships only for personal gain will ultimately lose even what they think they have.

What is temporary eventually disappears, leaving nothing behind.

So, when it comes to my relationship with my spouse—Is it rooted in genuine love, or am I more focused on what I can get out of it?

Applied to Married Life:

Andrew: You know what they say, “You love me as long as it benefits you.”

Ana: That’s not true! I love you for who you are, not for what you can give me.

Andrew: Then why do you get so upset when I don’t meet your expectations?

Ana: I point out things you could change because I care about you and want the best for you.

Andrew: If that were the case, you wouldn’t get angry or stay upset with me for days.

Ana: You’re right about that.

Andrew: So, do you love me despite my flaws?

Ana: Yes, I do. I just need to work on letting go of my pride so that your shortcomings don’t affect me so much.

Andrew: Thank you for admitting that, my love. That shows your humility and the depth of your love.

Mother,

We desire only God and true unity. May He be praised forever.

From the Gospel according to Mark  4:1-20

On another occasion, Jesus began to teach by the sea. A very large crowd gathered around him so that he got into a boat on the sea and sat down. And the whole crowd was beside the sea on land. And he taught them at length in parables, and in the course of his instruction he said to them, “Hear this! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep. And when the sun rose, it was scorched and it withered for lack of roots. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it and it produced no grain.

And some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit. It came up and grew and yielded thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.” He added, “Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.”

And when he was alone, those present along with the Twelve
questioned him about the parables. He answered them, “The mystery of the Kingdom of God has been granted to you. But to those outside everything comes in parables, so tha they may look and see but not perceive, and hear and listen but not understand, in order that they may not be converted and be forgiven.”

Jesus said to them, “Do you not understand this parable?
Then how will you understand any of the parables? The sower sows the word. These are the ones on the path where the word is sown. As soon as they hear, Satan comes at once and takes away the word sown in them. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground who, when they hear the word, receive it at once with joy.
But they have no roots; they last only for a time. Then when tribulation or persecution comes because of the word,
they quickly fall away. Those sown among thorns are another sort. They are the people who hear the word, but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word, and it bears no fruit. But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.”

The Spiritual Display Window

Today’s Gospel highlights the importance of having the right disposition of heart when welcoming the Lord and His Word. But what does that mean? It’s like a display window for the soul. Just as storefront displays capture our attention, inviting us to discover something valuable—something that enhances our lives, makes us feel better, facilitates our tasks, sparks creativity, entertains us, or lifts our spirits—the same applies to our spiritual lives.

To truly appreciate the “display windows of the soul,” we must turn away from worldly distractions and focus on what genuinely enriches our spirit. True beauty, lasting peace, divine grace, and profound joy come from God. We cultivate this awareness through silent prayer and a continuous pursuit of a deeper relationship with Him.

Only love brings real happiness. Only true connection and unity fulfill us. Let’s not be deceived by superficial distractions.

Applied to Married Life

Jhon: You know, I’ve noticed that the more I get caught up in worldly concerns, the more distant I feel from both you and God.

Myriam: I feel the same way. Whenever I need to find an outfit for a wedding or special event, I get so wrapped up in fashion trends that I neglect prayer—and even distance myself from you. I become so focused on appearances that I lose sight of what really matters.

Jhon: Let’s help each other stay grounded in God’s love and our love for each other. That way, we can keep our hearts centered on what truly matters. It’s not easy to live in this world without becoming attached to it, but we can offer our struggles to God and grow through them.

Myriam: Exactly. It would be so much easier if we could just wear a religious habit and not worry about these things! But our calling is to live in the world without letting it define us. Let’s support each other in staying focused on what’s truly important.

Blessed Mother,

We want to always be open to receiving God’s grace. We love Him deeply, and we love each other deeply. May His name be praised!