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The Narrow Gate. Reflection for married couples. Matthew 7:6, 12-14

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Gospel of the Day

Gospel according to Matthew 7:6, 12–14

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.
  ‘So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
  ‘Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.’
The Gospel of the Lord
The Narrow Gate
Do we seek the Lord in our daily lives? We might say yes… and do we want to be good? Of course, we do not deny it and we agree. But when the Lord begins to ask more of us, we are no longer so sure we want to follow Him…
It sounds very beautiful to be Christian and to love our neighbour as ourselves, but if I have to love my spouse above my pride, then I think twice, because loving Christ is easy, but being like Christ is not. Saying that I am willing to give my life for others sounds very good, but when I actually have to give it in my marriage, it is not easy. Jesus sweat blood in Gethsemane because He saw the pain and suffering caused by our sins, and at times He asks us to help Him carry the weight of our spouse’s sins as a means of sanctification.
The path that leads to eternal life passes through the Cross. It is narrow and demanding, but it is beautiful because we do not walk it alone. At every moment we go hand in hand with the Lord, without forgetting the ultimate goal, the glory of the Resurrection.

Brought down to Married Life:
Anna, in spiritual direction, opens her heart to her priest.
Anna: Father, I cannot go on with John, I am at my limit. I have been praying for him for years and there is no change. He is like a stone wall. I think all my efforts are useless. The Lord does not hear me. So many prayers, and nothing has changed.
Father: Come on, Anna, do not give up. That is exactly what the devil wants, for you to abandon hope. I suggest something… why do you not continue praying, but this time with a different attitude?
Anna: Father, what do you mean by changing my attitude?
Father: What have you been asking the Lord for, to change John? What I mean is that you ask the Lord to give you a heart like His, a heart that is understanding, merciful, a heart that knows how to love at all times, that is not impatient, a heart that does not focus on all of John’s faults, but rather on all that he does well…
Anna: Father, I have spent so many years asking the Lord to change John that what you are asking now feels like a huge change. I find it very difficult.
Father: Anna, being Christian does not mean changing others, but following Christ, and above all becoming another Christ. We must resemble Christ in the way we are and in the way we act. If we go to Mass and nothing changes in how we live afterwards, what is the point? We must be docile so that the Lord can transform our interior. Reflect on this and ask the Holy Spirit to give you light so you can see whether you have truly allowed Him to transform you.
Anna: Thank you, Father. I had never seen it that way. I realise I still have much to change, my judgments, my criteria. So I will ask the Lord for help, but first, if you do not mind, let us begin with a good confession.

Mother,

Show us the path that leads to the narrow gate and guide us through self-giving as you did. Blessed and praised be the Lord.

Perseverance. Reflection for married couples. Matthew 24:4-13

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Gospel of the Day

Gospel according to Matthew 24:4-13

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, ‘See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, “I am the Christ”, and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.
  ‘Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.’
The Gospel of the Lord
Perseverance

Today the Lord tells us not to be troubled when we are criticised or opposed because of Him. He has a plan for each one of us, and when the time comes to bear witness, He will give us the wisdom and the words we need. But there is no glory without the Cross. We must pass through accusation, persecution, wars, and disasters, yet all of this forms part of His plan.

Within our families and our marriages, we too will face trials. There may even be moments when everything seems lost. Yet He asks us to persevere, reminding us that even the hairs on our heads are numbered. Everything serves a purpose: that we may bear witness. Witness to what? To His infinite mercy and His love for us. He knows the human heart. He knows that we are small, weak, and sinful, and that we will both betray and be betrayed.

Spouses, when trials come, persevere in prayer. He will give you strength. He will provide what you need. Then you will be able to testify to all that He has done in your lives. God alone is enough.

Brought Down to Married Life

Paul: Phoebe, we’re going to my parents’ house this weekend. Mum hasn’t been feeling very well, and I’m sure she’d love to see the children. What do you think?

Phoebe: Paul, honestly, I really don’t feel like it. I always feel judged by your parents. It seems they’re constantly waiting for me to put a foot wrong.

Paul: I understand, Phoebe, but they’re getting older and they need affection.

Phoebe: Maybe so, but your mother never seems to appreciate anything I do. I genuinely try my best and do everything with love, yet she always finds something to criticise.

Paul: Why don’t we take it to prayer at the parish?

Phoebe: Well, I just hope they don’t see us going into church, because last time the comment was: “Lots of Mass, lots of God, but the children are neglected.”

Paul: I know. We need a lot of prayer so that the Holy Spirit gives us the right words and helps them see the beauty of the faith we are living.

Phoebe: Yes, let’s ask the Holy Spirit to show us what to say and how to act, so that they may see God’s love in our lives.

Oh, and forgive me. I know it hurts you when I speak about your parents like this. I didn’t want to cause you any more pain.

Paul: You’re forgiven, my dear wife. I caught you off guard, and I should have been more considerate. Let’s make our couple prayer and place everything at the Lord’s feet. You’ll see that He will bring good out of it all.

Mother,

Help us to love those who do not love us and who do not love your Son, just as you love all of us as your children. Thank you, Mother. Blessed be God!

Standing for Christ. Reflection for married couples. Matthew 10:26-33

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Gospel of the Day

From the Gospel according to Matthew 10:26–33

At that time: Jesus instructed his Apostles: ‘Have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father knowing. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.’
The Gospel of the Lord
Standing for Christ

How do we, as spouses, stand for Christ? By living without fear of human opinion and by revealing the truth of our hearts through the sacrament of marriage, in the intimacy of Christ, who knows even the number of hairs on our heads. It is a truth that reveals what Christ asks of us in each concrete situation of our lives and leads us to stand for Him by acting through and with His love, not through sheer willpower, sentimentalism, or perfectionism. It is a truth that enables us to live with our own weakness and the weakness of others, with a hopeful spirit of surrender born of interior freedom and trust in our God, who died so that we might live.

Brought down to Married Life:

Mary’s brother (the brother-in-law of her husband, John) made a serious mistake that caused great pain within the family. Most of the relatives rejected him and felt it was right to cut him out of their lives. John and Mary also recognised the seriousness of what had happened, but God was asking something different of them: to stand for Christ by condemning the sin without ceasing to love the sinner.

They recognised that they too were not free from weakness. They saw in that family member a sin that had become visible, while many of their own faults remained hidden. They understood that, without God’s grace and mercy, they themselves had nothing to boast about.

For that reason, they continued to accompany him, even when others criticised them for doing so. Their sacrament of marriage was the school in which they learned to love with the Love of God, a Love that overflowed into the lives of those around them. The Eucharist sustained them, and there they found the strength to persevere. Jesus’ words, “Do not be afraid of men,” reminded them that they must act through and with the love of God. In this way, they learned to live immersed in God’s mercy, the mercy of the One who knows the truth of every heart and excludes none of His children.

Mother,

By your hand, we stand for your Son. Blessed and praised forever be He who redeemed us with His Precious Blood.

What Are You Seeking? – Reflection for married couples – Matthew 4:24-34

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From the Gospel according to Matthew 4:24-34

Jesus said to his disciples:
“No one can serve two masters.
He will either hate one and love the other,
or be devoted to one and despise the other.
You cannot serve God and mammon.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,
what you will eat or drink,
or about your body, what you will wear.
Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Look at the birds in the sky;
they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns,
yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are not you more important than they?
Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?
Why are you anxious about clothes?
Learn from the way the wild flowers grow.
They do not work or spin.
But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor
was clothed like one of them.
If God so clothes the grass of the field,
which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow,
will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?
So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’
or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’
All these things the pagans seek.
Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness,
and all these things will be given you besides.
Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself.
Sufficient for a day is its own evil.”

What Are You Seeking?

These words from the Gospel invite me to ask myself what my heart is truly seeking: the Kingdom of God or a life guided by the standards of the world?

In these hectic times, when everything moves so quickly, we can easily forget that, as Jesus tells us, the only thing that truly matters is to seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Everything else will be given to us besides.

Spouses, in marriage, living the Kingdom of God means making Christ’s love present in our marital union, striving to love as He loves, giving ourselves to our spouse both in good times and in difficult ones, surrendering our selfishness, whims, demands and reproaches, always seeking communion through conjugal charity.

To do this, we must flee from the worldly logic of selfishness, individualism and self-sufficiency, which destroy God’s original plan for us and drive us apart. For this reason, marital prayer and mutual care must take priority over work, family finances, or even the demands of raising children, trusting that God will multiply everything else besides.

When we empty ourselves of selfishness so that God may reign in our union, everything else falls into place and flourishes naturally. Working, coming and going, fulfilling our responsibilities—yes, but without anxiety, trusting in our loving Father, who knows our needs perfectly and desires to care for us tenderly.

How pleasing it is to God when we trust in Him!

Brought into Married Life

Margaret: You’ve spent the entire afternoon at the computer, checking invoices and worrying, and that tension is driving us apart.

Peter: Well, if I don’t take charge of the family’s future, Margaret, who will? I feel as though all the responsibility falls on me, while you don’t seem concerned about it.

Margaret: I’m very grateful that you take care of the accounts, review the bills and manage our finances. I only meant that you seemed overwhelmed, as if everything depended solely on you, forgetting that God provides.

Peter: Yes, you’re right. Instead of seeing that we’re managing to get by, I was only thinking about what we could have saved if we hadn’t made some purchases that I considered unnecessary.

Margaret: You’ve always been more careful with money than I have, Peter, and that has helped us greatly. But I don’t want you to become obsessed with controlling our finances. This year, we’ve seen how the Lord helped us exactly when we needed it most, through that new client you gained, which allowed us to cover all the extra expenses related to our children’s studies. And those expenses you call unnecessary have actually contributed to greater peace within our family.

Peter: You’re right, Margaret. It seems that by trying to control everything, I end up serving the god of money instead of trusting in the Lord and in you. And rather than bringing us together, it does the opposite. Please forgive me for being distant these past few days.

Margaret: We’re in this together, and in everything else as well. Let’s pray, let’s seek the Kingdom of God, and I’m sure He will take care of the rest, as He always does.

Peter: That’s true. Thank you for reminding me of what truly matters. Let’s leave tomorrow’s worries for tomorrow, for each day has enough trouble of its own. Let’s kneel down, pray together, and place all my anxieties into the Father’s hands.

Mother,

Teach us to trust in our loving Father, who knows our needs and always gives us everything we truly require. Help us to abandon ourselves completely to Him, just as you did.

Blessed and glorious are you, Mother! Praised be the Lord forever!

Treasures in Heaven- Reflection for married couples – Matthew 6:19-23

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From the Gospel according to Matthew 6:19–23

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,
where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal.
But store up treasures in heaven,
where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.

“The lamp of the body is the eye.
If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light;
but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness.
And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be.”

Treasures in Heaven

These days, with such hot weather, going to the swimming pool is very appealing, and on top of that, we have the Football World Cup, providing many opportunities to enjoy our leisure time. Yet we see married couples from Marital Love Proyect helping at retreats, end-of-year gatherings, and final catechesis meetings with perseverance.

Are they making sacrifices? Of course. But we must remember that the Lord always gives back a hundredfold. Every moment we dedicate to helping other marriages and families, every time we place our hearts and our time at the service of others, becomes a “treasure in Heaven”. How wonderful is that! Nothing that moths can destroy, nothing that thieves can steal—nothing less than eternal life itself.

Do we still have doubts? We certainly do not. So, forward, spouses! Let us give our lives as the Lord teaches us.

Brought into Married Life

Margaret: What a wonderful retreat this weekend was! We witnessed true miracles.

Andrew: Absolutely. It was worth serving as custodians at the retreat, even though we missed the weekend at the beach that I had been looking forward to so much.

Margaret: Andrew, thank you for saying yes when we were asked to help. For me, it was very important to experience the retreat again, this time serving others whilst once more hearing what God intended for our marriage from the very beginning.

Andrew: Indeed. It is something all the married couples in the Project should do: place ourselves at the service of others and freely give what we have freely received.

Margaret: Now we must persevere and continue accompanying all the couples who wish to begin this beautiful journey.

Andrew: Glory to God! Let’s make our conjugal prayer, especially today, giving thanks to God, who loves and cares for us so much.

Mother,

We want to be salt and light for so many marriages and families who walk in darkness. Help us never to stray from the light we have received in the Project through the catecheses of Saint John Paul II, and help us to persevere each day in prayer.

Blessed and praised be the Lord, from whom we receive such abundant grace!