GOSPEL

Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark

Mark 9:30-37

Jesus and his disciples made their way through Galilee; and he did not want anyone to know, because he was instructing his disciples; he was telling them, ‘The Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men; they will put him to death; and three days after he has been put to death he will rise again.’ But they did not understand what he said and were afraid to ask him.
  They came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, ‘What were you arguing about on the road?’ They said nothing because they had been arguing which of them was the greatest. So he sat down, called the Twelve to him and said, ‘If anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all.’ He then took a little child, set him in front of them, put his arms round him, and said to them, ‘Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name, welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Reaching for the Highest

Jesus speaks to His disciples about the greatness of His mission—a supernatural mission, nothing less than the salvation of the world through the cross. He is about to reach the pinnacle of human dignity by giving His body for me.

In contrast, the disciples sought greatness through domination, attempting to impose themselves on others. This attitude clearly causes division among them, while Jesus’ approach fosters an alliance—a union stronger than death. So strong that nothing will separate us from Him. The question now is: Do I want to create separation with my spouse through domination, or union with him/her through service and sacrifice? I choose to love.

Applied to Married Life:

Bettany: Lord, I don’t feel valued for what I do as a wife and mother. But I know these feelings are temptations; my ego wants to be exalted through vanity, and I don’t want to succumb to that temptation. I would rather be humbled with You through my self-giving on the cross, as a wife who offers her sacrifices for the salvation of her husband and children. I am with You, Lord; I will follow You.
Jack: Lord, I ask for forgiveness for not embracing the gift You’ve given me through my wife, and I thank You for her, for she teaches me how to love. Please help me to be more humble.
Bettany: No, Jack, you are a wonderful gift to me. These are temptations I need to overcome. I love you.
Jack: I love you too.

Mother,

How ugly it is for us, your children, to try to impose ourselves on one another. It must be an immense pain for You to witness these divisions born from our desire to be greater than others. Only God exalts, and He exalts those who humble themselves. How beautiful is the path of God’s love. Praise be to Him.

GOSPEL

It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick

Matthew 9:9-13

As Jesus was walking on, he saw a man named Matthew sitting by the customs house, and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him.
  While he was at dinner in the house it happened that a number of tax collectors and sinners came to sit at the table with Jesus and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your master eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ When he heard this he replied, ‘It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick. Go and learn the meaning of the words: What I want is mercy, not sacrifice. And indeed I did not come to call the virtuous, but sinners.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Creative Strength

You, Lord, are able to see in me more than others can. Where others find reasons for judgement and condemnation, You search deep to uncover something valuable within me. I want to look at my husband in the same way. Teach me, Lord, to see him like this. It seems very difficult to me, as I lack purity of heart, but I trust that You can help me find the best perspective within.

Applied to Married Life:

James: Saint John Paul II says in his catechesis that “the husband attentively observes his wife with a creator’s loving concern, seeking all that is good and beautiful in her and desiring it for her.” Reading that filled me with hope.
Martha: And why is that?
James: Because I believe that the Lord has instilled in me a creative strength capable of building with my love what you may lack in becoming the perfect wife.
Martha: That’s beautiful. Thank you.

Mother,

We offer that creative strength of beauty. 

GOSPEL

Luke 8:1-3
The women who accompanied Jesus
Jesus made his way through towns and villages preaching, and proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom of God. With him went the Twelve, as well as certain women who had been cured of evil spirits and ailments: Mary surnamed the Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna, and several others who provided for them out of their own resources.

The Gospel of the Lord.

My Queen

Serving the Lord and the disciples with their resources is precisely what made these women holy. Here are some quotes from Saint John Paul II in the Apostolic Letter Mulieris Dignitatem:
“Jesus also said: ‘The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve’ (Mark 10:45). From the very first moment of her divine motherhood, the Blessed Virgin Mary, in her union with the Son whom ‘the Father sent into the world, that the world might be saved through him’ (cf. John 3:17), entered into the messianic service of Christ… This service constitutes the very foundation of that Kingdom, in which ‘to serve’ (…) means ‘to reign.’ Christ, the ‘Servant of the Lord,’ will reveal to all humanity the royal dignity of service, which is directly related to the vocation of every person.”
These holy women we honour today reigned on Earth and will reign with Christ in Heaven.

Applied to Married Life:

Maya: Why are you kissing my feet?
Charles: Because I humble myself before your femininity, your loving devotion, your spiritual grace as a wife and a mother. I bow before your divine wisdom and the tenderness of a daughter of Mary. I honour you as a mediator of God’s love. I admire the selfless service you provide, reflecting Christ, who came to serve and not to be served. To me, you are a testament to the motherhood of God, both Father and Mother. Your purity shields me from the mundane, like the protective embrace of the Rosary that you encourage me to pray with you every day. You are a beacon of faith for our children. How could I not kiss your feet when I feel unworthy of you?
Maya: Come now, get up and hug me, my husband. I was created for you, and you mean everything to me.

Mother,

Blessed are You for being the Spouse of the Holy Spirit, and blessed are You for being the Mother of Christ and of the entire Church. In these roles, and as the Daughter of God, You continue to labour each day. Thank You, Lord, for the holy women You have placed in our lives.

GOSPEL

GOSPEL

‘We played the pipes, and you wouldn’t dance’

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

Luke 7:31-35

Jesus said to the people:
  ‘What description can I find for the men of this generation? What are they like? They are like children shouting to one another while they sit in the market-place:
‘“We played the pipes for you,
and you wouldn’t dance;
we sang dirges,
and you wouldn’t cry.”
‘For John the Baptist comes, not eating bread, not drinking wine, and you say, “He is possessed.” The Son of Man comes, eating and drinking, and you say, “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.” Yet Wisdom has been proved right by all her children.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Excuses for Not Loving

There’s a significant difference between not believing and the more serious issue of refusing to believe, often armed with excuses. This can happen in marriage: I refuse to accept God’s will and instead criticise my spouse and the divine plan for my life together with them. What I have doesn’t seem good enough, and I use that as justification to stop fighting for our relationship. There’s a wise saying: “To a thin dog, everything becomes fleas.” When I am vulnerable and weak, everything seems wrong. This is why, if I find myself complaining a lot, it’s because I need more prayer, more sacraments, and to strengthen my faith in order to align with God’s will.
Yes, okay, my spouse isn’t a saint—neither am I! But that’s what we’re here for: to strive to become better and inspire those around us. That was my mission, and I may have forgotten it, expecting everything to be handed to me on a plate. God is great, immensely great, and He does not make mistakes. May He protect me from trying to amend His plan.

Applied to Married Life:

(At a meal with friends)
Anna: My husband is far too active; he never stops and it’s exhausting.
Theresa: Well, mine is far too lazy. I can’t get him off the sofa; it’s such a bore.
Paul: My wife is overly helpful, always doing things for others. I feel neglected.
John: Mine is so selfish, it’s unbelievable. She only thinks of herself.
Jill: My husband is a complete control freak. It drives me mad.
Lucy: Well, mine is a total mess. Keeping the house tidy is a daily battle.
Andrew: That’s nothing! My wife has a bit of everything you’ve all mentioned. One day she’s all about order, and the next it’s chaos. Her mood swings are like something out of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
Peter: (The host of the gathering) Excuse me, but the children are at the table next door and can hear us. How are they supposed to believe in marriage when we’re making these comments about each other? It surprises me that some of us complain about one thing while others complain about the opposite. Perhaps we each need to embrace our situation and joyfully build a holy marriage together. Don’t you think?

Mother,

How much harm we do to our Creator with our endless complaints about what we have received from Him—what He crafted with such love to give to us. God’s gifts are precious and beautiful, yet we struggle to believe that they come from Him and that they are for our good. Father, forgive us for our stubbornness and ingratitude. Praised be Your wisdom and generosity. Amen.