Fixing his eyes on his disciples Jesus said:
‘How happy are you who are poor: yours is the kingdom of God.
Happy you who are hungry now: you shall be satisfied.
Happy you who weep now: you shall laugh.
Happy are you when people hate you, drive you out, abuse you, denounce your name as criminal, on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice when that day comes and dance for joy, for then your reward will be great in heaven. This was the way their ancestors treated the prophets.
‘But alas for you who are rich: you are having your consolation now.
Alas for you who have your fill now: you shall go hungry.
Alas for you who laugh now: you shall mourn and weep.
‘Alas for you when the world speaks well of you! This was the way their ancestors treated the false prophets.’

Everyone seeks happiness, and it turns out that Jesus tells us how to attain it – we just don’t always believe Him. Happiness and freedom are closely connected, because when one is free from oneself and focused on God, they can be happy in any situation. As the Virgin Mary said, “My spirit rejoices in God.” That is the key.

Applied to Married Life:

HAPPY:

Blessed are the poor, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
John: Ever since I learned that nothing truly belongs to me – that everything is God’s, and whatever I have, little or much, is meant to build His kingdom on earth – I no longer care about having or not having. With God by my side and our children, I have all I need.

Blessed are those who hunger, for they shall be satisfied.
Mary: Darling, I need us to keep growing in our love for one another, more and more each day. I want us to be saints, and I will fight for that, and for our children to be saints as well.
Peter: Yes, let’s give it everything we’ve got. Jesus promises us that one day, by God’s grace, we will experience the fullness of that.

Blessed are those who weep, for they shall laugh.
Peter: What’s the matter, love? You look sad.
Mary: Yes, I just feel like crying.
Peter: Tell me, talk to me. I want to be with you, to cry with you, to feel what you feel, so that by understanding you, I can help lift you out of your sadness.

Blessed are those who are excluded because of the Son of Man. Rejoice and leap for joy, for your reward will be great.
Arthur: Hey, shall we meet for dinner? Let’s enjoy a good steak… But let’s not invite Peter and Mary. They always bring up God and the Church. It’s like they can’t talk about anything else, and they end up ruining the evening.
Anna: Yes, let’s not call them. Besides, they don’t know how to enjoy a good meal. They’ll just say it’s gluttony, hahaha. It’s one thing to go to Mass on Sundays and be normal, as we always have, and quite another to be like them. They seem obsessed.

Mother,

Help us to belong to Christ, walking against the current, in the face of the world, the Devil, and the flesh. Even if we are criticised or slandered, help us to love everyone, even if they don’t accept us. Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.