From the Gospel according to Luke 9:46–50
An argument arose among the disciples
about which of them was the greatest.
Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child
and placed it by his side and said to them,
“Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
For the one who is least among all of you
is the one who is the greatest.”
Then John said in reply,
“Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name and we tried to prevent him
because he does not follow in our company.”
Jesus said to him,
“Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you.”
Like Children
Today, Jesus shows us the path of simplicity as the way to attain happiness.
Husbands and wives, we are called to become simple, to make ourselves very small before God and, therefore, before the person who is our principal means of reaching Him: our spouse. How often we waste our time and lose our peace, going over and reasoning about what our spouse has or has not done for us, and comparing it with what we do or do not do for them.
Let us become like children. Let us abandon ourselves into the Father’s arms so that we may be raised up as children of God. For this, we have the Grace of the Sacrament, and that Grace lifts us up, if only we allow it to act.
Today is a good day to reflect: How do I face the trials of everyday life? Do I trust and accept them like a child, or do I rebel against them, try to reason everything out, allow myself to be influenced by what the world says, and feel that I do not deserve what is happening to me?
Brought into Married Life:
Mary: Darling, I’m so happy. Today I can see that the Holy Spirit is confirming that the path we are following in Proyecto Amor Conyugal comes from Him.
Andrew: I never had any doubts, but why do you feel that confirmation today?
Mary: I’m seeing other realities within the Church, with charisms different from that of Proyecto, beginning to speak about marriage in a more specific way and even organising events with teachings and experiences that are in harmony with what we live in Proyecto. At first, I was tempted to judge them and think, “What a bunch of copycats!” But today the Lord tells us that whoever is not against us is for us, and it has brought me great joy to recognise the greatness of the Church and to see how the Holy Spirit never stops “working” in defence of marriage and its indissolubility.
Andrew: You’re right. It is wonderful that the different realities within the Church support one another in strengthening the vocation of marriage. Because if we truly understand that we are united by something very sacred, and that God, through the Sacrament, is present and active in marriage, there should not be as many separations as we see among couples who say that they have faith and live by it.
Mary: Yes, it is sad, because the Lord makes all things new if we allow Him to guide our marriage. He never considers any marriage to be beyond hope.
Andrew: Of course not. After all, everything can become a means that the Lord allows for our holiness and happiness.
Mary: Exactly. But the problem arises when we want to escape the trial. Sometimes we live thinking that we do not deserve such a “toxic” relationship, and we reduce our Sacrament to a merely human relationship that can be broken when suffering comes.
Andrew: How much pain the Lord must feel when people even say that they have discerned that God’s will is for them to separate. That means not understanding what the Sacrament truly is.
Mary: From now on, let us pray for all married couples and for all the different realities within the Church, that they may recognise the need to deepen their understanding of the sacredness of marriage, so that marriage may be lived as God intended it.
Andrew: That’s a wonderful idea. Nothing belongs to us; everything comes from Him, and everything is for His Glory.
Mother
Thank you for always accompanying us through your example of simplicity and faithfulness to the Will of God. Blessed are you.