Ethan: Happy anniversary, Eli! My goodness, it’s already been eight years since we got married… time flies…

Eli: It really does… Just yesterday, during prayer, I was thanking the Lord for everything we’ve lived through together, and He showed me how our life has changed over these past years. Do you remember how, at the beginning, we put so many unimportant things ahead of our marriage? Our hearts were set on work, material possessions, or spending more time with friends than strengthening our union, and that caused us a lot of suffering. How good the Lord is, for He has been showing us that the only thing truly important is our marriage, and that in this way we can fight for it and build it together.

Ethan: I’m really beginning to understand what this sacrament is all about, and it seems so precious to me that now I see only God could have created it. I’m also beginning to understand that the differences we have bring us closer every day, and I see how, with your patience and affection, you help me grow closer to God. Now I truly see myself capable of reaching Heaven with you, hand in hand.

Eli: Ethan, when you speak to me like this, that’s when I discover your great heart, and it makes me fall even more in love with you, because I see the Lord in you!

Paul: This Gospel always moves me… Mary stayed beside Jesus until the very end, even in the greatest suffering.

Maria: Yes, and it makes me think a lot about our marriage. Because truly loving also means staying by each other’s side in difficult moments, not only when everything is going well.

Paul: Exactly. Jesus says to the disciple, “Behold your mother,” and from that moment on he takes her into his home. It is as if Mary also enters into every Christian family.

Maria: Of course! and how important that is today… to let Mary care for our marriage, and to always have her as an example in the way we speak, forgive one another, and support each other.

Paul: What strikes me is Mary’s silence. She does not protest, she does not run away, she simply stays. I think this is something I often lack: not running away and also emptying my heart more, trying to be more fully present.

Maria: Yes, I lack that too. Now I see that the Virgin Mary is asking me to be there, to accompany, to support… even when I do not understand you.

Paul: Hopefully in our marriage we may also know how to love in that way: with fidelity, self-giving, and always placing Jesus at the center.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to John 20:19-23

On the evening of that first day of the week,

when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,

for fear of the Jews,

Jesus came and stood in their midst

and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.

The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.

As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,

“Receive the Holy Spirit.

Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,

and whose sins you retain are retained.”

The word of the Lord

Fruitful Poverty

I may feel discouraged when I give myself to my husband and see no fruit in our marriage. It could even seem as though Christ’s own self‑giving had achieved nothing: His disciples hidden away in fear. And yet, from that pierced side on Good Friday until today, Pentecost, the heart of His Bride, the Church, has been forming. It has been a painful but necessary labour. A time of gestation marked by fear, tears, silence, doubts, purification… a time that has led her to recognise her own misery. And it is there, in that acknowledgement, that communion with Christ the Bridegroom is born, and where true evangelisation begins. It is in that poverty that the Holy Spirit finds space, and true fruitfulness comes to life.

Applied to married life

Mary has been trying for some time to care more attentively for John, her husband. 

She tries to listen to him better, avoid reproaches, show small gestures of affection, and pray for him every day. Deep down, she hopes that all of this will improve their marriage — that he will change and that the unity they once had will return.

But time passes, and nothing seems to improve. He remains distant, absorbed in work, and not very expressive. Little by little, Mary begins to grow weary inside: “Why should I keep giving of myself if I see no fruit?”

In the midst of that sadness, the Holy Spirit shows her something unexpected: that her self‑giving has not been sterile. All that time of silence, waiting, tears, and struggle has been bringing something far deeper to the surface of her heart: her need to be reciprocated, recognised, and valued.

And right there, in that acknowledged poverty, something within her begins to change. Christ begins to soak her soul. Her love becomes freer, less demanding, more sustained by God than by her husband’s response. She no longer needs to impose or force anything. Without realising it, she begins to radiate peace, patience, and above all, a new and unfamiliar joy.

Then she understands that true fruitfulness had begun long before any visible change appeared in her marriage: it had begun in her own soul.

Mother,

Teach us to purify our hearts so that we may be born anew in your Son. Blessed and praised for ever be He who redeemed us with His Blood.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to John 21:20-25

Peter turned and saw the disciple following whom Jesus loved,

the one who had also reclined upon his chest during the supper

and had said, “Master, who is the one who will betray you?”

When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?”

Jesus said to him, “What if I want him to remain until I come?

What concern is it of yours?

You follow me.”

So the word spread among the brothers that that disciple would not die.

But Jesus had not told him that he would not die,

just “What if I want him to remain until I come?

What concern is it of yours?”

It is this disciple who testifies to these things

and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true.

There are also many other things that Jesus did,

but if these were to be described individually,

I do not think the whole world would contain the books

that would be written.

The word of the Lord

You, follow Me.

In this Gospel, the Lord shows us that the only way to truly know ourselves is to know Him. And when we ask Him how to do that, He tells us: “Fix your gaze on Me.” That is why, when we turn our eyes towards others, He says to us, “What is that to you?” Do not compare yourself with anyone; do not focus on what others do; do not justify yourself by pointing out the faults of others. You follow Me. Look at Me, only at Me, and do what you are called to do.

In marriage, we cannot justify ourselves by what our spouse does or fails to do. Husbands and wives must not compare themselves or keep score of who does what. I must pour all my love into every act of the day, even if it is not returned, just as Jesus did. My mission in this life is to give myself without reserve to my spouse, until death, as Christ did for me — He who shed the very last drop of His blood for me, and also for you, and for each one of us, for His Bride, the Church.

Let us not lose heart, let us not grow weary. Let us remain faithful and steadfast, as Our Lord taught us.

Applied to married life

Mike: You know, Susana, today as I was reflecting on the Gospel, I felt very much like Peter… looking at someone else, comparing myself, asking the Lord: “And what about him?”

Susana: Yes… it’s striking how comparison appears there. Peter has just received an immense mission — to be the head of the Church — and yet straight away he looks at someone else’s path. And Jesus replies with such tenderness and firmness: “What is that to you? You follow Me.” As if He were saying to us as well: “Don’t look at what others are doing… look at Me, and walk together.”

Mike: How often we lose our peace by comparing ourselves: thinking that this couple prays more, that those others seem more united, that that marriage has everything sorted… and sometimes I think, “If only we were like them.” And without realising it, I end up disregarding the beautiful story God is writing with us.

Susana: And today the Lord reminds us that our story is unique. Our love has a specific mission. We must recognise ourselves as chosen, called, and sent as spouses. We don’t need to live anyone else’s life.

Mike: And we need to trust that God doesn’t make mistakes with our story. He doesn’t want us to be “like other couples”; He wants us to be fully ourselves. It moves me to think that Jesus has chosen us and trusts us just as He trusted Peter, despite his weaknesses. He didn’t ask him for perfection… only love and discipleship.

Susana: That brings such peace… Not competing, not pretending, not measuring ourselves. Simply following Christ together. Because then our marriage also becomes a “witness”: a small story where Jesus continues to act.

Mike: So today I just want to hear that: “You follow Me”… with you, hand in hand, towards Him.

Susana: And I with you, Mike. Whatever comes, looking more to Christ and to our mission than to our limitations.

Both together: “Lord, teach us to follow You together, with humility, faithfulness, and joy, without comparing ourselves, living the unique mission You have dreamed for our marriage.”

Mother,

Teach us to lift up our gaze and look to Him alone. Blessed and glorious are you, Mother! May the Lord be praised for ever!

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to John 21:15-19

After Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and eaten breakfast with them,

he said to Simon Peter,

“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”

Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”

He then said to Simon Peter a second time,

“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”

He said to him the third time,

“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time,

“Do you love me?” and he said to him,

“Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger,

you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted;

but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands,

and someone else will dress you

and lead you where you do not want to go.”

He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God.

And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”

The word of the Lord

Three Times 

It may seem surprising that Jesus insists on asking Peter three times in a row whether he loves Him, whether he cares for Him. But we remember that Peter himself denied Him three times on the night of the Passion; Christ now gives him the opportunity to affirm his love, once for each denial.

And the Lord is always lovingly ready to draw near to us so that we may ask for forgiveness in the sacrament of penance and become like little lambs in the arms of our Good Shepherd. Let us not desire to be anything else; there is nothing better than allowing ourselves to be guided by Him, who is Love.

Applied to married life

Peter: The children still haven’t tidied their room… I honestly don’t know what else to say to them. They completely ignore me; I’m sure that if you go in now, they’ll obey you straightaway. They’re always waiting for your confirmation before they pay any attention to me, and when you’re not around there’s no way of getting them to do anything I ask. Truth be told, I’m getting rather tired of it — it’s always the same.

Magda: Always the same, always the same… you’re the one who’s always the same with this constant moaning. I’m the one who’s tired of having the same conversation over and over again.

Peter: Always the same, the same conversation… forgive me, Magda. I let myself get carried away by old feelings I thought I’d overcome. I didn’t sleep well last night and I’ve slipped back into it again.

Magda: No, forgive me, Peter. I jumped straight in without thinking… truth is, I didn’t sleep well either. That programme we were watching made me quite anxious and it took me ages to fall asleep.

Peter: Same here. Thank God we’re starting to recognise these bursts of temper and cut them off as soon as they appear. I remember that before our conversion, we’d end up in an argument that could leave us not speaking to each other for days.

Magda: Absolutely… I shudder just thinking about it. If you agree, we could change the time of our conjugal prayer and do it before going to bed. That way we can spend more time on it, and we’ll go to sleep with the peace that comes from being with the Lord.

Peter: I think that’s a brilliant idea. Less telly and more prayer — sounds like a great plan. Thank you, my love, for pulling me back onto the right path.

Mother

We want to be those little lambs who walk beside Jesus; at times He takes us by the hand and we walk together, and at other times He has to carry us in His arms. Do not allow us to stray from Him. Blessed and praised be He for ever in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar!