Authority in the Truth. Reflection for marriages Saint Luke 4:31–37

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Gospel of the Day
Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke 4:31–37
At that time: Jesus went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the Sabbath, and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority. And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are — the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be silent and come out of him!’ And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm. And they were all amazed and said to one another, ‘What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!’ And reports about him went out into every place in the surrounding region.

Authority in the Truth
How striking it must have been to hear the Lord when He taught in the synagogue! How fortunate were those who lived in that time! But the Lord did not teach only for that moment—His teachings remain valid today and forever.
One detail stands out: “His words carried authority.” We are witnesses of the Lord and of His glory, and for this reason we too can speak with authority. We do not speak about our own opinions, nor give speeches to attract an audience or to appear important—we proclaim the TRUTH, and truth itself carries authority.
The mere presence of Christ must have been imposing, and this is what we should aspire to: to be so united to Him that our lives reflect His life. We must hold that same authority in our own lives, which is achieved through coherence and integrity. We cannot say one thing and do another; rather, we speak of what we live, because we live united to the Lord.

Applied to Married Life
(Javier and Cristina are having dinner with their children)
Javier: Children, you know that your mother and I love you very much, and that’s why sometimes we don’t allow you to make certain plans with your boyfriends or girlfriends—plans that, according to you, “everyone else” makes. We want you to be formed so that one day you may become kind, charitable, and honest men and women—and good spouses—able to discern what is right and what is wrong in the light of the Gospel.
Cristina: What Dad means is that we’ve encouraged you to take part in the Proyecto Amor Conyugal catechesis groups for couples in the parish, so that you can learn what the TRUTH is regarding what may well be your future vocation.
Javier: Mom is right. When you have that solid foundation, you will truly be free, able to build a marriage on rock, and you will also be able to explain with authority the reasons behind your choices to your friends. It doesn’t mean they will necessarily understand you, but you will be a light and help guide them onto the right path.
Cristina: We know that sometimes it’s hard, and you may even lose some friendships, because Truth is not always welcomed in this world. But you will have peace and the certainty of doing what God wants from you at every moment.

Mother,
We ask you to help us be very faithful to the Lord, so that we may live with that authority worthy of the children of God.
Praised be the Lord who shows us the Truth.

The Unappreciated Gift. Reflection for marriages Saint Luke 4:16–30

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Gospel of the Day
Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke 4:16–30
At that time: Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll, and found the place where it was written,
‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’
And he rolled up the scroll, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, ‘Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’
  And all spoke well of him and marvelled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, ‘Is not this Joseph’s son?’ And he said to them, ‘Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, “ ‘Physician, heal yourself.’ What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your home town as well.” ’ And he said, ‘Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his home town. But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.’
  When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. And they rose up, and drove him out of the town, and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff. But passing through their midst, he went away.

The Unappreciated Gift
This passage invites us to reflect on a common reality in married life: the difficulty of recognising the greatness and the work of God in those closest to us. Jesus is rejected precisely by those who knew Him from childhood. Familiarity prevents them from seeing what God is doing through Him.
In marriage, something similar can happen: over time, we stop “seeing” the other—their worth, their gifts, or even their suffering—because we take them for granted. “Love” (misunderstood love) can grow cold, not necessarily because of great problems, but simply due to routine, habit, and lack of wonder at the reality that our spouse is a precious creature and child of God. The Lord invites us to look at our spouse with His eyes—with renewed tenderness—valuing their story, their wounds, and their gifts.
It is beautiful to see in this passage how Jesus does not conform to the expectations of His people. In our married life, it is also vital to accept that the other is not exactly as I would like them to be, but as they are. To love is not to mould the other into my image, but to welcome them, accompany them in their journey, and give myself as I am, just as they are.
The violent reaction of the people against Jesus warns us of the danger of closing ourselves off to change, of not letting the Spirit confront and transform us. In marriage, this can take the form of pride, stubbornness, or fear of giving in. But mature love requires humility, listening, and openness to mutual correction.

Applied to Married Life
Julio: You know what? Since we did the Proyecto Amor Conyugal retreat, I’ve been discovering a Rosa that I was missing before. Now I see you more and more as a gift for me and truly my suitable helper in everything.
Rosa: How beautiful, Julio, thank you very much. I also try, although, as you’ve surely noticed, many times I don’t manage it and I fall again into the temptation of not looking at you with the eyes with which the Lord looks at you.
Julio: Well, I’m not perfect either, but I admit that as soon as I notice myself criticising you inwardly, the Lord gives me the grace to realise it, and I try with all my strength not to dwell on those bad thoughts. Sometimes I don’t succeed, and that’s when I mess things up and the arguments begin.
Rosa: That’s fundamental—trying to practise that self-control, which is so hard for me. When I don’t put a stop to it, all the past gets stirred up in me, and I don’t get out of my criticisms or bad thoughts toward you. The devil often traps me, and I fall into victimhood and self-pity, without noticing all the good things you do for me and for the girls.
Julio: Well, many times I don’t make it easy for you either. You know I’m not perfect, and when I think about it—even though you’re not perfect either—I realise how difficult I make it for you to reach that self-control and to rediscover the value I have in God’s eyes.
Rosa: Well, you’ve given me very good ideas: I’m going to start putting into practice what you said, and I’ll try to stop those bad thoughts from the very beginning and, instead, always try to see you as a gift for me.

Mother,
Help me to rediscover the value of my husband each day, to learn to look at him with your mercy, and to recognise that he is an instrument of God for me.
Praised be the Lord!

The Unappreciated Gift. Reflection for marriages Saint Luke 4:16–30

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Gospel of the Day
Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke 4:16–30
At that time: Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll, and found the place where it was written,
‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’
And he rolled up the scroll, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, ‘Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’
  And all spoke well of him and marvelled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, ‘Is not this Joseph’s son?’ And he said to them, ‘Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, “ ‘Physician, heal yourself.’ What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your home town as well.” ’ And he said, ‘Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his home town. But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.’
  When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. And they rose up, and drove him out of the town, and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff. But passing through their midst, he went away.
The Unappreciated Gift
This passage invites us to reflect on a common reality in married life: the difficulty of recognising the greatness and the work of God in those closest to us. Jesus is rejected precisely by those who knew Him from childhood. Familiarity prevents them from seeing what God is doing through Him.
In marriage, something similar can happen: over time, we stop “seeing” the other—their worth, their gifts, or even their suffering—because we take them for granted. “Love” (misunderstood love) can grow cold, not necessarily because of great problems, but simply due to routine, habit, and lack of wonder at the reality that our spouse is a precious creature and child of God. The Lord invites us to look at our spouse with His eyes—with renewed tenderness—valuing their story, their wounds, and their gifts.
It is beautiful to see in this passage how Jesus does not conform to the expectations of His people. In our married life, it is also vital to accept that the other is not exactly as I would like them to be, but as they are. To love is not to mould the other into my image, but to welcome them, accompany them in their journey, and give myself as I am, just as they are.
The violent reaction of the people against Jesus warns us of the danger of closing ourselves off to change, of not letting the Spirit confront and transform us. In marriage, this can take the form of pride, stubbornness, or fear of giving in. But mature love requires humility, listening, and openness to mutual correction.

Applied to Married Life
Julio: You know what? Since we did the Proyecto Amor Conyugal retreat, I’ve been discovering a Rosa that I was missing before. Now I see you more and more as a gift for me and truly my suitable helper in everything.
Rosa: How beautiful, Julio, thank you very much. I also try, although, as you’ve surely noticed, many times I don’t manage it and I fall again into the temptation of not looking at you with the eyes with which the Lord looks at you.
Julio: Well, I’m not perfect either, but I admit that as soon as I notice myself criticising you inwardly, the Lord gives me the grace to realise it, and I try with all my strength not to dwell on those bad thoughts. Sometimes I don’t succeed, and that’s when I mess things up and the arguments begin.
Rosa: That’s fundamental—trying to practise that self-control, which is so hard for me. When I don’t put a stop to it, all the past gets stirred up in me, and I don’t get out of my criticisms or bad thoughts toward you. The devil often traps me, and I fall into victimhood and self-pity, without noticing all the good things you do for me and for the girls.
Julio: Well, many times I don’t make it easy for you either. You know I’m not perfect, and when I think about it—even though you’re not perfect either—I realise how difficult I make it for you to reach that self-control and to rediscover the value I have in God’s eyes.
Rosa: Well, you’ve given me very good ideas: I’m going to start putting into practice what you said, and I’ll try to stop those bad thoughts from the very beginning and, instead, always try to see you as a gift for me.

Mother,
Help me to rediscover the value of my husband each day, to learn to look at him with your mercy, and to recognise that he is an instrument of God for me.
Praised be the Lord!

The Invitation Is Your Spouse.Reflection for marriages Luke14:1, 7-14

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From the Gospel according to Luke14:1, 7-14

On a sabbath Jesus went to dineat the home of one of the leading Pharisees,and the people there were observing him carefully.
He told a parable to those who had been invited,noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table.”When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet,do not recline at table in the place of honor.A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him,and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say,’Give your place to this man,’and then you would proceed with embarrassmentto take the lowest place.Rather, when you are invited,go and take the lowest placeso that when the host comes to you he may say,’My friend, move up to a higher position.’Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table.For every one who exalts himself will be humbled,but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”Then he said to the host who invited him,”When you hold a lunch or a dinner,do not invite your friends or your brothersor your relatives or your wealthy neighbors,in case they may invite you back and you have repayment.Rather, when you hold a banquet,invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind;blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you.For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

The Gospel of the Lord

The Invitation Is Your Spouse

In the heart of Christ, we are given the first place. He invites us to His great banquet. Yet we often reject that invitation, betraying Him—spied upon, arrested, judged, slapped, beaten, mocked, scourged, condemned, shoved, insulted, humiliated, pierced, crucified, abandoned, mistreated, killed, buried… and finally raised by His Father and seated at His right hand.

So, where do you want to live—where do you want to have the first place? In His heart, or in your own? In His heart, you die in order to live; in your own, you live only to die.

Which feast do you long to attend—the great banquet of heaven, or a shabby party with cheap wine and an eternal hangover?

Maybe you wonder when and where this banquet will be, what food will be served, or how you should dress. The answer lies in the heart of your spouse.

Your spouse is God’s invitation to the banquet. In the intimacy of your marriage lies the great promise. In your sacrament, the doorway of entry. Do you want to attend? Do you want to be holy?

Applied to married life:

(Louis speaks with Peter, his mentor, about his marriage with Marie)

Louis: Yesterday she told me she doesn’t feel anything for me anymore. She wants to leave. She asked me for divorce.

Peter: Come here—let me give you a hug. You know you’re not alone, right?

Louis: I feel so powerless.

Peter: Maybe it’s time to ask Christ to do what you cannot.

Louis: How do I do that?

Peter: Ask yourself: who comes first in your heart—your own suffering, or Marie’s? When you give yourself to her, is it pure, or do you expect something in return? Is your self-giving complete, or are you holding something back? Have you been faithful—not just in what you do, but in your thoughts and desires?

Louis: Then… is this my fault?

Peter: This isn’t about blame. It’s about the truth: you carry Christ’s power within you to live your marriage in His way. Joy brings us together, but suffering unites us. Think about it—joy gathers us around Christ, but it’s in suffering that we are most deeply united with Him.

Louis: And where should I start?

Peter:Start before the Blessed Sacrament. Don’t say anything. Don’t demand anything. Just humble yourself and ask Him to show you your truth. Don’t be afraid. When He reveals your weakness and you accept it, His Spirit will come, and with His love, you’ll be able to walk with Marie.

Louis: But I have no strength left… not even hope.

Peter: Loluis, whether you see it or not, you’ve just received an immense grace. You’ve come to the point where your faith and your hope are not enough—you must ask for Christ’s. We think that when life is running smoothly, we’re at peace… but in reality, we’re slowly dying. To live Christ’s truth, you must be born again, and labor pains are part of that birth. But there is no greater fullness than living in the truth that only His Spirit can give.

Louis: Peter, I’m really going to need you on this path. Right now it’s hard and difficult to understand what you’re saying.

Peter: What we’ll need most is Him. And even if you can’t see it yet—that’s what faith is for. In the meantime, in His hope, I will be with you, helping you in everything you need.

Mother

Perfect Bride who remained faithful to the Bridegroom, show me the way.
Would you like me to also condense this into a short reflection + prayer (like something a couple could read together in 2–3 minutes during prayer time)?

The Talents Belong to the Lord. Reflection for marriages. Matthew 25:14-30

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Gospel

From the Gospel according to Matthew 25:14-30
Jesus told his disciples this parable:
“A man going on a journey
called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them.
To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one–
to each according to his ability.
Then he went away.
Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them,
and made another five.
Likewise, the one who received two made another two.
But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground
and buried his master’s money.
After a long time
the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them.
The one who had received five talents
came forward bringing the additional five.
He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents.
See, I have made five more.’
His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.
Since you were faithful in small matters,
I will give you great responsibilities.
Come, share your master’s joy.’
Then the one who had received two talents also came forward and said,
‘Master, you gave me two talents.
See, I have made two more.’
His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.
Since you were faithful in small matters,
I will give you great responsibilities.
Come, share your master’s joy.’
Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said,
‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person,
harvesting where you did not plant
and gathering where you did not scatter;
so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground.
Here it is back.’
His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant!
So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant
and gather where I did not scatter?
Should you not then have put my money in the bank
so that I could have got it back with interest on my return?
Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten.
For to everyone who has,
more will be given and he will grow rich;
but from the one who has not,
even what he has will be taken away.
And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.'”

The Gospel of the Lord

 

The Talents Belong to the Lord
In this parable, the Lord makes it clear that my talents are not mine—they are gifts He has given me so that I may manage them, put them to work, and carry out the mission He has entrusted to me. That part is my responsibility: to use my abilities to serve, to bear fruit, to multiply.
The Lord has given me certain abilities, certain talents. How many? It doesn’t matter whether they are many or few. Which ones? The ones He chose. The important thing is that, whether few or many, whatever they are, He has not given them for my own benefit, nor for me to keep hidden away, but to put them at His holy service. They are not mine—they are His. And my task is to administer them well.
And He promises that if I am a good and faithful servant, if I use these talents to work for the Kingdom of God, then they will surely multiply. And on top of that, as a reward, He will grant me Eternal Life. That is astonishing! If I am faithful in little things—in the ordinary tasks of each day, with my spouse, my children, my family, my friends… He promises me Eternal Life! Could there be a greater reward?

So I ask myself… what am I doing with the talents the Lord has given me? Am I placing them at the service of my spouse, my children, my neighbor, just as He expects me to? Or am I keeping them for myself and burying them?

 

Applied to Marriage life:
Martin: Caroline, we’ve been invited to lead the new marriage group starting at our parish. What do you think? Should we say yes?
Caroline: What are you talking about, Martin? Us? We’re useless! There are so many couples who are better prepared than we are.
Martin: That’s exactly what I said at first… but they insisted. They said they see something in us, and that with the gifts we have, we could do a lot of good for the couples in the group.
Caroline: Our gifts? What gifts?
Martin: They said we’re welcoming, that you’re responsible, and that I’m persevering… And that we should pray about it.
Caroline: Well… that you’re persevering, that’s true, hahaha… when you set your mind on something, there’s no way to change it. And that I’m responsible, I think that’s true too… when I commit to something, I really try to give it all. And if they see us as welcoming… But will that be enough? Let’s pray about it…
(Later…)
Caroline: Honestly, I had never really stopped to think and pray about the gifts God has given us, why He gave them, and what He wants us to do with them. And the truth is, I’m not sure we’re the right ones to lead a group. I feel like I don’t have many gifts. I think the people we know have more than we do.
Martin: Could it be that laziness is winning over you? Because this isn’t about comparing ourselves with others. You know—God distributes His gifts as He wants. Everything He gives is a gift of His Love. The point is to do His Will, to put to the service of His Kingdom the gifts He has entrusted to us. We can’t be like the lazy and negligent servant in the parable, who buried his talent instead of putting it to work, and ended up losing everything.
Caroline: You’re right, Martin. Maybe it’s laziness, or maybe a bit of false humility, which at the end of the day is still just pride. I think we need to give it a try. If the Lord wants this to be our way of putting our gifts at His service, He will make it possible. And if not, He’ll let us know. Jesus, I trust in You!
Martin: That’s my Caroline! I love you!
Mother,
help us to recognize with humility the talents God has given us, never to claim them as our own, and like you, to always and in every moment give thanks to God for all He gives. He is the source of every good thing. “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord!” Blessed are you, Mother! Praised be the Lord!