Today Jesus invites us to lift our gaze and recognise who we are and what we are called to. We are children of God, conceived in the Father’s heart so that we may return to Him and live eternally. Yet we allow ourselves to become entangled in worldly reasoning, through which the devil makes us doubt the goodness of God’s law, leading us away from Him.
The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection, and Jesus told them that the Lord is a God of the living, not of the dead. Today, much of the world does not believe in the indissolubility of marriage, but just as He said to the Pharisees, Jesus tells us that man and woman are made to be one flesh, and that what God has joined, no human being must divide. When, out of love for my spouse, I welcome him exactly as he is, and I give myself fully exactly as I am, we can already begin to taste in this life a small portion of the happiness Jesus promises us in the resurrection. We are witnesses to so many marriages that, upon discovering the beauty and greatness of marriage as God intended it, have been resurrected by the Lord, that we can no longer doubt His Word.
Spouses, let us live marriage as God designed it, and we will discover how joy floods our lives.

Jonathan: Emma, will you share with me what’s going on? For days now, even when I tell you I disagree with something you say, you don’t argue about anything, and you always seem cheerful. I like it—but I’m surprised. I can’t quite figure out what’s happening.
Emma: Do you remember how, at the Marital Love Project retreat, they told us that the change in our marriage would begin with each of us changing individually? Well, I’m trying to put that into practice in my life.
Jonathan: And what are you doing exactly?
Emma: I’m trying to go to Mass every day and to go to confession frequently. I try to do things the way you like them, to please you. And I try to see in everything you say the will of God for us. That’s why I don’t argue when you think differently from me—I understand it as simply another way of looking at things. I take it to prayer, and then I try to do as you suggest.
Jonathan: Even if it’s not the way you see it?
Emma: Well, Jonathan, I imagine that when you say something, it’s not to make things difficult for me, but because you truly believe it’s best for our family. It’s not about imposing my reasons, but about welcoming yours and making them my own. That way, they become ours.
Jonathan: And is that why you’re so happy?
Emma: The truth is, I have a joy I don’t remember ever having before. I think it must be the Lord’s joy.
Jonathan: Then I want that joy too. Will you help me find it?
Emma: Of course, my love. Shall we start by going to Mass together every day we can? And we must persevere in our marital prayer.
Jonathan: Absolutely, Emma. I want to do whatever it takes to have that joy—and to make you as happy as you’re making me. I love you.

Teach us to live our marriage as God intended, so that we may begin to experience the joy of the resurrection. Mother, you are blessed and glorious! Praised be the Lord for ever!

From the Gospel accoording to Luke 19:45-48

Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out
those who were selling things, saying to them,
“It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer,
but you have made it a den of thieves.”
And every day he was teaching in the temple area.
The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile,
were seeking to put him to death,
but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose
because all the people were hanging on his words

Andrew: Penelope, the Lord showed me in this Gospel the importance of being consistent in every moment of our lives. I imagine all those people of good will who came on pilgrimage to the temple—some from very far away—and then saw all those stalls selling animals for sacrifices. They must have been completely scandalised!
Penelope: I had never stopped to think about it, but yes, it must have been quite unpleasant. You know, the other day a friend pointed out to me that there are many people who seem very close to the Lord because they go to church and pray, but in reality they show no charity towards others—criticising and insulting constantly.
Andrew: I could jokingly reply, “Well, imagine what they’d be like if they didn’t pray.” But it’s a serious matter. We must be very careful with the example we give, because the Lord says elsewhere in the Gospel: “Woe to the one who causes one of these little ones to stumble.”
Penelope: We truly have to help one another and warn each other the moment we see ourselves weakening. We can rely on the grace of our sacrament of marriage—together we can do it.

Mother,

May we never be a cause of scandal for other marriages; may we remain attentive and listening to His words. Thank you, blessed Mother!

Gospel of the day

From the Gospel accoording to Luke 19:11-28

While people were listening to Jesus speak,
he proceeded to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem
and they thought that the Kingdom of God
would appear there immediately.
So he said,
“A nobleman went off to a distant country
to obtain the kingship for himself and then to return.
He called ten of his servants and gave them ten gold coins
and told them, ‘Engage in trade with these until I return.’
His fellow citizens, however, despised him
and sent a delegation after him to announce,
‘We do not want this man to be our king.’
But when he returned after obtaining the kingship,
he had the servants called, to whom he had given the money,
to learn what they had gained by trading.
The first came forward and said,
‘Sir, your gold coin has earned ten additional ones.’
He replied, ‘Well done, good servant!
You have been faithful in this very small matter;
take charge of ten cities.’
Then the second came and reported,
‘Your gold coin, sir, has earned five more.’
And to this servant too he said,
‘You, take charge of five cities.’
Then the other servant came and said,
‘Sir, here is your gold coin;
I kept it stored away in a handkerchief,
for I was afraid of you, because you are a demanding man;
you take up what you did not lay down
and you harvest what you did not plant.’
He said to him,
‘With your own words I shall condemn you,
you wicked servant.
You knew I was a demanding man,
taking up what I did not lay down
and harvesting what I did not plant;
why did you not put my money in a bank?
Then on my return I would have collected it with interest.’
And to those standing by he said,
‘Take the gold coin from him
and give it to the servant who has ten.’
But they said to him,
‘Sir, he has ten gold coins.’
He replied, ‘I tell you,
to everyone who has, more will be given,
but from the one who has not,
even what he has will be taken away.
Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their king,
bring them here and slay them before me.'”
After he had said this,
he proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem.

The Gold Mine

The seed of faith is that gold mine the Lord places in our hands on the day of our baptism. A small seed planted in my soul, which now depends on my care until the Lord returns and asks me how I made it bear fruit.
How am I caring for my faith? Am I nourishing it with prayer and the sacraments? Am I watering it with spiritual formation? Am I protecting it from worldly “plagues”? Am I helping it grow, or am I letting it die? A seed cannot grow in thin air; it needs soil—and that soil is our real, concrete life: our marriage, our family. My faith and my marriage are inseparable; I cannot love God and fail to love my spouse (1 John 4,20). Faith and love work the same way: they only grow when they are cared for.  “To everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” If we care for the seed of faith, it will grow, and I will receive more grace from God, more of His love, and my marriage will also flourish because the Lord will dwell more and more in our hearts.
But if I neglect it, I will lose it. I will lose my faith, I will lose God’s grace, and I may end up ruining my marriage.
Because without God my soul—and my marriage—dies.

Mother,

When the Lord returns, may He find in our hearts a great faith and a true love. Help us, dear Mother. Blessed and praised be you!

From the Gospel accoording to Luke 19:11-28

While people were listening to Jesus speak,
he proceeded to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem
and they thought that the Kingdom of God
would appear there immediately.
So he said,
“A nobleman went off to a distant country
to obtain the kingship for himself and then to return.
He called ten of his servants and gave them ten gold coins
and told them, ‘Engage in trade with these until I return.’
His fellow citizens, however, despised him
and sent a delegation after him to announce,
‘We do not want this man to be our king.’
But when he returned after obtaining the kingship,
he had the servants called, to whom he had given the money,
to learn what they had gained by trading.
The first came forward and said,
‘Sir, your gold coin has earned ten additional ones.’
He replied, ‘Well done, good servant!
You have been faithful in this very small matter;
take charge of ten cities.’
Then the second came and reported,
‘Your gold coin, sir, has earned five more.’
And to this servant too he said,
‘You, take charge of five cities.’
Then the other servant came and said,
‘Sir, here is your gold coin;
I kept it stored away in a handkerchief,
for I was afraid of you, because you are a demanding man;
you take up what you did not lay down
and you harvest what you did not plant.’
He said to him,
‘With your own words I shall condemn you,
you wicked servant.
You knew I was a demanding man,
taking up what I did not lay down
and harvesting what I did not plant;
why did you not put my money in a bank?
Then on my return I would have collected it with interest.’
And to those standing by he said,
‘Take the gold coin from him
and give it to the servant who has ten.’
But they said to him,
‘Sir, he has ten gold coins.’
He replied, ‘I tell you,
to everyone who has, more will be given,
but from the one who has not,
even what he has will be taken away.
Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their king,
bring them here and slay them before me.'”
After he had said this,
he proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem.

The seed of faith is that gold mine the Lord places in our hands on the day of our baptism. A small seed planted in my soul, which now depends on my care until the Lord returns and asks me how I made it bear fruit.
How am I caring for my faith? Am I nourishing it with prayer and the sacraments? Am I watering it with spiritual formation? Am I protecting it from worldly “plagues”? Am I helping it grow, or am I letting it die? A seed cannot grow in thin air; it needs soil—and that soil is our real, concrete life: our marriage, our family. My faith and my marriage are inseparable; I cannot love God and fail to love my spouse (1 John 4,20). Faith and love work the same way: they only grow when they are cared for.  “To everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” If we care for the seed of faith, it will grow, and I will receive more grace from God, more of His love, and my marriage will also flourish because the Lord will dwell more and more in our hearts.
But if I neglect it, I will lose it. I will lose my faith, I will lose God’s grace, and I may end up ruining my marriage.
Because without God my soul—and my marriage—dies.

Beth: What a good piece of advice Andrew and Charlotte gave us, do you remember? It was many years ago, but only now do I realise the depth of wisdom in those words.
Richard: Refresh my memory—I’m not sure what you’re talking about…
Beth: Come on, you know—the day you told them you had no faith, and they answered that yes, you did have faith, only perhaps you hadn’t cared for it. They encouraged you to start living as if you had faith, and then the seed would begin to grow again…
Richard: And they were absolutely right… I remember starting to pray however I could, going to confession, going to Mass without understanding a thing— and then it happened… my faith began to sprout again… and from then on it has grown day by day…
Beth: That advice helped me as well. I used to say I had faith, but… in reality it meant nothing in my life. It was like an ornament, a traditional, theoretical faith… No wonder things were going as they were—two parallel lives under the same roof…
Richard: How good the Lord is, coming to our rescue with that “heavenly piece of advice”.

Mother,

When the Lord returns, may He find in our hearts a great faith and a true love. Help us, dear Mother. Blessed and praised be you!