It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God

From the Gospel according to Matthew
Mt 19:23-30

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.”
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said,
“Who then can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said,

“For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”
Then Peter said to him in reply,
“We have given up everything and followed you.
What will there be for us?”
Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you
that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life.
But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

Demands into Gratitude

When I try to elevate myself above others, whether through wealth or abuse of power, I find that God brings down the mighty from their thrones and lifts up the humble, raising them to a throne of glory. For example, those power struggles in marriage, that pride in wanting to control more or be right, those demands that drive me to seek power on earth, only to end up last in heaven (if I even get there). So, what do I do? I have to replace those attitudes with valuing the other as a gift from God, something I don’t truly deserve. I need to replace demands with gratitude.

What does God expect from me? To recognize my inability and beg for His Grace, acknowledging His Fatherly Love in all He gives me, especially in my vocation.

Applied to married life:

Carl: Forgive me, Sofia. I have to admit that I haven’t appreciated you enough. You’re the only person in my life who has given up everything for me. You left behind your single life’s fun to dedicate yourself to me. You turned down any other man, even if he was richer, more handsome, or more charming. You made me a priority over your parents. You didn’t have time to browse magazines or shop because you were praying with me, talking with me, or caring for our children. You wanted to say “yes” to the Lord through your love for me. And you, dear Sofia, have given me the most valuable thing in your world: yourself. That’s why you are the most valuable thing in my world. Because of all this, I know how much you love me. Thank you, Sofia.

Sofia: I, too, Carl, have to ask for your forgiveness because I also haven’t valued the gift that God gave me through you. How many beers with friends you’ve skipped, how many games, how many hours of free time spent working, you’ve given up your hobbies, and many of your ideas you’ve changed out of love for me. You became my husband, and that is priceless. Thank you, Carl. Because of all this, I know how much you love me.

Children of Carl and Sofia: Thank you, Dad, thank you, Mom. What a beautiful example of married life you’ve given us. This day, as you celebrate your 40th anniversary, will be etched in our hearts forever… because you have shown us the way of love through your lives.

Mother,

Deep down, it’s as simple and yet as difficult as putting love for God above all else. In my vocation, that means loving my husband, and as the fruit of that love, our children. It’s impossible for me, but not for God, and He has my “yes.

If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give it to the poor, and you will have a treasure in heaven.

From the Gospel according to Matthew
MT 19:16-22

“Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?”
He answered him, “Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
He asked him, “Which ones?”
And Jesus replied, “You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; honor your father and your mother; and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
The young man said to him, “All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?”
Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.Then come, follow me.”
When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

The Gospel of the Lord

Perfect Marriage

Love God above all things. That’s the first commandment, and it’s not easy to follow if we consider the consequences it could have on my life. The greatest love is shown when I give up something valuable because of that love. The key is: everything is a gift from God. If God gives it to me, praise be to Him; God takes it away, praise be to Him.

Priests and those who are consecrated give up marriage and family for the Kingdom of Heaven. This high-value sacrifice, made out of love for the only true Spouse, shows the relevance of the gift of celibacy or virginity they’ve received. But what about me as a husband? Am I willing to give up the gift of my marriage out of love for the only Spouse? That’s how you live marriage as a Sacrament of the Spouse’s Love. In this way, a husband who has been abandoned by his spouse can still aspire to live a truly dignified, valuable, fulfilling, and holy marriage out of love for the Spouse, even in the absence of his partner. Let’s not take this privilege away from them. Yes, it’s not a tragedy—it’s a very special privilege that God grants to a few to restore the true value of the Sacrament of Marriage according to God’s love for us.

Applied to married life

Carmel: I’ve realized that I was becoming too attached to our marriage, which is why I was so demanding about your behavior towards me.

David: I have no idea what you’re trying to say.

Carmel: Well, marriage is a vocation that involves giving myself to you out of love for Christ. If I’m putting conditions on our relationship, it stops being about giving out of love for Christ and starts becoming an attachment out of self-love.

David: So that means I should be willing to give up living in true communion with you out of love for Christ.

Carmel: Wanting that communion isn’t bad, but ultimately, the love between us is a gift from God. If we want this love to be perfect, we have to be willing to give up physical love for a greater Love, which is spiritual in our giving ourselves to the true Spouse. Look at the love Christ received in His earthly life, to the point where He was crucified—and we’re talking about the Master of all husbands.

David: With that mindset, there’s no such thing as a bad marriage.

Carmel: Exactly. Spouses who are willing to give up everything are the ones who can live a perfect marriage.

Mother,

Pray for us in our marital love.

For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.

From the Gospel according to John
Jn 6:51-58 Continue reading →

Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.

From the Gospel according to Matthew

Mt 19:13-15

Children were brought to Jesus that he might lay his hands on them and pray.
The disciples rebuked them, but Jesus said “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
After he placed his hands on them, he went away.

The Gospel of the Lord

All or nothing.

Back in Jesus’ time, children had no value.

They weren’t even considered people, to the point where they were called “slaves” and “children” interchangeably. That’s why the disciples kept them away so they wouldn’t bother Jesus.

But Jesus surprised everyone by saying, “The kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are like children.”

God has a special place in His heart for those considered “nothing.” As St. Paul says, “God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; what is weak to shame the strong; what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are” (1 Cor 1:27-28). Therefore, “to be everything, don’t try to be anything in anything” (St. John of the Cross).

Applied to married life

Clare: I’ve spent my whole life waiting to be valued by you, and now it turns out the way is to be nothing.

John: Well, to me, you’re everything, even if I don’t always prove it.

Clare: Don’t worry, honey, sometimes the Lord allows me to feel unappreciated, even though I am, so I can love through the trial.

John: So, let’s keep trying to be nothing so that the Lord can place us where He sees fit.

Clare: Amen.

Mother,

God saw Your humility; help us to become small too, so that God can do great works in us.

Because of the hardness of your hearts Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.

From the Godpel according to Matthew 19,3-12

Some Pharisees approached Jesus, and tested him, saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?”

He said in reply, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female and said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, man must not separate.”

They said to him, “Then why did Moses command that the man give the woman a bill of divorce and dismiss her?”

He said to them, “Because of the hardness of your hearts Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) and marries another commits adultery.”

His disciples said to him, “If that is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.”

He answered, “Not all can accept this word, but only those to whom that is granted. Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it.”

The Word of the Lord

Let him understand the greatness.

Marriage is something truly great. It’s God’s invention to make us His image and likeness in this world. Marriage allows us to become one, just as They, the Holy Trinity, are one. And the seal that God uses to unite us is the Holy Spirit, none other than the same Love that unites the Father and the Son. The same Love that made Christ one with humanity.  It’s too powerful for us to be doubting this amazing gift.  Whoever can accept this ought to accept it.

Applied to married life

Luke: Honey, we’re not really making the most out of our marriage.  

Mery:  You’re the one not making the most of it, since you never listen to me. There’s no real connection between us because you don’t understand me or even know me.  

Luke: I know I have many flaws, but despite that, God wants to build a true communion between us. We can’t limit ourselves because of our own shortcomings. We have to aim for what God can do between us, rather than what we can do on our own.  

Mery: Then I guess I’m lacking faith.  

Luke: We both are, yes. But let’s not shut ourselves off from God’s work. Let’s keep fighting with everything we’ve got and stay hopeful. The Holy Spirit will work through our Sacrament. You’ll see.  

Mery: Well… I’ll listen to you.  

Luke: But without dwelling on the dark past and with joy, okay?  

Mery: Okaaay.

Mother,

You who started this Project of Love between us, bring it to completion and fullness. We ask you with hope in God’s Love. Praise be to Him for sharing it with us.