Conquering Self-Love.Reflectiom for marriages Mark 3:22-30

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From the Gospel according to Mark 3:22-30

The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said of Jesus,”He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and”By the prince of demons he drives out demons.”
Summoning them, he began to speak to them in parables,”How can Satan drive out Satan?If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.And if a house is divided against itself,that house will not be able to stand.And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided,he cannot stand;that is the end of him.But no one can enter a strong man’s house to plunder his propertyunless he first ties up the strong man.Then he can plunder his house.Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemiesthat people utter will be forgiven them.But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spiritwill never have forgiveness,but is guilty of an everlasting sin.”For they had said, “He has an unclean spirit”

The Gospel of the Lord

Conquering Self-Love

Self-love is one of the greatest threats to marriage, and it’s a powerful one. How can we get rid of it if we don’t first restrain it? Because often, my self-love outweighs my love for my spouse.
The solution is to bind it. But how do we do that? Jesus gives the answer in another Gospel passage: “If anyone wants to be my disciple, they must deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow me.” This means denying myself—my desires, preferences, opinions, and demands. Tie it down first! Once self-love is weakened, we can cast it out and make room for God in our hearts.

Applied to Married Life:

Nacho: Silvia, I like to eat before two o’clock. Well, today it’s three, and I hold on by the grace of God.
Silvia: Nacho, I like to have everything under control at home. Well, I hold on by the grace of God, even with the trash sitting in the kitchen since yesterday.
Nacho: I don’t like staying at home quietly. Well, I hold on by the grace of God and don’t make plans.
Silvia: I like you to listen to me attentively and not do anything while I’m talking. Well, I hold on by the grace of God and let you fix the toaster while I speak.

Mother,

Help us to conquer self-love. Glory to the Holy Spirit!

3D Vision. Reflection for marriages. Luke 1:1-4

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Gospel

From the Gospel according to Luke. Lk 1:1-4; 4:14-21

Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word have handed them down to us, I too have decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in an orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received.
Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news of him spread throughout the whole region. He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.
He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor.He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord. Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”

The Gospel of the Lord

3D Vision


Saint John Paul II says that redemption is a force by which we must feel effectively called. Today, I must feel freed from my captivity, my blindness, my oppressions… Because today, I am already living in the year of the Lord’s grace.
That grace has already been laid in my heart. Of course, this seed requires time to grow and there are phases I need to go throught. However, Redemption has come, and I must feel effectively called by it.

Applied to Married Life:


Martha: I don’t understand why you don’t see it the way I do. If God’s will is one, why don’t you and I think the same?
Lukas: Because each of us has a different, complementary perspective. One is a hand, the other an eye, but both perspectives are important to see everything in “3D,” so to speak.
Martha: Right, so even if we don’t have the same function, can we still be one?
Lukas: One body. That’s what Saint Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12:12-30.
Martha: Praise the Lord.

Mother,


May there be no divisions between us because of our differing perspectives, especially when we are on mission. Praise the Lord, in whom you and I form one body.

Why Do They Affect Me? Reflection for marriages. Mk 16:15-18

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Gospel
From the Gospel according to Mark. Mk 16:15-18

Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
The Gospel of the Lord

 
Why Do They Affect Me?

Although physical miracles leave a great impact on us, spiritual miracles are undoubtedly greater and more miraculous, if it can be said that way. This is because the former affect a perishable body, while the latter touch the eternal soul, making their consequences infinitely greater.
We have witnessed many spiritual miracles—hundreds, perhaps thousands—and we are constantly overwhelmed  by God’s work through spouses who have chosen to believe.

Applied to Married Life:


Alfred: why, inspite of our faith, all those things that hurt us and disrupt us or make us sin, still affect us so much?
Lucia: Undoubtedly, because our hearts are not yet sufficiently purified. But don’t worry; keep fighting and trust in the Lord. He will work the miracle and perform miracles in others through us.

Mother,


Whenever God wills, wherever God wills, and however God wills. Praised be He forever.

They are there and they are sent. Reflection for marriages. Mk 3:13-19

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From the Gospel according to Mark. Mk 3:13-19

Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him. He appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles, that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach and to have authority to drive out demons: He appointed the Twelve: Simon, whom he named Peter; James, son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder; Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus; Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.
 
The gospel of the Lord

They are there and they are sent.

Jesus calls those He wants, and He has called you and me. He calls us first to be with Him and then He sends us to proclaim the Kingdom.

We can, however, be among those who seem to be with Him and do a lot, but whose hearts are elsewhere; or we can be among those who only want to be with Him but find the spouse burdensome.

Let us consecrate ourselves to Mary and, through her, to the Heart of Christ, who loves us and calls us.

Applied to Married Life:

Natalie: Do you think we’re the kind of people who talk but don’t act?
Mike: Well, we do a lot for appearances, but between you and me, I think we lack enthusiasm and passion. Do you think we’re the kind of people who honor Him with our words but keep our hearts far from Him?
Natalie: Not far from Him, but far from each other’s hearts. We need to live more fully our “consecrated like” bond to each other for love of Christ.
Mike: So, we’ve got work to do to be like those who “are there and are sent”.
Natalie: Yep, we do.

Mother,

We are consecrated to you, and you have chosen us to be “consecrated” to each other as we are to the Lord. Give us the strength to make it a reality. Thank you, Blessed Mother.

Half-Truths. Reflection for marriages. Me 3:7-12

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Gospel 
From the Gospel according to Mark. Mk 3:7-12

Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples. A large number of people followed from Galilee and from Judea. Hearing what he was doing, a large number of people came to him also from Jerusalem, from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan, and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon.
He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him. He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him. And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him and shout, “You are the Son of God.” He warned them sternly not to make him known.
The Gospel of the Lord

Half-Truths

A curious thing is that the Lord strictly forbids unclean spirits from revealing who He is. This is because demons never tell the whole truth. Someone who is not of God and speaks of Him will always introduce falsehoods that lead us away from the truth.

Applied to Married Life:

Klaudia: I saw online some healings performed by a man who, apparently, has had visions. I’d like to go because there are testimonies of some impressive cures.
Marcus: And what does the Church say about that?
Klaudia: It hasn’t said anything. But they say that man is a saint.
Marcus: Sorry, Klaudia, but if the Church hasn’t said anything about it, I think it’s better for us to stay away. There’s a lot of strange stuff out there these days, and unclean spirits can also perform extraordinary things. Let’s focus on the sacraments and prayer—they’re the most powerful and healing things we have. What do you think?
Klaudia: You’re right. Let’s focus on what we know for sure comes from God.

Mother,

The Lord gives us grace upon grace. In Him and only in Him and His Church do we trust. Praise Him forever.