From the Gospel according to Luke
LK 10:17-24

The seventy-two disciples returned rejoicing and said to Jesus,
“Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.”
Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky.
Behold, I have given you the power
‘to tread upon serpents’ and scorpions
and upon the full force of the enemy
and nothing will harm you.
Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you,
but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.

”At that very moment he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said,
“I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to the childlike.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows who the Son is except the Father,
and who the Father is except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”

Turning to the disciples in private he said,
“Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.
For I say to you,
many prophets and kings desired to see what you see,
but did not see it,
and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”

Word of the Lord.

Pride in humility.

We celebrate the obligatory memory of the Ember Days, a time of thanksgiving and petition, so that we do not forget that everything we have comes from God. We have so much of everything and tend to take credit for it or claim merit for achieving it, but all the means we have used, we have received from God: our intelligence, our strength, our perseverance, the love with which we do things, the family for whom we do them… Everything is ours, we are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

Thanksgiving differentiates the proud from the humble. Let us give God what He deserves and gratefully manage what He gives us, though we do not deserve it.

Applied to Married Life:

**Mario:** I thank God for your testimony of humility. 
**Mercedes:** Why do you say that? 
**Mario:** Because before, you used to complain about all the mistakes I made, but now you don’t, even though I still mess up often. On the contrary, you continually thank God for me and for what you receive from me. That’s undeniable proof that you’ve grown a lot in humility. 
**Mercedes:** I have no merit in it. The Lord allows me to see all the good in you and justify your mistakes. But He is the one doing it. 
**Mario:** Yes, but you must be making an effort, for sure. 
**Mercedes:** Yes, but He gives me the strength too, which is why, every time I excuse you, I also thank Him in my heart. 
**Mario:** Thank you, Lord, for my wife. She’s the best wife!

Mother,

We have reasons to spend all day thanking God and you. May we turn every complaint into an act of gratitude. Thank you, Lord, thank you, Mother.