GOSPEL
It will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Reading of the holy Gospel according to St. Matthew 10:17-22
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans.
When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say.
You will be given at that moment what you are to say.
For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved.”
The word of the Lord.
The Key to Life.
Following Jesus commits us. We will encounter many difficulties on the path of the Lord, but as He himself says, “The one who perseveres will be saved.” The key lies in perseverance. Let us talk about it.
To persevere is to remain steadfast in my Project of Love, even when circumstances are adverse or goals are not being fulfilled. In love, perseverance is called faithfulness, and it is the key to Life.
I am responsible for persevering in love, and that is what I will be judged for, because that depends on me. The one who perseveres will save their marriage and save themselves. Therefore, for this coming year, there is only one key: perseverance. Take heart, spouses!
Applied to married life:
Antonio: Look, Teresa, I know I’m not doing it all right and that I keep messing up. I see you affected by my lack of tact all the time, but I can assure you that I love you.
Teresa: It’s just that I don’t understand why you don’t take it more seriously. I tell you the same things many times and you ignore me.
Antonio: I know, Teresa, and I’m sorry. But I want to keep fighting to love you better. That’s all that matters to me in life because, besides, it’s the only true legacy I’ll be able to leave our children: to be a witness of God’s love between us. I can guarantee you that I will keep fighting to love you better because I love you.
Teresa: I know, Antonio, but many times I don’t appreciate you either. I just hope that in those moments, you recognize it and ask for forgiveness.
Antonio: That’s what I will do.
Mother,
Help us to persevere, even when we believe that our Project of Love is impossible, that we do not give up, and that we continue to fight for what God asks of us: to love each other as He loves us. That is our mission, and He never stops loving us, no matter what we do. Help us, Mother, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.