Gospel of the Day

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Gospel of Matthew 9:14–15

The disciples of John approached Jesus and said,
“Why do we and the Pharisees fast much,
but your disciples do not fast?”
Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn
as long as the bridegroom is with them?
The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them,
and then they will fast.”

To Give Ourselves with Him

What joy in this word of the Lord, in which He reveals Himself to us as the Bridegroom!

He is the Bridegroom, the Bridegroom of the Church. He nourishes us in the Eucharist, gives us His Body and says to us, “Do this in memory of me.”

What joy and what Good News that we, as husbands and wives, can go with Him to give ourselves to our spouse.

With Him — with His love, His gaze, His charity, His Body — everything is possible. And self-giving becomes easier, simpler and far more bearable. For as He Himself tells us, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Therefore, husbands and wives, let us turn to Him: to His Word, to His presence in Confession, to His real presence in the Eucharist. In this way we make Him present among us.

Thus we shall be able to love as He loves, to give ourselves as He gives Himself, and to welcome one another as He always welcomes His Bride, the Church.

Applied to Married Life

Clara: Hello Borja, I’m going to Mass — are you coming?
Borja: No, Clara, you go. Honestly, I don’t really see the point of going every day…
Clara: I’ve finished — I’m on my way home.
Borja: About time! I’m tired, and now we still have to make dinner…
Clara: Don’t worry, darling, I’ll do it. I’ll even make you a delicious little starter — cockles with lemon and some patatas bravas, just how you like them.
Borja: OK, come quickly — I’m hungry.
Clara: Yes, of course, I’m on my way.

(When she arrives home)

Clara: Children, dinner time — Daddy’s hungry. Ana, set the table. Carlos, slice the bread and put out the water.
Borja: Darling, what a delicious starter — and what an amazing dinner! Absolutely mouth-watering… You really know what I like! It’s wonderful to see your joy and your self-giving, especially after the day you’ve had.
Clara: It’s the Lord’s joy and self-giving, Borja.
Borja: Clara, I want that too — to have the Lord and to have His joy and His self-giving. Tomorrow I’ll come to Mass with you.
Clara: Of course, my love! The Lord only needs our little “yes”.
Borja: It’s incredible to think of the wonders the Lord has prepared for us. Thank you for bringing me closer to Him — and closer to happiness between us.

Mother,

Mother of Conjugal Love, lead us to your Son, so that together with Him we may reach communion between us.

Blessed be the Lord.