GOSPEL
I have not come to bring peace, but a sword
Reading from the holy Gospel according to St. Matthew 10, 34 – 11, 1
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth.
I have come to bring not peace but the sword.
For I have come to set
a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
and one’s enemies will be those of his household.
“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me,
and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
and whoever does not take up his cross
and follow after me is not worthy of me.
Whoever finds his life will lose it,
and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
“Whoever receives you receives me,
and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet
will receive a prophet’s reward,
and whoever receives a righteous man
because he is righteous
will receive a righteous man’s reward.
And whoever gives only a cup of cold water
to one of these little ones to drink
because he is a disciple–
amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.”
When Jesus finished giving these commands to his Twelve disciples,
he went away from that place to teach and to preach in their towns.
At that time, Jesus said to his apostles:
The Gospel of the Lord.
Worthy of Him.
There is only one path of goodness, and that is to follow Christ. Anything other than following Him is in opposition to Him. It is true that sometimes family members may stand against us. He had already warned us about this. But that cannot stop us from following Him, evangelizing, and working in the mission for the Kingdom of God. They will understand one day, even if not in this world. Because what we do will also benefit them, and the entire Church. We are not alone in this mission; we go in the name and representation of the Church. United with it.
Applied to married life:
Jaime: I know you are struggling to improve. I pray that the Lord gives you strength. I also benefit from learning from you and being influenced by you. I know the Lord works through you, and as I surrender to you, our life together will have a much greater and more transcendent meaning.
Merche: I am in love with the Lord and I know how small I am, but I cannot resist being with Him, and I want to be in communion with you. I know that the path is for me to make an effort and bless you, speak well of you. That is what the Lord wants from me.
Mother,
If we do not become one, as is our mission as spouses, where are we going? Thank you, Lord, for redirecting our paths towards love.