GOSPEL

You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

From the Gospel according to Luke12:54-59

Jesus said to the crowds,

“When you see a cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain–and so it does; and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to be hot–and so it is. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

“Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate, make an effort to settle the matter on the way; otherwise, your opponent will turn you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the constable,

and the constable throw you into prison. I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”

The gospel of the Lord.

“You too.”

We often struggle with making judgments, especially about our own actions. We tend to make excuses, but how good and necessary it is to discover the real origin of our sorrows, as Saint John Paul has pointed out. The Lord greatly appreciates a contrite and humble heart! It seems that acknowledging our sins is a form of humility, but in reality, failing to do so leads to arrogance.

God unveils His mysteries to the humble, so let’s become small and modest rather than trying to appear great in the eyes of others.

Applied to married life:

Ryan: I have tried several times to follow the advice of Saint Teresa of Jesus, and not defend myself when I feel hurt by you, but I can´t seem to do it. It’s hard for me to stay silent, especially when I’m not guilty.

Isabelle: It is true that surrendering one’s honor is quite a difficult challenge…

Ryan: The problem is, I also make excuses when I make a mistake, and I start looking for situations where you haven’t done well just so I can say the classic, “you too.” Oh! I wonder what the Lord will do with me…

Isabelle: Thankfully, He is merciful; otherwise, who could be saved?

Ryan: Yes, we are fortunate that God is so merciful.

Mother,

We struggle to recognize where wrongdoing can take us. Please help us to perceive it, so we can reject it and maintain our love for each other forever. Praise be to God, who chooses the humble.