“Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.” (MT 12: 49-50      )

Our Lord is always between His Father and us. The will of His heavenly Father is the most important thing. He came to us because of His Father’s will, and Our Lord knows perfectly that there is nothing more important for us than to “do the will of my heavenly Father.” “Whoever does His will” became His “brother, and sister, and mother.” And this is the ultimate will of the Father—to make us His family.

“Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him and we will come to him.” (Gospel Acclamation)

“Why did you do this to us? Why did you bring us out of Egypt? Did we not tell you this in Egypt, when we said, ‘Leave us alone. Let us serve the Egyptians’? Far better for us to be the slaves of the Egyptians than to die in the desert.” (EX 14: 11-12)

It was a real challenge for Moses to serve his nation. Rejected, misunderstood and alone, he decided to follow God’s will rather than to be afraid of human emotions. Sometimes we can’t see the bigger perspective, and we prefer to keep what we know ratherthan to explore new options. God always will send us leaders and guides to direct us to a new life.

“If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

“The apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.’” (MK 6: 30-31)

A very good strategy—report to Jesus. Every day we are active, and many of our activities are connected with our vocation. It is good to report to Him what was done and what we learned and taught. Going to Our Lord with all our activities is mainly to “gather together with Jesus,” knowing that in many places in this world the good news is proclaimed and shared, and we are just a part of it.

“My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.” (Gospel Acclamation)

“He will not contend or cry out, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory. And in his name the Gentiles will hope.” (MT 12: 19-21)

Gentleness is the very first step in our Programs. Without this virtue we can’t think about any real relationship, especially about a marriage relationship and any cooperation which protects our dignity. The first element of gentleness is negative: “he will not contend or cry out… a bruised reed he will not break, a smoldering wick he will not quench,” but they are just the first steps to self-control and self-ownership. Later it becomes more positive—“he brings justice to victory.” And lastly he brings hope.

“God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.” (Gospel Acclamation)

“I say to you, something greater than the temple is here. If you knew what this meant, I desire mercy, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned these innocent men. For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.” (MT 12: 6-8)

Mercy is practicing what we receive from God. Mercy is thinking more about others than about ourselves. It is looking more at what we can do right now for our brother or sister than what we need from them. It is looking for good which can come only when I get involved. It is following Our Lord.

“My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord, I know them, and they follow me.” (Gospel Acclamation)

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” (MT 11: 28-30)

Work, work, and work harder doesn’t come from Our Lord. He dedicated His life 100 % to His Father and to us, and He doesn’t leave anything for Himself, but still He understands the importance of rest. The most important part of rest is being with Him. Vacations are for being with Him when we can meet Him more deeply, especially experiencing that He is “meek and humble of heart,” and that His “yoke is easy, and His burden light.”

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest, says the Lord.” (Gospel Acclamation)

“Come no nearer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. I am the God of your father.” (EX 3: 5-6)

This name St. John Paul II used during his homily in my hometown Szczecin in 1987 to describe marriage. An absolutely unique name, but when you think about the dignity of marriage, its role and beauty, it is understandable to call marriage this way. “Come no nearer,” watch your step, “remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” Marriage really is holy ground.
Why “come no nearer”? Because marriage is like stained glass and shows its beauty only from the inside of the Church. When you are outside, you can’t see its beauty. When you come too close, you will see only details, not God’s plan for it. And why “remove the sandals”? Because marriage “is holy ground.” You have to be very careful and respectful to protect its delicate structure. You have to know where you put a foot.

“Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.” (Gospel Acclamation)

“Jesus began to reproach the towns where most of his mighty deeds had been done, since they had not repented.” (MT 11: 20)

Jesus’ miracles and teaching, all “of his mighty deeds, had been done” for a specific purpose—to bring us closer to God’s heart and to help us to create a new relationship with the Father and become His children. The only things needed from us are to recognize our sins, ask for forgiveness and repent. And nothing like this happened. But it could happen in our lives.

“If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” (Gospel Acclamation)

“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.” (MT 10: 42)

This is such a simple gesture, very obvious and practical, but when it is done “because somebody is a disciple,” it is rewarded. We are so important to Our Lord, so He rewards all kind of support, even the most simple and natural, when done by His disciple. St. Maximilian, when he met somebody who was very hostile or just unfriendly, asked for a glass of water, remembering that this person “will surely not lose his reward.” Even for enemies we can bring God’s grace.

“Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” (Gospel Acclamation)

“In him we have redemption by his blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace that he lavished upon us. In all wisdom and insight, he has made known to us the mystery of his will in accord with his favor that he set forth in him as a plan for the fullness of times, to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth.” (EPH 1: 7-10)

All the graces: “redemption, forgiveness, riches of his grace and wisdom” come to us from Him, Our Lord. “In him we have” everything. And whatever we do is “to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth.” Created by God and redeemed by Christ, we are progressing toward Heaven with the very special assistance of the Holy Spirit. Our future is in God’s hands. We are safe in His love.

“May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our hearts, that we may know what is the hope that belongs to our call.” (Gospel Acclamation)