“Whoever is not with me is against me and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” (LK 11: 23)
The foundation of every relationship is staying together based on the same hierarchy of virtues and values, respecting the same principals, not only loving each other, but also loving together. Our relationship with Our Lord is based on being with Him, not only praying to Him or working for Him (like we priests can often think about our relationship with Our Lord). Jesus calls for a strong relationship with Him, where whatever we do is always related to this relationship.
“The prince of this world will now be cast out, and when I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all to myself, says the Lord.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (LK 11: 9-10)
We lose patience so easily; when we discover some difficulties in our relationships, our natural reaction is to increase our expectations of our spouses instead of improving our own behaviors (alway we can start with gentleness and respect). Our Lord reminds us that when we are in need, we have to start asking, seeking and knocking. This is time for actions not time for expectations because “everyone who asks, receives…”
“Open our hearts, O Lord, to listen to the words of your Son.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your Kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test.” (LK 11: 2-4)
At the end of our Program, we speak about forgiveness. Our Lord put this request in His prayer, knowing that without forgiveness we can’t grow; without forgiveness we can’t build strong relationships; without forgiveness we can’t go to heaven.
“You have received a spirit of adoption as sons through which we cry: Abba! Father!” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” (LK 10: 41-42)
We live in chronos and kairos. Chronos controls all of our actions; his calendar is full of meetings, appointments and to-do lists. Kairos is focused on this particular opportune moment. Martha and Maria naturally live in chronos; Maria, however, was able to recognize the moment of opportunity and chose “the better part,” which “will not be taken from her.” We have a lot actions and things to do in our daily schedule, but there is always time to find 5-15 minutes for our spouse (“there is need of only one thing”) because this is “the better part”; this is part of our identity.
“Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test Jesus and said, ‘Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’” (LK 10: 25)
It is so sad that “a scholar” asked: “what must I do to inherit eternal life,” and at the same time, he used his question to test Jesus. How important it is to remember our communication and our dialog should always focus on protecting our relationships, not on destroying the other person or proving that we are better.
“I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one flesh.” (GN 2: 24)
To make real “become one flesh,” there is only one condition—“a man leaves his father and mother.” Leaving doesn’t mean forgetting, or not respecting, or rejecting; it only means that I am mature enough to take care of other person independently. Good spouses protect the marriages of their children and stay away.
“If we love one another, God remains in us and his love is brought to perfection in us.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.” (LK 10: 21)
On the other side of “the wise and the learned” are “the childlike,” Our Lord’s favorite ones. They listen to God’s word and follow it; they are believers and followers, not debaters like “the wise and the learned.”
“Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.” (LK 10: 16)
How important are our words—whether Our Lord is in them, or not. When we communicate gentleness and respect and when we are givers not demanders, Our Lord is in our words.
“If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you.” (LK 10: 5-6)
When we are peacemakers, peace goes from us to homes and offices, to our beloved ones and to strangers. People can reject it, but peace will stay with us. The same happens when we are gentle and respectful and when we are givers and good communicators. When it is a part of us, our identity, it will stay with us and will be easy to share, but even when rejected still will stay with us.
“The Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God.” (LK 9: 62)
Our past belongs to Our Lord, our future is still in His hands, what we can do now is to live our daily days “for the Kingdom of God,” which means practice every day, again and again, our concern for our beloved ones: being gentle and respectful, being a giver not demander, taking care of our time and dialog, always transparent in the way we love.
“I consider all things so much rubbish that I may gain Christ and be found in him.” (Gospel Acclamation)
