“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose hope is the LORD. He is like a tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream: It fears not the heat when it comes, its leaves stay green; In the year of drought it shows no distress, but still bears fruit.” (JER 17: 7-8)
When we are close to Our Lord, when we listen to Him carefully and daily, and when we are people “who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is the Lord,” we are “like a tree planted besides the waters”; we are secure, and we are protected. It is not about our strength or our abilities, but about God and His protection. This is always about God, Who is love; God, Who loves.
“Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (MT 20: 26-28)
These words describe every vocation, but in a very special way—marriage. Spouses serve each other and give life to each other and together serve their children. A free, creative and joyful gift of selves is the essence of family life.
“I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.” (MT 1: 24)
St. Joseph was not a man of many words; actually we have no evidence of any of his words kept in the Bible. For sure he was obliged to name his Son during the presentation of the newborn son in the Temple, so—for sure—he said a minimum one word: Jesus. He wasn’t a man of many words, but he was a man of many amazing actions: as a husband, as a father, as guardian and protector. Today we are admiring his secret service and outstanding love for Our Lord and Our Lady, learning from him how to serve and how to love.
“Blessed are those who dwell in your house, O Lord; they never cease to praise you.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” (LK 6: 36-38)
We are invited to be givers of self, not demanders. When our gift is free, creative and joyful, we can make our relatives happy, and “a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap.” Enjoy your gift, take care of your spouse and make her/him happy, and your life will be happy.
“Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life; you have the words of everlasting life.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified body by the power that enables him also to bring all things into subjection to himself. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord.” (PHIL 3:20-4:1)
I like the language of St. Paul and the way in which he looked on his beloved brothers and sisters; how deep and intimate was his relationship with them: “whom he loved and longed for.” He recognized perfectly his role—lead them to “the Lord Jesus Christ,” who “will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified body by the power that enables him also to bring all things into subjection to himself.” He knows what Our Lord could do for us when we ask and we are close to Him: “in this way stand firm in the Lord.”
“From the shining cloud the Father’s voice is heard: This is my beloved Son, hear him.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“And if you greet your brothers and sisters only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (MT 5: 47-48)
“Be perfect” is not about perfection in doing things or in planning or organizing things; it is about relationship and about love. God is love and He doesn’t want us to be different from Him; we were created in His image and His likeness. Our Lord expects from us that we will follow His example and will be focused on love.
“Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, Raqa, will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna.” (MT 5: 21-22)
When we confront our thinking with Our Lord’s words, we can recognize when we think properly, like He, and when we are living in opposition to His words. Our Lord helps us to understand our dignity and our responsibilities to others. We always need “a new spirit.”
“Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, says the LORD, and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets.” (MT 7: 12)
The Golden Rule is so important for our Programs. Stop trying to change your spouse; change yourself for her or for him. “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.” When we think about others–what we can do for them and what we can change for the benefit of our spouses, we are practicing the Golden Rule.
“A clean heart create for me, O God; give me back the joy of your salvation.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Jonah began his journey through the city, and had gone but a single day’s walk announcing, ‘Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed,’ when the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth.” (JON 3: 4-5)
It was Jonah who announced the news: “Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed,” and “the people of Nineveh believed God.” How important is the role of prophets—they announced God’s will, God’s plans to save our lives. We also started this Lent to cooperate with God’s will and to return to Him with our “whole heart” because He is “gracious and merciful.”
“Even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart for I am gracious and merciful.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“If you forgive men their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you.
But if you do not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.” (MT 6: 14-15)
Without forgiveness there is no chance to build strong relationships. When we ask for forgiveness and when we forgive, we accept our weaknesses, and we express our will to improve. Forgiveness connects us with God, Who is merciful and loves us.
“One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” (Gospel Acclamation)
