“On a certain sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered.” (LK 6: 6)
One of the Fathers of the Church (St. Bede) interpreted this “withered right hand” as a symbol of fallen mankind; “his hand is withered in sin because it stretched forth to eat the forbidden fruit in paradise. Jesus came to restore us to spiritual health.” Our marriages can also have some “withered hands”-communication, intimacy, respect or gentleness. These areas were not protected enough, were overused for wrong goals and finally we were “withered.” But Our Lord can restore us and our relationships. We need to bring Him to our wounds.
“My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him and say, ‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’” (LK 14: 28-30)
Every relationship, especially marriage, is like “constructing a tower”-to see the world from a higher perspective, to have a place that protects us from difficult conditions, a place to stay close and to have a space to be together. It is much easier to “construct a tower” than to build a relationship, because we need to collect resources all the time; before, during and after construction. A day without construction is a day of deconstruction.
“Let your face shine upon your servant; and teach me your laws.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“You once were alienated and hostile in mind because of evil deeds; God has now reconciled you in the fleshly Body of Christ through his death, to present you holy, without blemish, and irreproachable before him…” (COL 1: 21-22)
An important battle for our good marriages takes place in our minds. Our “mistaken patterns of interpretation in our inner dialogue” can destroy our relationships because “of evil deeds.” It is good to remember that our “evil deeds” come from our “alienated and hostile minds.” Change the way in which you think about your spouse and you will change your relationship. Heal your inner dialogue and you will heal your family.
“I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father except through me.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile all things for him, making peace by the Blood of his cross through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven.” (COL 1: 19-20)
Peace has its price, it doesn’t come naturally; peace needs effort, activity, the ability to change perspective from mine to his or hers. There is also a peace which needs something more: “peace by the Blood of his cross through him.” Our Lord gave us a peace which we can’t achieve without Him. We ask for this peace in every Mass and we can share this peace with others, especially with our spouses and our children.
“I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.” (LK 5: 3)
It happens sometimes, that we think that Our Lord separated from us when we do not feel Him close. When He does it, it could be because He wanted our attention, He wanted to show us an important lesson, maybe even invite us to a totally different place-like “I will make you fishers of men.” And even He is separated, it is just “a short distance from the shore.”
“Come after me, says the Lord, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“After Jesus left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon. Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever, and they interceded with him about her. He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up immediately and waited on them.” (LK 4: 38-39)
Our “in-laws” are sometimes “afflicted with a severe fevers”-with their idealistic vision for our lives; when they try to correct us or even rebuke us (remember Program no 2: We and Family?). It is good to invite Our Lord to those kinds of situations-“He stood over her, rebuke the fever, and it left her.” It is also good to invite Jesus into our hearts when we become in-laws, to respect and to protect the marriages of our children with His presence in our hearts; it is good to think about them when “He stays over us.”
“The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor and to proclaim liberty to captives.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee. He taught them on the sabbath,
and they were astonished at his teaching because he spoke with authority.” (LK 4: 31-32)
It is good to receive advice when we are in a difficult situation or question; we can travel far to meet somebody who can give us advice. When we listen to Jesus, and He is at our fingertips-in the Bible, in our hearts, in the Blessed Sacrament, at our church-we listen to Somebody, Who speaks “with authority.” He does, because HE is our Creator, Who loves us and wants on the best for us.
“A great prophet has arisen in our midst and God has visited his people.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away.” (LK 4: 29-30)
So sad-“He passed through the midst of them and went away.” Our Lord came to proclaim the Good News, but because His message didn’t announce their vision for the future, He was rejected and “went away.” We can keep our idealistic vision for our spouses and we can reject the truth about them, because our idealistic vision is more beautiful so the truth (and our spouses inside) go away. The truth or idealistic vision?
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“My child, conduct your affairs with humility, and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts.” (SIR 3: 17)
How often our love stops at the level: “a giver of gifts”: I bring money, I provide a good service to my relatives, I take care of their food, laundry, rooms, activities, and so I am done. I did what others expected from me. The road from “a giver of gifts” to “a giver of self” goes through humility, gentleness and respect. When we think about others as people they need to make us happy, we are missing the importance of marriage love (and all kinds of love actually). The true love comes from humility; I want to change myself to make you happier.
“Take my yoke upon you, says the Lord, and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart” (Gospel Acclamations)
