You can make me clean

June 26, 2020 4:00 am

“And then a leper approached, did him homage, and said, ‘Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.’ He stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, ‘I will do it. Be made clean.’ His leprosy was cleansed immediately.” (MT 8: 2-3)

Our Lord is always a YES; He always wants to help, to heal, to answer and to protect. There are no conditions or expectations. We ask—He answers. It is simple. So, why we still have so many problems? Because we do not ask. Or when we ask, we are not patient. It is like expecting that our spouse will do something for us, but we didn’t ask. Is it his or her obligation to know, what we want?

“Christ took away our infirmities and bore our diseases.” (Gospel Acclamation)

The will of my Father in heaven

June 25, 2020 4:00 am

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.” (MT 7: 21) 

Sometimes when we listen to “the will of my Father in heaven,” it sounds for us like something difficult; as though God is planning to take all our pleasures from us and leave us with only praying and sacrificing. God is the One Who loves us and wants to be with us: “and my Father will love him and we will come to him.” Our Lord wants to protect us from shallow piety when we only say: “Lord, Lord” and these are only empty words without any action behind them. Like saying to our spouses “honey, my dear” which is followed by no time together, no action to prove how much we care, and no small gestures to make our relationship stronger.  

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

John is his name

June 24, 2020 4:00 am

“So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, ‘John is his name,’ and all were amazed.” (LK 1: 62-63)

Today less serious. This is probably the first official announcement about the new tool: tablet; before any computer company. 😉 Now tablets, phones, e-ink readers, and all kinds of electronic gadgets are in our homes. First, it is good to remember that the main purpose of these tools always should be communication. It is good to have some of them, but the reason for them should be that we want to use them to make our relationship stronger. Second, it is good to remember that we can use them when even our extraordinary ways of communication do not work: “so they made signs asking his father…” So finally, “he asked for a tablet and wrote…” First, communicate in person; second, communicate with “signs”; third, communicate with tools. These forms of communication are always and only just tools for good or for bad—our choice. 

“You, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way.” (Gospel Acclamation)

The road that leads to life

June 23, 2020 3:36 am

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.” (MT 7: 13-14)

We know that marriage and taking care of the relationship does not like shortcuts. If it works, it works only for a short time. A good relationship needs a lot of effort, good strategy, and investing of time. It looks like we are losing with so many distractions (going with boys/girls to pubs, playing our favorite computer game or watching our favorite TV series, enjoying time with his/her own family or staying longer on my business trip to enjoy local attractions); how wide could be that kind of road. But, the “narrow gate” filters all my activities with one simple question: is it good for our relationship, will it make us better, closer, and more loving to each other? Does the road “lead to life”?

“I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life.” (Gospel Acclamation)

the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you

June 22, 2020 4:00 am

“Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.” (MT 7, 1-2)

We know how important it is to protect ourselves from mistaken patterns of interpretation from our inner dialog. It is important not only for our spouses and children, our friends and neighbors, but also it is so important for ourselves. When we judge, we change our identity from spouses to judges. When a judge is a profession, it takes years of study and practice on how to be honest and professional; when we judge because we know better, we are in danger.

“The word of God is living and effective, able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.” (Gospel Acclamation)

You are worth more than many sparrows

June 21, 2020 4:00 am

“Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (MT 10: 29-31)

It does seem difficult to imagine that God is interested not only in our lives, but also in every aspect of who and what we are. He knows everything about His creatures, even those small like sparrows. God, Who is Love and Life, protects everything. We are not only just important for Him, we are the most important. We are loved beyond imagination.

“The Spirit of truth will testify to me, says the Lord; and you also will testify.” (Gospel Acclamation)

His mother kept all these things in her heart (Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary)

June 20, 2020 4:00 am

“He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.” (LK 2: 51)

Every mother’s heart is a very special place. We will see clearly in heaven how many memories, worries, thoughts, and things our moms had in their hearts. Our Lady’s heart is much, much more. She is not only Our Lord’s mother but also our mother. And we know how much she cares. We are living also in her heart, “who kept the word of God.”

“Blessed is the Virgin Mary who kept the word of God and pondered it in her heart.” (Gospel Acclamation)

To little ones (Solemnity of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus)

June 19, 2020 4:00 am

“I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to little ones.” (MT 11: 25)

It is so good to be “a little one.” “The wise and the learned” are educated, but they do not always recognize God’s message about love and a gift of self. They are thinking, but not always loving, they calculate, but do not always trust totally, they are smart, but they can not always see God’s presence in their lives. The “little ones” love, trust, and live in God’s presence and under God’s providence. 

“Take my yoke upon you, says the Lord; and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart.” (Gospel Acclamation)

Do not babble

June 18, 2020 4:00 am

“In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (MT 6: 7-8)

It is our beginning: we have one word for every situation and all occasions: mama! It is for looking for safety, for food, for solutions, and for entertainment, for answers and for permissions. Our Lord teaches us the next word: “Abba! Father!” and with this name everything comes to us:
“Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

“You have received a spirit of adoption as sons through which we cry: Abba! Father!” (Gospel Acclamation)

righteous deeds

June 17, 2020 4:00 am

“Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.” (MT 6: 1)

Our “righteous deeds” offered to our spouses also can have the “secret motive”—not to show how much we love them, but to “invest,” expecting something similar from her or him. True love and true righteous deeds are always oriented to communicate our love, not our actions.

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