Do not let your hearts be troubled. 

April 30, 2021 3:00 am

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.” (JN 14: 1)

We have a responsibility for our hearts: “do not let your heart be troubled.” When we are troubled, it shows that we do not trust God, Who is always with us, protects us, and leads us. When we experience something new and strange, difficult and overwhelming, it is because it is time for us to grow up, to move outside our comfort zone, to be gentle, respectful, and more creative in giving.  

“I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father except through me.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

Whoever receives the one I send receives me. 

April 29, 2021 3:00 am

“Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.” (JN 13: 20)

Our Lord, Who loves us, sends us messengers; not only “officials,” like Church Hierarchy: Pope, bishops or priests, and consecrated people, but also our spouses and our children. God is creative, so sometimes our neighbor or a stranger could be God’s messenger. When we have open minds, we can always expect wisdom from others when we are humble. When listening to your spouse when communicating some of his/her opinions, instead of accepting or not (“you are right/you are not right”) it is better to say: “it is interesting.”  

“Jesus Christ, you are the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, you have loved us and freed us from our sins by your Blood.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

Whoever sees me sees the one who sent me.

April 28, 2021 3:00 am

“Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me, and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me.” (JN 12: 44-45)

We can see properly only when we love. Only love helps us to see the truth. As we fall in love, emotions enable us to see only what is good for us; we naturally eliminate anything that is not perfect because we want to be in love with a “perfect” match. Unconsciously we “see” only good traits, positive elements of character, and everything which makes us happy. With Our Lord and His love, we see what is good for us and what is good for others. We see God’s love, always oriented on serving, giving, supporting, and comforting.

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

No one can take them out of my hand.

April 27, 2021 5:40 am

“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.  No one can take them out of my hand.” (JN 10: 28)

Every spouse knows how important it is for their relationship intimacy. Keeping hands together is a visual representation that they are a couple and gives them support, strength, and confirmation of their unity and comfort. Our Lord uses the same symbol: “no one can take us out of His hand”—we are protected, we are supported, we are comforted, and we are united with Him. And He knows where to lead us.

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

The shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

April 27, 2021 5:40 am

“The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” (JN 10: 3)

How often we are embarrassed couldn’t remember somebody’s name; we are using all possible options not to use his/her name, still knowing that we know this person and we should remember his/her name. But Our Lord knows me by name and knows to where He will lead me. We are protected in every moment of our lives. When we are in temporary “conflict” with our spouses, it is good to ask Lord where to go, what to do, how to solve the situation; He knows better, and His advice will help us grow together; his help never humiliates us.

“I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my sheep, and mine know me.” (Gospel Acclamation)

A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

April 25, 2021 3:00 am

“I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (JN 10: 11)

Spiritual life has totally different standards than not spiritual. For many, the only way to survive is to dominate others, have more, be smarter, know better. The spiritual life sees value in “laying down life” for others, being not recognized, and ordinary and simple. We need the courage to live this life, we need ownership to create these standards, and even this sounds difficult is not, because we follow an example of Our Lord, Who knows us and “lays down his life for us, his sheep.”

“I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my sheep, and mine know me.” (Gospel Acclamation)

Do you also want to leave?

April 24, 2021 3:00 am

“Jesus then said to the Twelve, ‘Do you also want to leave?’ Simon Peter answered him, ‘Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.’” (JN 6: 67-68)

Disciples left. So Our Lord asked, “the Twelve: do you also want to leave?” Our Lord risked the loss of His apostles, but the truth is more important. This is why there are not many believers who will accept the truth that our future, our salvation, does not depend on ourselves, but only on our relationship with Jesus. When He lives in us, we are protected; when we are in union with Him, we can properly love; when we listen to Him, He can guide us and lead us.

“Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life; you have the words of everlasting life.” (Gospel Acclamation)

Life within you.

April 23, 2021 3:00 am

“Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood, you do not have life within you.” (JN 6: 53)

How difficult were these words for Jesus’s generation: “eat the Flesh,” “drink his Blood.” Tomorrow many of his disciples will leave Him after this statement. We can understand why this is so important for Our Lord. He loves us and knows perfectly how we can realize our destiny, our vocation, and fulfill our lives. We can’t live without being united with Him, “eating the Flesh and drinking his Blood.”

“Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood, remains in me and I in him says the Lord.” (Gospel Acclamation)

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.

April 22, 2021 3:00 am

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him on the last day.” (JN 6: 44)

Sometimes we are curious, seeing people not believing, not practicing. We asked ourselves, how is it possible? Especially in countries dominated by Catholics (like Mexico, Colombia, and Poland). Our faith is so obvious for us. But it is not only because of our great parents and fantastic schools but because God the Father “draws us” to Him. We received the grace; let’s be grateful and pray for the same grace for others.

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven, says the Lord; whoever eats this bread will live forever.” (Gospel Acclamation)

May have eternal life.

April 21, 2021 3:00 am

“For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.” (JN 6: 40)

Our lives started one day and will never end. We protect the lives of our relatives, but we need to remember that our mission is much bigger. We need to prepare them for “eternal life.” And “eternal life” will be the life of love, of being an unconditional gift of selves, free, creative, and joyful. We live that kind of life with our spouses; how we live daily will prepare our children to “have eternal life.”

“Everyone who believes in the Son has eternal life, and I shall raise him up on the last day, says the Lord.” (Gospel Acclamation)