No one could travel by that road.

June 30, 2021 3:00 am

“When Jesus came to the territory of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs who were coming from the tombs met him. They were so savage that no one could travel by that road.” (MT 8: 28)

Our Lord makes dangerous roads again safe. He wants to remind us that He is in front of us. He prepares our roads to bring us closer to Him and others. Roads were created to help meet people, shorten the distance, and connect us with others. Whenever we travel, it is good to remember that we are always moving for one reason—to love more.

“The Father willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” (Gospel Acclamation)

Simon Peter said in reply. 

June 29, 2021 3:00 am

“Jesus asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter said in reply, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’” (MK 16: 13-16)

Sometimes we are missing the true identity of Our Lord; He could be a friend, a comforter, the One Who answers our needs, or he could be the one who seems blind and deaf when we need Him. We could admire Him or ignore Him; we could believe in Him or fight with Him. The Church has an authority to expand our ideas, to show us the true meaning: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 

“You are Peter, and upon this rock, I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

The Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.

June 28, 2021 3:00 am

“A scribe approached and said to him, ‘Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.’” (MT 8: 19-20)

Following Our Lord means to be ready to accept radical changes, to be open to react to God’s will, to look, where we can help, who is in need, how to serve our brothers and sisters. When we marry our spouses, we are open to making everything possible to love them in all circumstances, support them, and make their lives amazing.

“If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” (Gospel Acclamation)

By the hand…

June 27, 2021 3:00 am

“He took the child by the hand and said to her, ‘Talitha koum,’ which means, ‘Little girl, I say to you, arise!’ The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around.” (MT 5: 41-42)

Whenever Our Lord was asked to help, He reacted very personally. He touched people; He used His hands, He came to see them and were as close as possible. He knows perfectly that every gesture of love is the most needed whenever we are in need. Among many other things important for our lives, gestures supporting our relationships help us make them stronger and bring us closer to each other.

“Our Savior Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life to light through the Gospel.” (Gospel Acclamation)

I will come and cure him.

June 26, 2021 3:00 am

“When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying, ‘Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.’ He said to him, ‘I will come and cure him.’” (MT 8: 5-7)

A centurion requests met an immediate answer: “I will come and cure him.” He wasn’t Our Lord’s friend or nationality, even worst, he was an occupant, but when he asked, Jesus was ready to help. When we are in need, Our Lord answers because we are all His children, and He looks at us from God’s perspective; it doesn’t matter how far we are from faith or religion. We serve couples because they are couples, and we want to help them be the best spouses for the benefit of many.

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

Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.

June 24, 2021 3:00 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.’” (MT 8: 2-3)

This is why Our Lord came to us: to make us clean, make us strong and healthy, so we can serve others and bring fruits. We can come to Our Lord with “our infirmities and our diseases.” The only things we need to do is come, do “him homage,” and ask. Jesus will take care of us.

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

Until the day of his manifestation to Israel.

June 24, 2021 3:00 am

“The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.” (LK 1: 80)

This is not only the vocation of St. John the Baptist, whose solemnity of the nativity we are celebrating. This is also about every God’s child: “grow and become strong in spirit… until the day of manifestation to Israel.” We are called to be love and to express our love to others. We need an extraordinary environment to learn this—our families, seeing the love of our parents, learning from them how to be a free, creative, and joyful gift of self. Our parents prepared the way to meet Our Lord, and we are preparing the way to Him for our children, and one day they will do the same for others.

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

A good tree cannot bear bad fruit.

June 23, 2021 3:00 am

“Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit.” (MT 7: 17-18)

The best way to bring good fruits is to be concern about our identity. Fruits are consequences of identity. Be a conscious spouse first, check your concern about being the best spouse for your spouse, and your actions/fruits will come naturally.

“Remain in me, as I remain in you, says the Lord; whoever remains in me will bear much fruit.” (Gospel Acclamation)

Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.

June 22, 2021 3:00 am

“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the Law and the Prophets.” (MT 7: 12)

We call this rule: the golden one. I used to think about it as an echo rule. It is like an echo in the mountains—whatever we call, and it will come back multiplied. When we are the free, creative, and joyful gift of self, we will see how the world gives it back when we are focused on giving without any expectation. Multiplied.

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

Stop judging.

June 21, 2021 3:00 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 are again back to our “idealistic visions.” We believe that we see reality; how often this “reality” is just our own perspective, filtered by our own experiences. When we judge, we are making our own interpretation the only one. The more humble we are, the more concerned about seeing everything from a love perspective, the more we are like Our Lord, Who was always forgiving, always supporting, and never blaming.

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