“…His mother kept all these things in her heart.” (Lk 2:51)

She “kept all these things” not in her memory, not in a notepad, but in her heart. The best way to have the access not only to the story line, but also to the meaning and Author. God’s word does not bring information, news and interpretation of the situation in the world, but brings the word of life and guidance to the eternal life.

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

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” (Mt 11:28-30)

When Saint John Paul II talked about the Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, he said, that in Jesus Christ God the Father loves us in a very human way. Again and again the Gospel reminds us of Our Lord’s concern – we are God’s children, He has come to protect us, to save us, to redeem us. His heart is full of compassion and mercy. Even yoke and burden taken from Him bring peace and light to our hearts.

“The design of his Heart are from age to age, to rescue their souls from death, and to keep them alive in famine.” (Entrance Antiphon)

“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)

Maybe we don’t do “the will of the Father” because we are afraid of this will. Our Father could expect from us holiness in every moment of our life, more fasting, being calm and nice and who knows what more. But “the will of the Father” is very simple – love one another. All His concern is to love.

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

“So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Mt 5: 48)

When we think about being perfect we turn to the areas where we are quite good or almost perfect, and our concern is what to do to be better, really perfect. Jesus asks us not to think about ourselves and good things we can do better, but to think about Our Father and how to imitate Him. God’s perfection is not in being wiser, bigger, stronger, etc., but in loving. His love is focused on one simple thing: what He can do for me to make me really happy?

“I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you” (Gospel Acclamation)

“You have heard that it was said . . . But I say to you . . .” (Mt 5: 38-39)

For several days the Gospel have had the same structure: “you have heard that it was said” and Our Lord’s comment: “but I say to you”. This is the famous Sermon on the Mountain. As the Ten Commandments were given on the mountain, and Moses was the law-giver, now Jesus is a new Moses and as a new law-giver brings new interpretation of the Mosaic law.

When we “have heard that it was said,” we should ask ourselves: what Jesus will say to me about it?

“A lamp to my feet is your word, a light to my path” (Gospel Acclamation)

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.” (2 Cor 13, 13)

The Holy Trinity is focused on me: my Lord comes with His grace, My Father gives me His love and the Holy Spirit invites me to His companion. Three different gifts from three different Persons, but from the same God – the Perfect Unity.

Our lives should be similar. When we are united with others, we help each other (with respect and gentleness), we love each other (as a gift of self) and we love to be together (we protect time for us) – the perfect unity.

“Glory to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; to God who is, who was, and who is to come.” (Gospel Acclamation)

“Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’” (Mt 5:37)

This world devalues words. Our Lord, who IS the Word of God, protects them, recalling the most basic rule: “yes means yes,” “no means no.” When I am a husband, when I am a wife, all my life, all my actions should express who am I.

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my saving strengths.” (Communion Antiphon)

“‘Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD;
the LORD will be passing by.’ …But the LORD was not in the wind…not in the earthquake…. was not in the fire.
After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound. When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave.” (1 Kings 19, 11-13)

The Most Powerful God, before Whom all the creation trembles, is not in the wind, not in the earthquake, not in the fire but in “a tiny whispering sound. ” Elijah was His prophet and He knew Him. He reacted neither when he heard the wind nor the earthquake, nor fire. He prepared himself to meet with God after a tiny whispering sound. This is the best way to communicate with others – like Our God does.

“Shine like lights on the world, as you hold on to the word of life.” (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…” (Mt 5:21-22)

Being angry with your brother (husband, wife, sister, daughter, son…) is like killing him. How often we are angry because we have different expectations towards the other person, as he or she “should do” or “shouldn’t do” something, and so on.

Somebody said that marriage is not 50:50. Divorce is 50:50. Marriage is 100%. My role in marriage is to be a gift of self – 100%; not a demander.

“I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you” (Alleluia versus)

“When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart…” (Acts 11:23).

Thank God, “remaining faithful” is not only our problem – even the first Christians had the same trouble. It is quite easy for us to enjoy “the grace of God,” but later, slowly everything goes back to “normality.” It is so natural for our human condition. What we need is to receive from time to time some encouragement “to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart”.

“Go and teach all nations, says the Lord; I am with you always, until the end of the world.” (Alleluia versus)