“If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.” (MK 3: 24-25)

Yesterday we spoke about unity in mind and purpose. Today Our Lord reminds us of the consequences of division: “and if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.” Our Lord spent thirty years with Our Lady and St. Joseph, and He knows all about the beauty of a house which is totally dedicated to love, respect, gift of self, and where rituals and dialog are practiced in the most amazing way. 

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

“I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose.” (1 COR 1: 10) 

We know how important is our unity, especially when we are parents. Our children’s safety and comfort depend on the quality of our relationship. When we are “united in the same mind and in the same purpose,” they can grow and live in the most loving environment. To be “in the same mind and in the same purpose,” we need to talk daily, to keep our daily rituals, and to spend time together daily. It helps. 

 “Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the kingdom and cured every disease among the people.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

“The God of our ancestors designated you to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear the sound of his voice; for you will be his witness before all to what you have seen and heard. Now, why delay? Get up and have yourself baptized and your sins washed away, calling upon his name.” (ACTS 22: 14-16) 

As believers and married couples, we are called to “be his witnesses before all.” In a very special way, we are called to be witnesses before other couples, sharing with them the beauty of our vocation, the reason we are called to be married couples, and the mission for us. 

“I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

“Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him. He appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles, that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.” (MK 3: 13-15) 

This is the first task for “Twelve, whom he also named Apostles,” and for everybody else from “those whom he wanted,” even in our own time, “that they might be with him.” How often do we think that when we are called, consecrated, or ordained, He is calling us to work for Him—“to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.” It took me years to understand that the most important thing is to be with Him, not to work for Him. The same is with marriage; marriage is to be husband or wife, not to have husband or wife. 

“God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

“He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him.” (MK 3: 10)

We can’t “touch Him” physically like “those who had diseases,” but we can touch Him in every moment with our hearts. He is with us. He lives in our hearts, and, whenever we are in need, we can touch Him. When Our Lord is touched with faith and love, miracles happen. 

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

“Jesus entered the synagogue. There was a man there who had a withered hand.
They watched Jesus closely to see if he would cure him on the sabbath so that they might accuse him.” (MK 3: 1-2) 

Today again we have the same situation: “they watched Jesus closely” not to learn from Him how to love, how to respect, how to grow in prayer, and how to have a close relationship with God, but to “accuse him.” We know how horrible it was. But we can do exactly the same when we look to our spouses not to protect, but to accuse, not to love, but to condemn. 

“Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom and cured every disease among the people.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

“At this the Pharisees said to him, ‘Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?’” (MK 2: 24) 

We know perfectly this way of looking when we are not interested in protecting or defending, but rather of finding ways so that we can accuse somebody of something. Our Lord gave the Pharisees the bigger perspective, but they rejected it. We learn how to protect and how to defend our beloved ones because our life is to love and to respect, not to blame. 

“May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our hearts, that we may know what is the hope that belongs to our call.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

“People came to Jesus and objected, ‘Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day.’” (MK 18: 20) 

We have days of comfort and distress. We have better and worst days. It is normal in every relationship, in every person’s life. What is important is to be flexible and faithful at the same moment; faithful to our vocation, to our spouses, and flexible with our actions. We want to be faithful to our daily 20 minutes ritual, but sometimes this 20 minutes sounds like 100 years or eternity. Maybe it would be easier to go outside for a walk because we had a very difficult day, or go outside for a very fast walk to leave stress behind us, or together do the laundry/washing dishes because while we are not in a mood to speak, we still want to be close to each other. And sometimes we can talk and be close for more than 20 minutes – so united and so close – and this 20 minutes can seem like only 1 minute. 

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



“Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, ‘Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ Jesus heard this and said to them, ‘Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.’” (MK 2: 16-17)

The black and white world we see only in very old movies; our world is more colorful. It might be nice to see good things happening to good people and bad things happening to bad people (we, of course, are not perfect, but for sure not bad at all; we can’t say the same about our neighbors). Our Lord’s strategy is different; He “did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” There is always a place in Our Lord’s heart for us sinners. Let’s go for breakfast with Him.

“The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor and to proclaim liberty to captives.” (Gospel Acclamation)

“In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (LK 1: 78-79)

We are loved, we were loved, and we will be loved because we are God’s children. He wants “to guide our feet into the way of peace.” He is coming this night “in the tender compassion” “to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.” He is coming as a newborn child, to make our relationship easier and bring the “splendor of eternal light” into our hearts.

“O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death.” (Gospel Acclamation)