” A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house.” (Mt 13: 57)

Difficult for everybody, but especially in married life. It reminds me of the beautiful paragraph no. 51 in Familiaris consortio, Apostolic Exhortation of St. John Paul II. One paragraph earlier the Pope wrote: “Since the Christian family is a community in which the relationships are renewed by Christ through faith and the sacraments, the family’s sharing in the Church’s mission should follow a community pattern: the spouses together as a couple, the parents and children as a family, must live their service to the Church and to the world. They must be “of one heart and soul”(117) in faith, through the shared apostolic zeal that animates them, and through their shared commitment to works of service to the ecclesial and civil communities”. (FC 50)

I like so much the expression: “community pattern: the spouses together as a couple.” It was from the beginning our idea for couch couples. It is the only way for practicing faith and role as prophets for couples.

Today I keep in my prayer all our couch couples, so thankful for their outstanding mission and also asking for special blessing, knowing how difficult their mission is in their “own house.”

“It was not you who chose me, says the Lord, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last.” (Communion Antiphon)

“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)

“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)

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you.” (J 14:27)

Our Lord’s peace is left for us and given to us. It is not just a gift for us to support us in difficult times.This is His peace. We participate in the same peace He had. We don’t experience it when we accept compromise and agree to do things we don’t really want for the sake of “peace and quiet.” Nor when we force our spouse into doing so. His peace comes when we choose greater, mutual good. With His peace we can stay calm (like water) even in hard times and react with gentleness and respect.

“Sing praise to our God, all you who fear God, both small and great, for now salvation and strength have come, and the power of his Christ, alleluia.” (Entrance Antiphon)

“…because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down on my own” (J 10:17-18).

How often do we blame the circumstances: “I had no time,” “to much work,” “he/she made me angry,” “my wife/husband  did not support me” and so on. “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own.” Everything looked as if they had taken His life from Him, but He was above the circumstances, He came to fulfill God’s will. He came to lead, to protect, to support and to love each of us.

“Christ, having risen from the dead, dies now no more, death will no longer have dominion over him, alleluia” (Entrance Antiphon)

“You must be born from above.” (Jn 3:7)

An everyday invitation. Once born, we should be born again “from above.” To change our perspective: from my point of view into the point of view from “from above;” to change our relations: from “expectations” to “gift of self”; to change our work: from “I have to work” to “I’d like to share and serve”; to change our prayer: from “change my life for better, now” to “help me understand my role” and from “I-need-it” to “thank-You”.

“If we walk in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of his Son Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin, alleluia.” (Communion Antiphon)

“…because I always do what is pleasing to Him” (J 8:29)

Our Lord knows His Father perfectly and, for sure, He knows what is pleasing to Him. We are invited to follow His ways.

The question always is: what is pleasing to Him? Where to look for the answer? He himself prayed  – “Our Father, who art in heaven… Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven…” The will of God. To be saint? Yes, of course. But we know that life is more specific. To become parents again or not? To change my work, or stay where I am? Switch to homeschooling or not? And many other questions. How to always do what is pleasing to Him?

I know that there is only one will of God – to love each other. If we put love first, we will see all else clearly. When we put our expectations first – we can’t. Because love is based on patience, respect, kindness and gift of self. And He promised to be with us forever. He is with us in His word, in the Eucharist, Sacrament of Penance and other Sacraments. And in many other ways. Just ask and He will come. In many different ways.

“Wait for the Lord; be strong; be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord” (Ps 27:14) – Entrance Antiphon

“With revilement and torture let us put him to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience.” (Wis 2:19)

Gentleness is connected with patience. It expresses the full respect for the dignity of the other person. It is not just a simple reaction to somebody’s nice and kind behavior. It comes from the depth of my heart. The heart staying close to God, grounded in His love and rooted in His Word. Gentleness is the result of the fight with my own weakness and and the only proper attitude towards another person.

“One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” (Verse before the Gospel)

…”The LORD said to Moses, “Go down at once to your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt, for they have become depraved… But Moses implored the LORD, his God, saying, “Why, O LORD, should your wrath blaze up against your own people,
whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with such great power and with so strong a hand?… So the LORD relented in the punishment he had threatened to inflict on his people.”

The Lord said to Moses, Moses implored the Lord. So the Lord…. God”s friends, like Moses. They keep this world going. They talk to Him and He answers them.

When we pray, we can change the future of our world. Even as small as my marriage or my family.

“God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life” (Verse before the Gospel)

“Take with you words, and return to the LORD” (Hos 14:3).

How important are words. They help us to return to the Lord. Words can repair our relations with others, too. And we should have a lot of words of love, respect, gentleness… We can use the same words when we talk to Him, to our Lord and when we talk to our neighbors – because He joined the words of love in one commandment.

“To love God with all your heart, and your neighbor as yourself, is worth more than any sacrifice” (Prayer after Communion)