“You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.” (Mt 5:21-22) 

Practice makes one perfect. Such an easy beginning, such simple steps: first just “angry”, and later just a simple comment – “you fool”. After all, it’s not a big deal, is it? For us. Not for Him. He knows the consequences: a damaged child, then – a teenager hungry for love and acceptance, later – a demanding husband/wife, and in the end – a parent dissatisfied with the progress of his child. And the training for the next generation of professional killers starts again.

Or… send a text message to your child(ren) – how happy you are being a parent of the best child ever. 

“Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, says the Lord, and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit” (Verse before the Gospel).

“If the Lord wills it, we shall live to do this or that” (James 4:15)

“To do this or that” is always connected with the Lord’s will. And His will is so simple: to love one another. This should be our daily concern. To love my wife or husband every day, with gentleness and respect; examining my own conscience, not that of the spouse – do I express my love in what I do, have I given everything from myself today?

“If the Lord wills it, we shall live”. What we have is only today to express our love. Not during the weekend. Not even tomorrow. Only today we have a chance to do Our Lord’s will.

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

“Wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits…” (James 3:15)

From above. So it is grace, not only my dream. Salomon asked for wisdom not for riches. When we pray for that kind of wisdom, we can change the whole world, and especially our marriage and family life. Peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy – we can bring the fruit of peace and growth.

“The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul; the decree of the Lord is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple”. (Ps 19)

“As a body without a spirit is dead, so is faith without deeds”. (James 2:26)

It is like telling somebody “I love you” and ignoring this person totally. Faith needs deeds. Like love needs honesty, respect, gentleness, gifts, time to be together, dialogue and chastity.

My actions show His presence in my life.

When I am in my collar or my cassock, when my marriage ring is on my finger, the picture of my beloved in my wallet or on the wallpaper of my desktop, I am telling everybody, to whom I belong. My faith brings fruit.

“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, cf. Jn 15:16)

(Readings from Feast of St. Cyril i Methodius)

“…sent them out ahead of him in pairs, to all the towns and places he himself would be visiting” (Lk 10:1).

It is always easier to travel together. Especially in such kind of mission.

Today I think and pray for couples. They are “in pairs”. And as such they are part of the Gospel: “sent them out ahead of him in pairs, to all the towns and places he himself would be visiting”. To prepare our family for His visit.

In every parish in Poland, after Christmas priests are visiting all parishioners to meet them, to pray with them and to bless their homes. The family: “the place holy and sanctifying” (John Paul II), “places he himself would be visiting” (Lk 10:1).

The couple united in prayer, concern about their mission, with the awareness that they are sent. In pairs

“The disciples went forth and preached the Gospel, while the Lord worked with them, confirming the word through accompanying signs” (Cf. Mk 16:20) Communion Antiphon

“For it is from within, from the heart, that evil intentions emerge…” (Mk 7: 21)

Our responsibility for our heart. What is in my heart? Need-love or give-love? The list is horrible: “fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, malice, deceit, indecency, envy, slander, pride, folly” (Mk 7:21-22), and – the worst thing – all are connected. Whether we like it or not. Who would like to live in that kind of world?

On the other hand, when my heart contains gentleness and mercy, respect and compassion, gift of self and patience, daily small gestures of tenderness and concern for each other, listening in order to hear and understand, and chastity, who would not like to be a part of this world?

From the heart you can pull out what you have put into it. Responsibility for my heart.

“Let them thank the Lord for his mercy, his wonders for the children of men, for he satisfies the thirsty soul, and the hungry he fills with good things” (Cf. Ps 107 (106): 8-9) – Communion Antiphon

“Their reverence of me is worthless; the lessons they teach are nothing but human commandments.” (Mk 7:7)

God’s commandment and human commandments.

Where God’s commandments are missing, human commandments immediately appear. In particular, this affects family life: “For Moses said: Honour your father and your mother, and, anyone who curses father or mother must be put to death. But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother: Anything I have that I might have used to help you is Korban (that is, dedicated to God),’ then he is forbidden from that moment to do anything for his father or mother.” (Mk 7:10-12).

When we keep God’s commandments, our relations are protected, our dignity is protected, our marriage and family is protected, too.

“Incline my heart, O God, to your decrees; and favor me with your law.” (Alleluia versus)

“Go home to your people and tell them all that the Lord in His mercy has done for you”. (Mk 5:19)

The beauty of sharing “all that the Lord in His mercy has done for you” with others. In our “Love and Life” Programs this is an important part of the retreat.

We share to praise God’s work. He is with me every day and takes care of me. It is good to be conscious of that and sensitive to recognize His presence in our life.

We share to get to know ourselves. Our thoughts without words are like planning a busy day without a “to-do” list.

We share to support and strengthen the others. Especially other marriages. Our Lord said: go home. Home is the natural environment for sharing.

“O chosen people, proclaim the mighty works of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (Entrance antiphon).

“But He was in the stern, His head on the cushion, asleep.

They woke him and said to him, ‘Master, do you not care? We are lost!’ And He woke up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Quiet now! Be calm!’ And the wind dropped, and there followed a great calm.” (Mk 4:38-39)

Lord asleep.

Meeting people, preaching, sharing with others your time and dedication, proclaiming the Good News, healing and casting out demons, and praying – are those kinds of activity which could make you sleep even when “began to blow a great gale and the waves were breaking into the boat so that it was almost swamped” (Mk 4:37). This is one perspective.

Taking care of Our Lord, listening to Him, protecting Him, defending Him against crowd, worrying about food, moving from place to place, sometimes in danger could make you angry: “Master, do you not care?”.

Maybe “Quiet now! Be calm” is not only to the wind and to the sea. Maybe it is also for me. Change the perspective. Broaden your thinking. Your husband is not tired because of you, he is tired because of such a stressful work, and he needs time to rest. NOT from you. Even if happens in front of you. Your wife is secure enough in your house or apartment, with enough money to live, needs to feel secure because of you, not because of the objects or bank statement.

He needs rest, she needs to feel she’s loved, they were afraid because the “boat was almost swamped;” I need this, you need that – and all of us need to listen: “Quiet now! Be calm”. He is always with us, even asleep.

“Then he said to them, ‘Why are you so frightened? Have you still no faith?’ ” (Mk 4:40)

“Anyone who has ears for listening should listen!” (Mk 4:23)

Ears for listening!

Generally ears ARE for listening. The problem with ears is – to whom to listen. My internal dialog or to what the others are saying in the real, external world. Do I listen to MY interpretation or do I listen in order to understand another person. Those who have taken part in Program 1 remember the mistaken patterns of interpretation in the internal dialogue. And we remember that ears are for listening to get to know to know each other in depth.

My daily meditation is about the same. To listen in order to get to know each other in depth. To know Him better, but also in the same moment to know myself. My reaction to the message is also a part of getting to know myself. The most exciting moment in the morning is opening His Word – like opening a letter or e-mail, knowing that your beloved one is away and promised to send you a message. Like my Mom asking for sending a text when I arrive at my travel’s destination in the middle of the night.

“The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you…” (Mk 4:24)