I DO

Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

I Do

“The children of this age marry and remarry…” – Luke 20:34

Today, my husband and I celebrate our 11^th wedding anniversary. To this day, the blessing of being married to this man continues to overwhelm me. I have a husband who is no less than the embodiment of God’s love in my life. Storms have come in our marriage but his love has kept the warmth of God’s fire burning in me.

He has been patient with me. We waited almost nine years for a child. And he has taught me some of the most valuable lessons in life as we waited. He laughs with me. Every day is a joy because I know he is beside me. He supports me, encourages me and never lets me down. He loves me unconditionally.

As his wife, I’ve never felt more valued. My husband, in our 11 years of marriage, has shown me the face of God. And there is no greater blessing I can think of than knowing I will see this face every day for more years to come.

Years ago, he asked me, “Will you walk with me to forever?”

I answered, “Yes, I will.”

And if he were to ask me, “Do you still want to continue doing so?” I will answer him again and again, “I do! I do!”Lallaine Gogna

REFLECTION:

How strong is your marriage?

Lord, bless my marriage and the marriages around me. May Your love abound in us. Amen.

DOING THE WILL OF GOD

It sounds very mysterious when we put it like that: doing the will of the Father. Yet, this is about as plain as it gets when it comes to asking questions concerning the kind of lives we should be living. Yes, there will always be an element of uncertainty about what the will of God might be for us in a particular situation, but this does not give us the right to therefore absolve ourselves from any and all responsibility of trying to discover what that actually is! Jesus reminds us that His mother and brothers and sisters are those who do the will of His Father in heaven.

It is not enough just to avoid trouble. A literal interpretation of the commandments sees them basically as a collection of “thou shalt nots.” To perceive God’s will for us as merely His desire for us to avoid sin is only half the story. It is what we do in a positive sense that will constitute the witness of our lives to God and to the world. Avoiding sin is a good start for a holy life; but holiness is far more than this. It is actually living for the Kingdom of God and bringing this Kingdom into existence starting now. It is this sort of witness that will draw others to Christ and set the world on fire with God’s love.

Holiness is a call that God places on all of our lives. It is a “catchall” type of calling that then has to be discerned into its integral parts and then acted upon. This is what discipleship is all about. We need a mentor who can help us discern God’s specific call upon our lives and who can then help us to develop the various gifts and talents we have in line with this specific calling. It is here that we have to be willing to stand before the Lord and ask Him what it is that He really wants us to do with our lives. Only then will we know what path we need to walk. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

Reflection Question:

Have I discerned God’s specific call upon my life? Do I know what it is that He wants me to do with my life — how I am to serve in His Kingdom?

Father, You have a plan for my life. Grant me the grace to surrender my life to Your will and embrace it without exception.

St. Gelasius I, Pope, pray for us.