Passage
"Even if you are angry, do not sin: never let the sun set on your anger or else you will give the devil a foothold...No foul word should ever cross your lips; let your words be for the improvement of others, as occasion offers, and do good to your listeners; do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God who has marked you with his seal, ready for the day when we shall be set free. Any bitterness or bad temper or anger or shouting or abuse must be far removed from you, as must every kind of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you"
Efesian 4:26-27. 29-32
Today's Meditation
Forgiveness is such a hard topic for many
Start by asking yourself: What is not allowing me to forgive my spouse? The answer is pride. Pride is at the root of many sins and vices. It is a capital sin from which so much derives—envy, wrath, greed, and hate. Now, what can prevail over pride? Love! Where there is love, pride cannot exist. In the passage we just read to the Ephesians, St. Paul calls us to be like Christ; Jesus Christ has forgiven us through the sacrifice at the crucifixion! He makes it clear that forgiveness requires self-giving, sacrificial love.
To love is to be humble
Humility is one of the major capital virtues that combat pride. But being humble can definitely be tough at times. Humility requires us to put our heads down, overcome our egocentrism, and maybe even go through humiliation. But it is worth it to be humble of heart! While pride will always make us selfish and divide our relationship, humility will always unite them. And it is always our choice: to divide or unite.
Our love can be measured by the size of our humility
When we act selfish and prideful, we are not loving our spouse. But it is important to examine our hearts by asking ourselves: What is stopping us from loving the way we should? Is it a past wound? Is it something that you are afraid to talk to your spouse about? As we explored our book bags yesterday, there are sometimes those hidden wounds from your childhood or past relationships that are now coming out to the light, making it harder for you to forgive and ask for forgiveness.
Ask God to help you grow in humility
We can’t definitely do it on our own merits, but by depending on God's grace to help us. Just know that when you ask God to help you grow in humility, be ready to live in moments where you will be required to be humble. That is the only way for us to grow in humility; we must go through trials. And always remember that when we forgive, we love. And forgiveness is immeasurable; it is a gift, not a reward.
Today's Questions
How can you be more humble in your marriage?
What practical physical action or mental process can you do when you feel that you are falling in the rabbit whole of pride? i.e. hug your spouse.
Today's Challenge
Set your marriage free!
Forgive your spouse and ask for forgiveness, for every little wrongdoing you have done in the past. Take your time to think about it.
Don't Forget
Pray together the HOLY ROSARY every day (sorrowful mysteries only)
Pray OVER EACH other every day
Let's Pray
The Litany for Humility
O Jesus! meek and humble of heart,
Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being loved.
From the desire of being extolled.
From the desire of being honored.
From the desire of being praised.
From the desire of being preferred to others.
From the desire of being consulted.
From the desire of being approved.
From the fear of being humiliated.
Fromthe fear of being despised.
From the fear of suffering rebukes.
From the fear of being calumniated.
From the fear of being forgotten.
From the fear of being ridiculed.
From the fear of being wronged.
From the fear of being suspected.
That others may be loved more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I.
That, in the opinion of the world,
others may increase and I may decrease.
That others may be chosen and I set aside.
That others may be praised and I unnoticed.
That others may be preferred to me in everything.
That others may become holier than I,
provided that I may become as holy as I should.
Dedicate to Jesus one HOLY HOUR of Adoration per week
