If you feel that you are called to marriage, there are series of things that you can do to prepare yourself for that beautiful call. Here we are going to go over three key ideas that can help you together with some reflection questions.
We invite you to watch Father’s video, then prayerfully read the Gospel and reflection. We pray that this might help you in your apostolate, your family, your classroom, or personally.
3 Ideas on Preparing for your Future Spouse
1. Is your relationship based on just superficial attractions, or something deeper?
2. How willing are you to suffer in order to be faithful to your loved one and to God? How willing are you to going into the unknown?
3,. Are you investing in marriage by taking risks in your relationships?
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (25:14-30)
Jesus told his disciples this parable: “A man going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one — to each according to his ability. Then he went away. Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. Likewise, the one who received two made another two. But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money.
After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five.
He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’ Then the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’
Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.’ His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter? Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.'”
The Gospel of the Lord
Spiritual Exercise
1. Set aside the first 15 minutes of your day, before social media, before the news, to sit in silence with the Lord. This time might entail 5 minutes of reading the bible, 5 minutes of reflecting on what you’ve read, and 5 minutes of prayer in conversation with God. Ask Him to be with you and help you to remember His presence with you throughout the day, and to be mindful of His providence as you face whatever the day ahead will bring.
2. Reflect on the Parable of the Talents. What are your talents? How are you developing what God has given you? Are you thankful for them? Do you use them just for yourself or for others?
3. What do you base your relationships on? When you are dating, are you basing the relationship on superficial attractions? Are you avoiding the tougher issues?
4. How willing are you to suffer in order to be faithful to your loved one and to God? How willing are you to going into the unknown?
5. How willing are you to take risks? What do you fear losing the most? How do your fears prevent you from true greatness, from reaching the possibility of true love?
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