February 9.  The parish marriage and family team had been planning a special liturgical event for this special World Marriage Day to focus on the value of good marriages as had been done for over 30 years by Worldwide Marriage Encounter. But they had found the response not what they had hoped for.  “Couples don’t seem to be very interested.  Are we doing this the right way, or planning the wrong kind of event?” James asked so they gathered to pray about it. “Why don’t we open it up wider and make it ‘Marriage Moments, past, present and future.’  That way we can involve everyone, the young who we hope are looking forward to it and elderly – widowed, even divorced who will have experienced married love in their own ways.”  Suddenly the project took off in a big way.       

Reflect, share. Scripture Jesus said to Simon, “Put out in the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” And they enclosed a great shoal of fish.  Luke 5:1-11. Pope Francis:  As a social institution marriage protects and shapes a shared commitment to deeper growth in love and commitment to one another, for the good of society as a whole.   That is why marriage is more than a fleeting fashion; it is of enduring importance.  AL 131.  JUBILEE. We see, then, that in the heart of each person there is a mysterious connection between self- knowledge and openness to others, between the encounter with one’s personal uniqueness and the willingness to give oneself to others. We become ourselves only to the extent that we acquire the ability to acknowledge others, while only those who can acknowledge and accept themselves are then able to encounter others. SNC9.   Prayer and action  Pray for your and other marriages that genuine consideration for one another will help build couple love. Choose appropriate action.