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Catholic Caucus: Sunday Mass Readings, 12-27-15, FEAST, The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
USCCB.org/RNAB ^
| 12-27-15
| Revised New American Bible
Posted on 12/26/2015 8:38:44 PM PST by Salvation
December 27, 2015
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
God sets a father in honor over his children;
a mother's authority he confirms over her sons.
Whoever honors his father atones for sins,
and preserves himself from them.
When he prays, he is heard;
he stores up riches who reveres his mother.
Whoever honors his father is gladdened by children,
and, when he prays, is heard.
Whoever reveres his father will live a long life;
he who obeys his father brings comfort to his mother.
My son, take care of your father when he is old;
grieve him not as long as he lives.
Even if his mind fail, be considerate of him;
revile him not all the days of his life;
kindness to a father will not be forgotten,
firmly planted against the debt of your sins
--a house raised in justice to you.
In those days Hannah conceived, and at the end of her term bore a son
whom she called Samuel, since she had asked the LORD for him.
The next time her husband Elkanah was going up
with the rest of his household
to offer the customary sacrifice to the LORD and to fulfill his vows,
Hannah did not go, explaining to her husband,
"Once the child is weaned,
I will take him to appear before the LORD
and to remain there forever;
I will offer him as a perpetual nazirite."
Once Samuel was weaned, Hannah brought him up with her,
along with a three-year-old bull,
an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine,
and presented him at the temple of the LORD in Shiloh.
After the boy's father had sacrificed the young bull,
Hannah, his mother, approached Eli and said:
"Pardon, my lord!
As you live, my lord,
I am the woman who stood near you here, praying to the LORD.
I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted my request.
Now I, in turn, give him to the LORD;
as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the LORD."
Hannah left Samuel there.
R. (cf. 1)
Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD,
who walks in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
blessed shall you be, and favored.
R.
Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
in the recesses of your home;
your children like olive plants
around your table.
R.
Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.Behold, thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.
The LORD bless you from Zion:
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
R.
Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
R. (cf. 5a)
Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord.How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!
My soul yearns and pines for the courts of the LORD.
My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
R.
Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord.Happy they who dwell in your house!
Continually they praise you.
Happy the men whose strength you are!
Their hearts are set upon the pilgrimage.
R.
Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord.O LORD of hosts, hear our prayer;
hearken, O God of Jacob!
O God, behold our shield,
and look upon the face of your anointed.
R.
Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord.
Brothers and sisters:
Put on, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved,
heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,
bearing with one another and forgiving one another,
if one has a grievance against another;
as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.
And over all these put on love,
that is, the bond of perfection.
And let the peace of Christ control your hearts,
the peace into which you were also called in one body.
And be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,
as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another,
singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs
with gratitude in your hearts to God.
And whatever you do, in word or in deed,
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Wives, be subordinate to your husbands,
as is proper in the Lord.
Husbands, love your wives,
and avoid any bitterness toward them.
Children, obey your parents in everything,
for this is pleasing to the Lord.
Fathers, do not provoke your children,
so they may not become discouraged.
Brothers and sisters:
Put on, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved,
heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,
bearing with one another and forgiving one another,
if one has a grievance against another;
as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.
And over all these put on love,
that is, the bond of perfection.
And let the peace of Christ control your hearts,
the peace into which you were also called in one body.
And be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,
as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another,
singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs
with gratitude in your hearts to God.
And whatever you do, in word or in deed,
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Beloved:
See what love the Father has bestowed on us
that we may be called the children of God.
And so we are.
The reason the world does not know us
is that it did not know him.
Beloved, we are God's children now;
what we shall be has not yet been revealed.
We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he is.
Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us,
we have confidence in God and receive from him whatever we ask,
because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
And his commandment is this:
we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ,
and love one another just as he commanded us.
Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them,
and the way we know that he remains in us
is from the Spirit he gave us.
R.
Alleluia, alleluia.Let the peace of Christ control your hearts;
let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.
R.
Alleluia, alleluia.
R.
Alleluia, alleluia.Open our hearts, O Lord,
to listen to the words of your Son.
R.
Alleluia, alleluia.
Each year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for the feast
of Passover,
and when he was twelve years old,
they went up according to festival custom.
After they had completed its days, as they were returning,
the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem,
but his parents did not know it.
Thinking that he was in the caravan,
they journeyed for a day
and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances,
but not finding him,
they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.
After three days they found him in the temple,
sitting in the midst of the teachers,
listening to them and asking them questions,
and all who heard him were astounded
at his understanding and his answers.
When his parents saw him,
they were astonished,
and his mother said to him,
"Son, why have you done this to us?
Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety."
And he said to them,
"Why were you looking for me?
Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?"
But they did not understand what he said to them.
He went down with them and came to Nazareth,
and was obedient to them;
and his mother kept all these things in her heart.
And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor
before God and man.
TOPICS: Catholic; General Discusssion; Prayer; Worship
KEYWORDS: catholic; christmas; lk2; prayer; saints
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To: annalex
Christ Among the Doctors
Albrecht Durer
1506
Oil on panel, 65 x 80 cm
Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid
41
posted on
12/27/2015 1:30:50 PM PST
by
annalex
(fear them not)
To: All
Sunday
December 27, 2015
The Ultimate Model of a Loving Family
“On this feast of the Holy Family we celebrate Jesus, Mary and Joseph, the ultimate model of a loving family dedicated to the will of God and the good of His people. While we salute the Holy Family we take the time to look at our own lives, considering the best way to love our family â and then take that love out into the larger world. As St. Paul told the early Christians, âPut on then, as Godâs chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another.... And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfectionâ (Colossians 3:12-14).
The life of the Holy Family seemed simple and unremarkable. Each member loved the others. This love was not only a feeling, but also a day-by-day expression of practical devotion. Let us follow their example.
Suggested missionary action: We imitate Jesus, Mary and Joseph by being obedient to the will of God. During this Year of Mercy, we must strive to grow spiritually each day and to share our belief in Christ with others and encourage their faith.â This reflection is from One Family In Mission.
The Jubilee of Families, one of the moments of the year-long Jubilee of Mercy,
will take place on Sunday December 27, 2015, the feast of the Holy Family.
For full information, visit Jubilee of Families.
42
posted on
12/27/2015 4:17:42 PM PST
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: Salvation
Christmas: December 27th
Feast of the Holy Family
MASS READINGS
December 27, 2015 (Readings on USCCB website)
COLLECT PRAYER
O God, who were pleased to give us the shining example of the Holy Family, graciously grant that we may imitate them in practicing the virtues of family life and in the bonds of charity, and so, in the joy of your house, delight one day in eternal rewards. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
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Recipes (1)
â¢Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
hide
Activities (7)
â¢Christmas at Home and in the Liturgy
â¢Day Three ~ Activities for the Feast of the Holy Family
â¢Explanation of the Verse: ‘Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature’
â¢Feast of the Holy Family
â¢Feast of the Holy Family - II
â¢Introducing the Holy Family to Your Baby
â¢The Home, a Training Ground
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Prayers (14)
â¢Consecration of the Family to the Holy Family I
â¢Consecration of the Family to the Holy Family II
â¢Parents’ Prayer for Children
â¢Consecration to the Holy Family
â¢Christmas Table Blessing 1
â¢Christmas Table Blessing 2
â¢Christmas Table Blessing 3
â¢Christmas Table Blessing 4
â¢Book of Blessings: Blessing Before and After Meals: Christmas Season (2nd Plan)
â¢Parental Blessing
â¢Prayer to the Holy Family
â¢Prayer of Parents for Their Children
â¢Novena to the Holy Family
â¢Book of Blessings: Blessing Before and After Meals: Christmas (1st Plan)
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Library (4)
â¢Benedict XVI Angelus Address for Feast of the Holy Family 2010 | Pope Benedict XVI
â¢Christian Marriage: a Covenant of Love and Life | Cardinal Bernard Law
â¢Holy Family Teaches Us What Is Essential | Pope John Paul II
â¢Indulgenced Prayer for a Christian Family | Unknown
» Enjoy our Liturgical Seasons series of e-books!
Old Calendar: Sunday in Octave of the Nativity
Scripture tells us practically nothing about the first years and the boyhood of the Child Jesus. All we know are the facts of the sojourn in Egypt, the return to Nazareth, and the incidents that occurred when the twelve-year-old boy accompanied his parents to Jerusalem. In her liturgy the Church hurries over this period of Christ’s life with equal brevity. The general breakdown of the family, however, at the end of the past century and at the beginning of our own, prompted the popes, especially the far-sighted Leo XIII, to promote the observance of this feast with the hope that it might instill into Christian families something of the faithful love and the devoted attachment that characterize the family of Nazareth. The primary purpose of the Church in instituting and promoting this feast is to present the Holy Family as the model and exemplar of all Christian families.
â Excerpted from With Christ Through the Year, Rev. Bernard Strasser, O.S.B.
Today is the feast of St. John the Evangelist which is superseded by the Sunday Liturgy.
Click here for commentary on the readings in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite.
The Third Day of Christmas
The Holy Family
Marriage is too often conceived as the sacrament which unites a man and a woman to form a couple. In reality, marriage establishes a family, and its purpose is to increase the number of the elect, through the bodily and spiritual fecundity of the Christian spouses.
1. Every marriage intends children. Although Mary and Joseph were not united in a carnal way, their marriage is a true marriage: an indissoluble, exclusive union, wholly subordinated to the child. Mary and Joseph are united only in order to bring Jesus into the world, to protect and raise him. They have only one child, but he contains the whole of mankind, even as Isaac, an only child, fulfilled the promise made to Abraham of a countless progeny.
2. The purpose of every marriage is to establish a Christian family. The Holy Family observed the religious laws of Israel; it went in pilgrimage to Jerusalem every year with other Jewish families (Lk. 2:41). Jesus saddens and amazes his father and his mother because to their will and company he prefers “to be in his Father’s house”. Thus it may happen that God’s will obliges the family to make disconcerting sacrifices. Yet every Christian family must live in harmony and in prayer, which are the pledges of joy and union.
3. “He remained obedient to them.” Jesus was God. And through the fullness of grace Mary stood above Joseph. Nevertheless â if we except the event in the Temple â Joseph remained the head of the family; he took the initiative (as when the Holy Family fled to Egypt), and in Nazareth Jesus obeyed his parents.
Excerpted from Bread and the Word, A.M. Roguet
The Holy Family: Jesus, Mary and Joseph
The devotion to the Holy Family was born in Bethlehem, together with the Baby Jesus. The shepherds went to adore the Child and, at the same time, they gave honor to His family. Later, in a similar way, the three wise men came from the East to adore and give honor to the newborn King with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh that would be safeguarded by His family.
We can go further to affirm that in a certain sense Christ, Himself, was the first devotee of His family. He showed His devotion to His mother and foster father by submitting Himself, with infinite humility, to the duty of filial obedience towards them. This is what St Bernard of Clairvaux said in this regard, âGod, to whom angels submit themselves and who principalities and powers obey, was subject to Mary; and not only to Mary but Joseph also for Maryâs sake [â¦.]. God obeyed a human creature; this is humility without precedent. A human creature commands God; it is sublime beyond measure.â (First Homily on the âMissus Estâ).
Todayâs celebration demonstrates Christâs humility and obedience with respect to the fourth commandment, whilst also highlighting the loving care that His parents exercised in His keeping. The servant of God, Pope John Paul II, in 1989, entitled his Apostolic Exhortation, âRedemptoris Custosâ (Guardian of the Redeemer) which was dedicated to the person and the mission of Saint Joseph in the life of Christ and of the Church. After exactly a century, he resumed the teaching of Pope Leo XIII, for who Saint Joseph â.. shines among all mankind by the most august dignity, since by divine will, he was the guardian of the Son of God and reputed as His father among menâ (Encyclical Quamquam Pluries [1889] n. 3). Pope Leo XIII continued, â.. Joseph became the guardian, the administrator, and the legal defender of the divine house whose chief he was.[â¦] It is, then, natural and worthy that as the Blessed Joseph ministered to all the needs of the family at Nazareth and girt it about with his protection, he should now cover with the cloak of his heavenly patronage and defend the Church of Jesus Christ.â Not many years before, blessed Pope Pius IX had proclaimed Saint Joseph, âPatron of the Catholic Churchâ (1870)
Almost intuitively, one can recognize that the mysterious, exemplary, guardianship enacted by Joseph was conducted firstly, in a yet more intimate way, by Mary. Consequently, the liturgical feast of the Holy Family speaks to us of the fond and loving care that we must render to the Body of Christ. We can understand this in a mystical sense, as guardians of the Church, and also in the Eucharistic sense. Mary and Joseph took great care of Jesusâ physical body. Following their example, we can and must take great care of His Mystical Body, the Church, and the Eucharist which He has entrusted to us. If Mary was, in some way, âthe first tabernacle in historyâ (John Paul II Ecclesia de Eucharistia, n. 55) then we the Tabernacle in which Our Lord chose to reside in person, in His Real Presence, was also entrusted to us. We can learn from Mary and Joseph! What would they ever have overlooked in the care of Jesusâ physical body? Is there something, therefore, that we can withhold for the right and adoring care of His Eucharistic Body? No amount of attention, no sane act of love and adoring respect will ever be too much! On the contrary, our adoration and respect will always be inferior to the great gift that comes to us in the Holy Eucharist.
Looking at the Holy Family, we see the love, the protection, and the diligent care that they gave to the Redeemer. We can not fail to feel uneasiness, perhaps a shameful thought, for the times in which we have not rendered the appropriate care and attention to the Blessed Eucharist. We can only ask for forgiveness and do penance for all the sacrilegious acts and the lack of respect that are committed in front of the Blessed Eucharist. We can only ask the Lord, through the intersession of the Holy Family of Nazareth, for a greater love for their Son Incarnate, who has decided to remain here on earth with us every day until the end of time.
From the Congregation for the Clergy
Things to Do:
â¢Let us imitate the Holy Family in our Christian families, and our family will be a cell and a prefiguration of the heavenly family. Say a prayer dedicating your family to the Holy Family. Also pray for all families and for our country to uphold the sanctity of the marriage bond which is under attack.
â¢Read more about Pope Leo XIII who instituted the Feast of the Holy Family and read his encyclical On Christian Marriage. You can also check out the Vatican’s page of Papal documents on the Family.
â¢Read the explanation of Jesus’ knowledge in the activities section. Read Pope Pius X’s Syllabus of Errors which condemns the modernist assertion that Christ did not always possess the consciousness of His Messianic dignity.
â¢Have the whole family participate in cooking dinner. You might try a Lebanese meal. Some suggestions: stuffed grape leaves, stuffed cabbage rolls, lentils and rice, spinach and meat pies, chicken and dumplings, hummus, Lebanese bread, tabbouleh â a Lebanese salad and kibbi, a traditional Lebanese dish of specially ground meat mixed with spices and cracked wheat. This is the same kind of food that Mary served Jesus and St. Joseph. It’s healthy and delicious.
- See more at: http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2015-12-27#sthash.BxgvF89w.dpuf
43
posted on
12/27/2015 5:27:53 PM PST
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
I just downloaded Windows 10 an haven’t located how I can post this in html and get the formatting fixed. Any help will be appreciated.
44
posted on
12/27/2015 5:29:11 PM PST
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
http://wau.org/meditations/current/
Meditation: Luke 2:41-52
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph (Feast)
He went down with them ⦠and was obedient to them. (Luke 2:51)
Today is not a national celebration like Franceâs Bastille Day. Itâs not a military holiday like Anzac Day in New Zealand and Australia. Itâs not a labor holiday like the ones celebrated in the United States, Canada, or Egypt. But it ought to be. Today is the feast of the Holy Family.
We like to think of the Holy Family as âperfect,â full of joy and problem free, but thatâs not really the case. Theirs is the story of a woman suspected of adultery, a man anxiously planning a divorce, and a family forced to emigrate to a foreign land. Itâs the story of a couple learning how to cope with their sonâs unconventional behaviorâsomething we read about in todayâs Gospel. Itâs also the sad story of a woman who first loses her husband and then watches as her only child is unjustly executed by the state.
Yes, this family was holy, but it was also very humanâdealing with human issues on a daily basis, just like us. That means they know our familyâs ups and downs as well.
St. Ignatius of Loyola used to pray before a painting of the Holy Family. He liked to imagine himself joining them for dinner or working with Joseph and Jesus in the carpentry shop, asking the Holy Spirit to give him new insights as he did. Isnât this something each of us can doâespecially as we think about their very human life together?
Here are some things to think about as you gaze at the Holy Family: first, your family is not ordinary in Godâs eyes. Every family is special to him. Every family receives his favor. Second, your family can make a difference in this world. Dream big, then try to do good for God. Third, it really is possible for your family to be a holy family. Just try to live in Godâs love, and it will happen.
âJesus, Mary, and Joseph, please pray for all families. Let us become more and more like you.â
Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14
Psalm 128:1-5
Colossians 3:12-21
Questions for Reflection or Discussion:
Mass Readings:
1st Reading: Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14
Responsorial: Psalm 128:1-5
2nd Reading: Colossians 3:12-21
Gospel: Luke 2:41-52
1. The first reading addresses the âhonorâ and ârespectâ due our parents. If your parents are still alive, what practical steps can you take to demonstrate more honor and respect for them? Also, why do you think it is important to ask them to forgive you for any times that you fell short of giving them honor and respect? If your parents are not alive, you may still want to repent to God for those times. And, of course, to pray for them.
2. The Responsorial Psalm begins with these words: âBlessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways.â What do the words, âfear the Lordâ mean to you? Why is it much more than just being afraid of God?
3. The Responsorial Psalm also describes the many blessings of fearing the Lord. How would you describe them?
4. In the Second Reading, St. Paul tells us that the authentic atmosphere of a profoundly Christian life is made up of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, thanksgiving, and above all, love. How can you foster these characteristics in a greater way in your family life or in your relationships with other family members?
5. In the Gospel, we see the Holy Family as a model of unity and love in spite of their anxious response to their difficult three-day separation from Jesus. We also see Jesus, in spite of being filled with the urgency to be in his Fatherâs House, nevertheless, living in whole-hearted obedience to Mary and Joseph. What about you? What are the âurgenciesâ of your life that can keep you from being more obedient to Godâs plan? What are some steps you can take during your busy days to be more in tune with the Lordâs will and to allow the Holy Spirit to lead you and guide you?
6. The last paragraph of the meditation begins with these words: âHere are some things to think about as you gaze at the Holy Family: first, your family is not ordinary in Godâs eyes. Every family is special to him. Every family receives his favor.â How would you describe the ways God might consider your family âspecialâ in his eyes? In what ways have you and your family received Godâs âfavorâ? What are some ways your family can pass this âfavorâ on to others and âmake a difference in this worldâ?
7. Take some time now to consecrate your family to the Lord and ask Jesus, Mary, and Joseph to pray for all families that they would live in faith and trust and unity and loveâas they were able to do. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as the starting point.
45
posted on
12/27/2015 5:37:02 PM PST
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: Salvation
and a family forced to emigrate to a foreign land. ...Wow! Somebody making up stories?
46
posted on
12/27/2015 5:42:28 PM PST
by
Safetgiver
( Islam makes barbarism look genteel.)
To: All
Marriage = One Man and One Woman Until Death Do Us PartDaily Marriage Tip for December 27, 2015:
"As the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do." (Col 3:13) A big part of being a holy family is giving and receiving forgiveness. "I'm sorry / I forgive you" are part of the daily litany of the Domestic Church. Never hesitate to say these healing words.
47
posted on
12/27/2015 5:49:57 PM PST
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: Safetgiver; Religion Moderator
Are you a Catholic? This is a Catholic Caucus thread.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph fled to Egypt to escape Herod’s killing of all young babies. Please check your Bible.
48
posted on
12/27/2015 5:52:27 PM PST
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
http://sundayscripturestudy.com/this_week.html
The Holy Family- Cycle C
December 27, 2015
Click here for USCCB readings
Opening Prayer
First Reading: Sirach 3:2-7,12-14
Psalm: Psalm 128:1-5
Second Reading: Colossians 3:12-21
Gospel Reading: Luke 2:41-52
⢠The Feast of the Holy Family, which developed in the 17th century, honors the family group of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Built on the Gospel accounts, this family is looked upon as a model of ideal family life. To promote family life and build up devotion to the Holy Family, Pope Benedict XV established this feast for the Universal Church in 1921.
⢠This story, which we know as the Fifth Joyful Mystery of the Rosary (like many other stories found in the âinfancy narrativesâ) appears only in Lukeâs Gospel. The infancy narratives end in the same location as they began, in the Jerusalem Temple (Luke 1:8).
⢠All male Jews ages twelve and older were required to make three pilgrimages to Jerusalem every yearâat the feasts of Passover, Weeks (Pentecost), and Booths (Tabernacles). Custom excused those who lived far away from the feasts of Weeks and Booths, but not Passover. Even though only older males were under obligation, often the entire family would go, traveling in large parties or caravans (males and females with small children traveling separately until making camp at evening) for convenience, fellowship, and safety.
⢠This is the first time we hear about Jesus since the return of the Holy Family to Nazareth from Egypt, where they fled to escape the wrath of King Herod (Matthew 2:16-23). It is the last time we hear about him until his appearance at the Jordan to be baptized by John (Luke 3:1ff). This undocumented period of time is often called âthe hidden yearsâ of Jesusâ life.
QUESTIONS:
⢠What was the significance of this Feast, for which Joseph and Mary made a pilgrimage from Nazareth to Jerusalem every year (see Exodus 12; Deuteronomy 16:1-8)?
⢠How much does Jesus seem to know about his mission? How much do his parents know (Luke 1:26-56; Matthew 1:18â2:23)? If Jesus is God, how could he âadvance in wisdom and age and in favor before God and manâ (verse 52)? See CCC 472.
⢠Why do you think Luke included this episode in his Gospel? How did Luke know about this, and other details surrounding Jesusâ birth and childhood (see verse 51)? In this same verse, what is Jesus attitude to Mary and Joseph? How is this a reflection of the First Reading?
⢠What three qualities did Jesus display before the teachers in verses 46-47? What two reactions did he provoke by his actions in these two verses?
⢠Why do you think Jesus was âsurprisedâ that his parents were looking for him? Where should they have looked? How have you looked for Jesus in all the wrong places?
⢠Has your hunger for God ever been misunderstood by your family? How? How do you maintain a healthy balance between daily responsibilities and serving God?
Closing Prayer
Catechism of the Catholic Church: §§ 531-534, 583, 503, 2599, 517, 472
I turn to you, dear parents, and implore you to imitate the Holy Family of Nazareth. -St. John Vianney
49
posted on
12/27/2015 5:59:04 PM PST
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Searching for Jesus
Pastor’s Column
Christmas/Holy Family 2015
“Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I’ve been looking for you with great anxiety.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me?
Did you not know that I must be in my father’s house?”
from Luke 2:41-52
Mary and Joseph are searching for Jesus with great anxiety. How can it be that Mary and Joseph do not know where to look for Jesus? How could they possibly have lost him for three days? The story of how the Holy Family had to search for Jesus before finding him in the temple, (which we hear on the Sunday after Christmas), is one of the most profound in all the Scriptures. Surely Mary and Joseph went immediately to the temple when they discovered Jesus had vanished! Yet despite all their efforts, Jesus did not allow himself to be found for three days.
Mary and Joseph are quite taken aback by this behavior! They know perfectly well that Jesus has done this quite deliberately to them, hiding himself in plain sight. Mary speaks for them both when she asks him, “Why have you done this to us?!” “Why have you made us search for you like this? Don’t you know how upset you made us?” Yet this story is in the scriptures for many reasons, for the gospels are our story as well. The Holy Spirit is writing a gospel within each of us and Jesus acts in our lives much as he does with his own family. This is why understanding this gospel of the search for Jesus is so critical.
At times in our lives, the Lord can seem very near to us: life and the spiritual journey can be easy and pleasant; we may be filled with zeal; prayer often comes easily and we can hear the Holy Spirit speaking in our lives and through the Church. Soon enough, however, an inexplicable reversal will come: deep suffering may appear that we cannot escape or feel we do not deserve; our trials can seem to have no meaning or purpose; prayer is difficult, mass attendance might be a struggle; the Lord, who once seemed to be so close, now cannot be found (meaning we feel nothing); we are tempted to give up. At such times we can wonder where Jesus has gone! What do we do? We set out again in search for Jesus. And, paradoxically, this search helps us to grow in our relationship with Christ.
Periodically in our spiritual lives, Jesus will challenge us to search for him. What am I searching for in life? Jesus is the answer, but he makes us look. God hides himself amidst the daily circumstances and challenges of our lives, but we will always find him in the temple: in the temple of the Church, in the temple of our own hearts, if we just keep looking. If you think you have lost the Lord temporarily, don’t give up! He is just making you search for Jesus.
Father Gary
50
posted on
12/27/2015 6:03:04 PM PST
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
51
posted on
12/27/2015 6:20:47 PM PST
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
For to us THE Child is born
In the mystery of the Word made flesh
a new light of your glory has shone
upon the eyes of our mind,
so that, as we recognize in him God made visible,
we may be caught up through him in love of things
invisible.
(Christmas Preface)
The Word for Christmas: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/122515-midnight.cfm
There is a well-known Christmas story told from the time of the First World War. As the first Christmas of World War I approached, Pope Benedict XV on Dec. 7, 1914, asked the leaders of all warring governments to agree to an official cease-fire. He begged “that the guns may fall silent at least upon the night the angels sang.”
Not surprisingly, his plea was ignored by government leaders. But many of the soldiers on the front lines declared their own unofficial truce.
On Christmas Eve of 1914, German troops in Belgium, put candles around their trenches and sang Christmas carols. When opposing British troops heard the Germans singing, they responded with Christmas caroling of their own.The sound of gun-fire and destruction throughout the region fell silent.
Then a remarkable scene occurred. German and British soldiers climbed out of their trenches and ventured unarmed into the highly dangerous no man’s land to exchange gifts of food and drink, as well as souvenir hats and buttons.
The truce also allowed opposing sides to retrieve their dead and participate in joint services.
A firsthand account of this inspiring Christmas truce was given by Bruce Bairnsfather, who fought with a British machine gun unit. He wrote: “I wouldn’t have missed that unique and weird Christmas Day for anything. ... I spotted a German officer, some sort of lieutenant I should think, and being a bit of a collector, I intimated to him that I had taken a fancy to some of his buttons. ... I brought out my wire clippers and, with a few deft snips, removed a couple of his buttons and put them in my pocket. I then gave him two of mine in exchange.”
Reportedly as many as 100,000 British and German troops along much of the Western Front — a line of trenches stretching from the North Sea to the Swiss frontier with France — stopped fighting and engaged in similar acts of human kindness.
But as is sometimes the case, the: “leaders” got in the way. High-ranking officers ordered all such truces to stop and to start killing again.
(Source: National Catholic Reporter: Tony Magliano)
Once again, Christmas is upon us and we hear the story of Bethlehem, the manger, a virgin Mother and a new born child. We know of a courageous and just man by the name of Joseph who is key to completing the image of the Holy Family. We can tell the story of the shepherds and magi by heart. Singing angels who proclaim the birth of a new born king and the German lullaby âSilent Nightâ is embedded in our Christmas traditions. But the constant pursuit of peace on earth, despite the heroic story of the famed Christmas truce, remains seemingly far away.
While we may tire of the rush, frenetic shopping sprees, the unspoken competition as to which house has more lights or who makes the best egg nog, in the end Christmas remains fresh every time we hear the familiar story of the birth of Jesus Christ. In spite of all the glamour and glitter, Christmas is about a person and his eternal impact on human life.
In its stark simplicity, there is hidden a great mystery that will forever be alive and fresh each year in December. So, maybe we need to reflect more on what the story implies than on the all familiar details of its scene. The Christmas truce between fighting soldiers, for example, shows us peace is possible and preferred for those who of their own volition, lay aside weapons of war. Other weapons of hatred, jealousy, materialism, gossip, and all forms of behavior that alienate ourselves from God and others, sin, are to be overcome through his abundant mercy and grace.
In our Scripture readings for the traditional Mass at Night celebrated by ancient tradition somewhere near the midnight hour, we hear Isaiah the prophet proclaim: âThe people who walked in darkness have seen a great light . . . â(Is 9: 1). Darkness here refers both to lack of knowledge and understanding but also to the darkness of sin.
With the birth of this child, a new age begins. A new light enters the world as never before and a new hope dawns for all humankind. But, we must choose to embrace that new light and that new hope. God offered the world a âChristmasâ gift in the mystery of the Incarnation (God made flesh) in the womb of a human mother but we must decide whether we want that gift or not. If our answer is âyesâ then we ask what we must do about it. So, God proposes a new way of life for those willing to embrace his Gospel.
A few years before he retired, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI offered an Op-ed piece in, of all places, the Financial Times. This highly unusual move by a secular magazine which offers business and financial advice to those in such a field wouldnât normally open their pages to the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church.
However, they apparently did and then Pope Benedict invited Christians to reassess their Christmas priorities. By doing so, he clearly implies the new way by which God reveals himself to us in Christ and what it means for our daily lives.
Among what the Pope writes he states: âChristians shouldnât shun the world; they should engage with it . . .â The vast majority of us do not live as hermits or in silent Monasteries but rather, particularly the laity, are involved in the daily push and pull of human life. Myself as Parish Priest is likewise called out from my office or home to engage the culture around us with a higher set of values; a better way to live based on Godâs law as revealed to us. In this Jubilee Year of Mercy our present Pope Francis has adopted this similar theme of outreach to a hurting world when he in a variety of ways has described the Church as a âfield hospital after battle.â
Pope Emeritus Benedict goes on pointedly: âChristians fight poverty out of recognition of the supreme dignity of every human being . . . Christians work for more equitable sharing of the earthâs resources out of a belief that, as stewards of Godâs creation, we have a duty to care for the weakest and most vulnerable. Christians oppose greed and exploitation out of a conviction that generosity and selfless love, as taught and lived by Jesus of Nazareth, are the way that leads to fullness of life. Christian belief in the transcendent destiny of every human being gives urgency to the task of promoting peace and justice for all.â
The birth of the Son of God and Son of Mary among us came historically at a time of great peace. Luke reminds us of Caesar Augustus during whose time found the vast Roman Empire in a period of peace. Angels call all humanity to see this child as the central figure of history. From him, through shepherds and Magi, all humankind from all cultures and races will be offered a new Gospel of peace and mercyâ Good News.
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI offers us concrete ways in which we can live out this Gospel: fight poverty, share more equitably, oppose greed and exploitation, and defend human life in all its stages.
As we gather around Word and Sacrament at Holy Mass this Christmastime, letâs reflect, rejoice, and embrace this new good news of the Savior that is both ancient and new. There will be large crowds everywhere. Letâs not judge but welcome and encourage.
Our work is cut out for us indeed. But if warring troops can lay aside guns, light candles, sing carols and face each other peacefully on the battle field, how can we do anything less?
52
posted on
12/27/2015 6:27:59 PM PST
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Regnum Christi
A Joy for the Whole Family |
U. S. A. | SPIRITUAL LIFE | SPIRITUALITY |
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December 27, 2015 -Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
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By Father Jason Smith, LC
Luke 2:41-52
Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety." And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father´s house?" But they did not understand what he said to them. He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man.
Introductory Prayer: Lord, I believe in you. I place myself before you. Thank you for the gift of faith. How can I ever repay you for it? Jesus, I hope in you. May your presence today keep my will set on glorifying you. Lord, I love you and I long for my heart to be filled with your love.
Petition: Lord Jesus Christ, help me to value and promote the sanctity of the family.
- The Holy Family: Today we celebrate the solemn memorial of the Holy Family: Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. A family blossoms with the birth of a child. Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem marks the beginning of the blossoming of the Holy Family. In today’s Gospel, with Mary and Joseph to guide him, the Son of God grew and was educated. “He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them.” It is a model for every family: love, care, education, obedience. Am I grateful to my parents for my upbringing, and do I seek to express this gratitude in concrete ways? Do I fully grasp the essential elements of family life and try to promote them the best I can?
- Parenting Is Never Easy: Mary and Joseph were attentive to Jesus’ every step. But no parent is perfect — there are times when the child can slip away. Here we see them racing back to Jerusalem in search of Jesus, as well as their delight at finding him once again. Mary and Joseph experienced the same emotions every parent does while raising a child: moments of anxiety and joy. Do I patiently embrace the moments of anxiety in my family life? Do I strive to spread joy to all the members of my family?
- The Obedience of Jesus: Every child needs the authority and direction of parents. Number 532 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church states: “Jesus´ obedience to his mother and legal father fulfills the fourth commandment perfectly and was the temporal image of his filial obedience to his Father in heaven. The everyday obedience of Jesus to Joseph and Mary both announced and anticipated the obedience of Holy Thursday: ‘Not my will. . .’ The obedience of Christ in the daily routine of his hidden life was already inaugurating his work of restoring what the disobedience of Adam had destroyed.” Do I appreciate the important role of obedience in my life, and am I seeking carefully to instill it in my children? Within the family of the Church do I have a filial attitude towards the Holy Father? Do I know, understand and support his teachings and guidelines?
Conversation with Christ: Lord, help me to keep my mind on the things above. How little I reflect on the Incarnation, even during the Christmas season! Help me to be ever more mindful that you dwell in my heart. Let me radiate your presence today in my own family. Let them see your goodness reflected in my words and actions.
Resolution: Today, I will pray for the sanctity of the family.
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53
posted on
12/27/2015 6:37:46 PM PST
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: Salvation
http://catholicexchange.com/the-blessings-of-honoring-mom-and-dad
The Blessings of Honoring Mom and Dad
Dr. Mark Giszczak
December 27, 2015
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
First Reading: Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/122715.cfm
There are certain things it is easy for us to take for granted. The sun will come up tomorrow morning. The winter will be cold. The summer will be hot. Death and taxes will persist. But something (or should I say âsomeonesâ?) we should never take for granted is our parents. When we first come into this world as children, we donât realize how amazing it is that two people who didnât even know us decided to launch us into existence through a co-creative act with God in which he specially created a new human soul. As the very first mother said, âI have gotten a man with the help of the Lordâ (Gen 4:1 RSV). The Lord knows that we are rarely thankful enough for the great gift of life.
The Commandment
In this Sundayâs first reading from the book of Sirach, we hear about honoring Mom and Dad. Sirach is reflecting on the Fourth Commandment: âHonor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which the Lord your God gives youâ (Exod 20:12 RSV). It might seem odd that God would enshrine respect for parents in the Ten Commandments, right after the commandments directly related to himself. Yet I think he does so to indicate not only how important it is for us to honor our parents, but to teach us. But what does this commandment teach us? Well, we canât see God, so it is easy to forget he is always there, ready for us, listening to us. But we can certainly see our parents and, in fact, our childhood relationship with our parents is very much like our relationship with God. They are far more powerful than us. They know more than we do. They love us. In fact, they even participated in our creation. Early on, we are totally dependent on our parents. In the same way Godâs power, knowledge, and love far surpass ours and we are totally dependent on him. If we can learn to honor and love our parents, then we can come to honor and love God too.
Stages in Our Relationship
Our relationship with our parents goes through some dramatically different stages. At first, we are totally dependent on themâjust think of a nursing infant crying out for his mother. But at the end, our parents become dependent on us. When the mind starts to go and calls need to be made to doctors and nursing homes, the tables have turned. In between those two extremes, we grow less and less dependent on our parents as we age. We all know how eager teenagers are to be freed from parental control since they can taste a bit of independence, but are still in many ways âdependents.â First, we start with total dependence. Second, we are only partially dependent on our parents. Third, we become independent and live our lives separately for some time. Yet, in the last stage of our relationship with our parents, they become dependent on us. Obeying the Fourth Commandment includes obedience in childhood and care for our parents in their old age.
The Blessings of Obedience
The command to honor oneâs parents is reiterated by St. Paul:
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
âHonor your father and motherâ (this is the first commandment with a promise),
âthat it may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth.â
(Eph 6:1-3 RSV)
He points out that this is the one commandment among the Big Ten that has a specific blessing attached. God will honor our obedience with the blessing of long life in the land. Sirach expands on what this blessing consists in here in our reading. In fact he lists out six distinct blessings attached to honoring our Mom and Dad:
1.Atone for sins (Sir 3:3)
2.Store up riches (3:4)
3.Be gladdened by children (3:5)
4.God hears our prayers (3:5)
5.Live a long life (3:6)
6.Refresh oneâs mother (3:6)
(Now the Lectionary text adds a couple lines in v. 3 that are only in the Latin version of the text, not the Greek, âand he preserves himself from them [sins]. When he prays, he is heard.â These lines reiterate blessing #4 and add a new one: preservation from sin.) These blessings are not intangible, but neither should we take them in an overly-literal way. It is not as if obeying your mother will make you materially rich. In fact, Jesus encourages us to store up treasure in heaven, rather than on earth:
Sell your possessions, and give alms; provide yourselves with purses that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. (Luke 12:33 RSV)
Honoring our parents, whether as children or as adults, represents not only our attitude toward others, but our attitude toward God. If we are generous in obeying and honoring them, then we will likewise generously honor God.
Humble Respect
During this Christmas season, when we honor the baby Jesus, his Blessed Mother, and his foster-father, St. Joseph, we can see in their family dynamics what real honor toward parents looks like. If God could humble himself enough to honor two human beings as his parents and be obedient to them, then we can certainly humble ourselves enough to fulfill the Fourth Commandment. I certainly want some virtue âcreditedâ against my sins, as Sirach promises (3:14). It is always amazing to think that two people went out of their way to bring me into the world, to care for me, and to send me out into life. The least we can give in return is due respect.
54
posted on
12/27/2015 6:40:56 PM PST
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
http://catholicexchange.com/scripture-speaks-the-holy-family
Scripture Speaks: The Holy Family
Gayle Somers
Today, the Church gives us an episode from Jesus’ early family life to ponder. Why?
Gospel (Read Lk 2:41-52)
After the profusion of Scriptures describing Jesus’ Nativity in this liturgical season of Christmas, we might be tempted to think we now know enough about His birth into a special family. However, today the Church reminds us of something most of us spend little time thinking about: Jesus wasn’t simply born into a human family; He grew up and lived the bulk of His life in that family. As the Catechism tells us, “During the greater part of His life Jesus shared the condition of the vast majority of human beings: a daily life spent without evident greatness, a life of manual labor” (531). What was that life like? Our Gospel reading gives us some clues.
St. Luke describes what must have been a pivotal event in Jesus’ family life. He and His extended family, like all Jews, made a yearly pilgrimage to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover, as required by the Law of Moses. This trip was like all the others that had preceded it until it ended. When the family (big enough to form a caravan) left the city, Jesus stayed behind. Perhaps He gave a message about this to one of His relatives to pass along to His parents, but it simply never got delivered. It is not hard to imagine how this could happen in the jumble of people and possessions that had to be packed up and gotten on the road home. Joseph and Mary discovered, after a day, that Jesus was missing. Anyone who is a parent or who has cared for a child will know the sickening feeling that surely overcame them when they realized their child must still be in the city. “After three days” they found Him in the Temple. It is terrifying for a child to be missing for three minutes, let alone three days! That had to be excruciating for His parents. The “three days” help us understand that this episode has significance beyond the disruption it caused in their family life. It reminds us that later, Mary and Jesus’ new family, His disciples, had to lose Him for “three days” as He began His glorious work of victory over sin, death, and the devil.
When His parents found Him in the Temple, He was in serious discussion with the learned teachers there. “All who heard Him were astounded at His understanding and His answers.” Probably no one expected wisdom like this from a twelve-year-old. His parents “were astonished,” too, but maybe it wasn’t His knowledge that surprised them: “Son, why have You done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for You with great anxiety.” We can feel Mary’s parental anguish in this question. His disappearance must have been totally out of character for Him. We know He didn’t remain in the city out of rebellion or disobedience, because Jesus kept the Ten Commandments perfectly. By no means did He intend to disobey or dishonor His parents. He thought they would know He was in His Father’s house. Why did He assume this? Perhaps even as a child, He had shown extraordinary reverence for the Temple on their annual visits there. Perhaps during the family’s visit this time, they had discussed its great beauty and significance in the lives of all Jews, especially His life. It was this very Temple where Simeon, the prophet, had told Mary that her Son was to be a light to the Gentiles and the glory of His people, Israel. Simeon had also warned her that He would be a “sign of contradiction,” that a sword would pierce both their hearts. Did Mary worry that His fate was about to unfold now? We know that Jesus’ answer to Mary’s question had a deeper significance than simply an explanation of His whereabouts. St. Luke tells us that although His parents “did not understand what He said to them” at the time, Mary must have known this event was tied to His future destiny, for she “kept all these things in her heart.”
What do we see in this slice of life from the Holy Family? We see many of the emotions, expectations, and actions any ordinary family might experience in similar circumstances. We see love and accountability. We see pain and uncertainty. We see parents confront the real mystery that always accompanies the raising of a child, a distinct and unique personality, whose life is truly in God’s hands. Jesus knows this part of our lives, because He lived it Himself. He engaged in the give-and-take of the community created by a family. His own formation and maturity took place within a family: “Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man.”
It is good for us to ponder this Feast of the Holy Family, because it can strengthen us in our resolve to live our family life well, even with all its challenges—a mission from God that is within reach of every one of us, no matter what our vocation. On the Cross, did seeing Mary’s anguished face remind Jesus of the “three days” He had left her in such anxiety as a boy? Before His three days in the tomb, He gave Mary another son, John, to be with her and care for her. Family life teaches us how to love, the lesson that accompanies us into eternity.
Possible response: Lord Jesus, help me remember that my family life is my first and best school for sanctity.
First Reading (Read Sir 3:2-7, 12-14)
This reading enables us to see that the family—its structure of parental authority and its potential for harmony and long-lasting joy—is God’s idea. “God sets a father in honor over his children; a mother’s authority He confirms over her sons.” This ordering of family life by God Himself is why the Fourth Commandment requires us to honor our fathers and mothers. Our relationship with God is not unaffected by our treatment of our parents, because, in a sense, they are standing-in for God, having cooperated with Him in our conception and birth. Obedience and reverence for our parents grows into obedience and reverence for God.
Possible response: Heavenly Father, thank You for creating families. Please strengthen us all in an age that is losing respect for strong family life.
Psalm (Read Ps 128:1-5)
God’s first commandment to man and woman, at the dawn of Creation, was to “be fruitful.” All through Scripture, blessedness is described in terms of fruitfulness. In the psalm, we see that “Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in His ways.” Reverence for and obedience to the Lord are the essence of blessedness. See how they are rewarded—by fruitfulness. First, the blessed will be able to literally “eat the fruit” of their handiwork. Their crops will yield great bounty. Then, “your wife shall be like a fruitful vine...your children like olive plants around your table.” Here is a beautiful picture of the blessing of family life, God’s great gift to His faithful people. What a wonderful corrective this is for a culture like ours that so often counts its blessings in possessions, not people.
Possible response: The psalm is, itself, a response to our other readings. Read it again prayerfully to make it your own.
Second Reading (Read Col 3:12-21)
In his letter to the Colossians, St. Paul directs the Christians to treat each other as fellow members of God’s household. He exhorts them to live in the Church the way we ought first to live in our families: with “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” Life in God’s family requires us to forgive others as He has forgiven us. Love is the “bond of perfection” that holds the community together. The family is the best place to begin learning these virtues. St. Paul has specific instructions for families to enable them to be a place where this kind of life is a reality. He tells wives to “be subordinate” to their husbands, which means showing the respect he is due as head of the home. Husbands are to love and cherish their wives, not allowing “bitterness toward them” to fester. Children, not surprisingly, are to obey their parents. Fathers are exhorted not to “provoke” their children, because that discourages them.
In other words, all the virtues mentioned in the first part of this passage and given to the Christian community at large need to be vigorously practiced in the home, our most intimate Christian community. The result of this discipline (and it takes discipline to live this way!) will be “the peace of Christ,” our true place of rest.
Possible response: Lord Jesus, family life takes work. On this Feast of the Holy Family, please give us grace to practice the virtues St. Paul describes as the ones that lead to Your peace in our midst.
image: Zvonimir Atletic / Shutterstock.com
55
posted on
12/27/2015 6:45:08 PM PST
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
One Bread, One BodyOne Bread, One Body
Language: English | Español
All Issues > Volume 32, Issue 1
<< Sunday, December 27, 2015 >> |
Holy Family
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1 Samuel 1:20-22, 24-28 1 John 3:1-2, 21-24 View Readings |
Psalm 84:2-3, 5-6, 9-10 Luke 2:41-52 Similar Reflections |
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Please read: Donations appeal letter |
FAMILY PHOTOS
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"His parents used to go every year to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover, and when He was twelve they went up for the celebration as was their custom." âLuke 2:41-42 |
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Many families have photographs of special occasions. Let's open the photo album of the Holy Family. Here's a photo of Jesus placed in a manger after being born in a stable (Lk 2:7). In addition to showing God's love and the Holy Family's poverty, this photo indicates that the Holy Family was rejected, as Mary and Joseph were forced to have their baby in a stable. Families today are also rejected by our culture of death. Moreover, family members even reject one another. When we see Jesus in the manger, let's think not only of rejection, but also let us accept the grace to forgive those who have sinned against us and rejected us. On the next page of the photo album, we see a photo of the Holy Family's flight to Egypt (Mt 2:13ff). Like the Holy Family, families are an endangered species. Many families don't survive. Only by hearing the Lord and by obeying Him exactly will families be saved and new Herods defeated. Next we see a photo of the "finding" of Jesus in the Temple (see Lk 2:46). Families and family members lose Jesus or, more accurately, are lost themselves. They live separated from their Savior, Love, and only Hope. When families seek the Lord, especially through spouses and families praying together, they will find Jesus. Holy families, forgive rejection, obey humbly, and pray together. |
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Prayer: Jesus, teach our families to pray together daily. |
Promise: "See what love the Father has bestowed on us in letting us be called children of God!" â1 Jn 3:1 |
Praise: Praise Jesus, holy and risen Lord! Praise You, Father, for sending Your Son to earth in the care of Mary and Joseph! Alleluia! |
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56
posted on
12/27/2015 7:13:14 PM PST
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
57
posted on
12/27/2015 7:14:20 PM PST
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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