Today is the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and
Joseph. God freely created without constraint as He made us in His image and
likeness. He made us all come to this world and be part of a family. The family
is the foundation and the fundamental cell of society. God's view of a family
is beautiful. We have to live and act this out by giving to each other totally
in our family as we express and receive it. We all hope and pray that our
families will be blessed by the same love that bonded Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Amen.
Hallelujah!
Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14
God sets a father in
honor over his children; a mother’s authority he confirms over her sons. 3
Whoever honors his father atones for sins; and preserves himself from them. 4
When he prays, he is heard; he stores up riches who reveres his mother. 5
Whoever honors his father is gladdened by children, and when he prays he is
heard. 6 Whoever reveres his father will live a long life; he obeys the LORD
who brings comfort to his mother. 12 My son, take care of your father when he
is old; grieve him not as long as he lives. 13 Even if his mind fail, be
considerate with him; revile him not all the days of his life; 14 kindness to a
father will not be forgotten, it will serve as a sin offering-it will take
lasting root.
One of the purposes
of marriage is for procreation. When we enter into it we should be open to
having children and the responsibilities that go with it. It is a very
challenging task and we need to know how to really walk in God's ways in order
to live a happy and favored life. There is only one thing needed and that is to
follow the ways of the Lord. Whenever we come to a point in our lives when we
encounter trials and difficulties and standing up firm in our faith in God
seems to be an impossibility then all the more should we remain faithful and
true to God. The psalm reading tells us exactly why. This fear being spoken of
in today's psalm is the holy fear of the Lord and is different from other kinds
of fear that we know. It's more of the kind of fear that is coupled with
respect and is the beginning of wisdom as written in Proverbs 1:7. We have to
be perfectly aware of this and strive to maintain it within ourselves so as not
to lose sight of this aspect of God's Holiness. Over the years, the olive has
been the symbol of peace, wisdom, glory, fertility, power and pureness. The
olive tree and olives are mentioned over 30 times in the Bible, in both the New
and Old Testaments. It is one of the first plants mentioned in the Bible, and
one of the most significant. For example, it was an olive leaf that a dove
brought back to Noah to demonstrate that the flood was over. The Mount of
Olives east of Jerusalem
is mentioned several times. Olive oil has long been considered sacred; it was
used to anoint kings and athletes in ancient Greece . It was burnt in the sacred
lamps of temples as well as being the "eternal flame" of the original
Olympic Games. Victors in these games were crowned with its leaves. Today, it
is still used in many religious ceremonies. Today's psalm mentions and compares
children to olive plants. We have always been awed by such great affection a
mother has for her child. We've seen a lot of things throughout time that
attest to this. I am a mother myself and I have done things beyond my capacity
because of how much I love my children.
This love of mothers for their brood grows into something very special
which explains why they are referred to or likened to olive plants around the
table. Let us hope and pray that the Lord will continue to look after our
families. No matter how difficult this year is, for our families we have to be
confident in God's assurance in today's Psalm reading. If we truly believe that
we have an Extraordinary and Awesome God then we, too must be willing to take
on the challenge of doing something out of the ordinary and really get out of
our way to live out what God calls us to do. Nothing is ever wasted for it has
always been proven throughout all generations that those who follow and obey
the Lord will surely be blessed not only today but all the days of our lives.
We really have to always start with the basics, keep it simple and really get
down with the real stuff. We've got to take things one step at a time. We know
for a fact that we humans have a tendency to make things complicated. We know exactly why. It is because we want to
make excuses, create our own rules and get away with it. God tries to make it
as simple as possible for us but we just don't want it His way because we've
got to have it our own way. That's when the problem starts. It is always easier
said than done but we've got to take God's word for it. I like the writing on
the shirts of my son, Jude and these young people when they attended the YFC (Youth
for Christ) Youth Camp. It says, "It's not about me, it's all about
God." It's right on target and what it is all about. For in the end and to
top it all, it will all come down to us as a blessing and favor from God. Amen.
Hallelujah!
Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5
R: Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
1 Blessed are you who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways! 2
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork; happy shall you be, and favored.
(R) 3 Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the recesses of your home;
your children like olive plants around your table...may you see the prosperity
of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
It is always for the best to consult scriptures and be
guided by it. Let us pray that we all
find ourselves bearing the fruits of the Holy Spirit as we commit to not only
the duties and responsibilities we owe our families but to love them
wholeheartedly. It is always for the best to consult scriptures and be guided
by it. Today's 2nd reading gives us good
instructions as to how we become better Christians every day. As we constantly
do this and develop in ourselves a love for it we will just be surprised as to
how we will see the words of God take its form through our experiences and come
alive in us. It is through our total surrender and acceptance of God’s will in
our lives that we can experience perfect peace. No amount of disturbance or
chaos should ever push us to the brink of doubt and despair. We should always
have the confidence that if God brings us to it, He will bring us through it.
The will of God will never take us where the grace of God will not protect
us. We must not give in to sadness or
desperation for what we are going through today. God knows how we feel and
knows exactly with perfection what is being allowed to happen at this precise
moment. God’s purpose is simply perfect. He wants to show us things that only
we can understand by living what we are living and by being in the place we are
now. I would like to quote the words of
William Faulkner, “I have found that the greatest help in meeting any problem
with decency and self respect and whatever courage is demanded is to know where
you yourself stand. That is to have in words what you believe and are acting
from.” For this we should continue to carry on and maintain in ourselves the
things Paul that is saying in today’s 2nd reading. Amen. Hallelujah!
Colossians 3:12-21
12 Brothers and sisters: Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy
and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and
patience, 13 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.
14 And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. 15 And let
the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also
called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you
richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another,...
Jesus is born in a family. Today we celebrate the Feast of
the Holy Family. We are reminded of the truth of the greatness and dignity of
human family. We are invited to go back to Nazareth where Jesus, Mary and Joseph lived
as a Holy Family and contemplate its sacredness and holiness. As we travel through
life and encounter struggles in life that leaves us wounded may we always hold
on to these values that the Holy Family teaches us. As Pope Benedict XVI
describes the Holy Family as fully engaged in the desire to do the will of God
and put the Kingdom
of God St. Joseph
and his courage to do what has to be done that he cooperated in God's plan of
salvation for us through the Lord Jesus Christ His Son. It tells us to always
commit to the family through its ups and downs. It demands sacrifice and
heartfelt compassion. In humble obedience to this we can always call upon the
grace of God in times of difficulty in order to endure and persevere. As Pope
John Paul II said, human suffering clears the way for the grace that
transforms. Jesus Himself lived as man and went through everything just like
any human being. We can unite our sufferings
with Christ and take on a deeper meaning to appreciate its value. Amen.
Hallelujah!
Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23
...He went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth , so that what had been spoken
through the prophets might be fulfilled, “He shall be called a Nazorean.”
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