The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, December 31, 2000
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Sirach 3:2-6,12-14
Psalm 128:1-5
Colossians 3:12-21
Luke 2:41-52
Full text: http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/index.htm
A Reflection on Today's Scripture:
Love one another (see: 1 John 3:23)
In a culture that has demolished the family and in consequence
suffering moral and social decay, we need desperately to re-establish
the family in God. Let us consider that God actually reveals Himself
as Family, Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit who proceeds from them
both and who personifies the self-giving love that binds the three
Persons in one God. Because we are created by God to live holy lives,
human families (as well as the whole world) can only be healed if
they tap into this same love that unites the Godhead.
As we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family we must realize that
were it not for Mary's and Joseph's faith and trust in God, their
loving knowledge of Him, they could not have accepted the unique
circumstances of Jesus' birth; nor could Mary have borne her human
doubts, fears, hardships and suffering of raising her child, then
seeing Him hated, tortured and killed. Their selflessness born of
God's love, their "yes" to God who is our salvation, brought life
into this world.
Loving families are at the heart of any viable, enduring
civilization; and since genuine love has its origin and finds its
fulfillment in God, we must restore our relationship with our Creator
if we are to survive. Christ is the way; He will cast Satan's secular
lies from our minds and hearts and fill us with goodness, faith,
trust, generosity, all that gives life and brings peace to this
world.
Blessed Redeemer,
banish our faithlessness,
our self-indulgence and pride;
give us the humility to open our hearts
to Your healing love. Amen
- Marie L. Bocko, ocds ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
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