Today we celebrate the Holy Family just a few short days after Christmas. I hope everyone had a great Christmas. I also want to thank you for all the thoughts, prayers, wishes, cards and gifts, I received from you. You will always be in my prayers. I also want to thank Lora Wade and her beautiful voice at many of our celebrations. I also want to thank the Choir for their Christmas Concert and for all they add to our Masses. Thanks also to Cheryl Ashe for picking up Nora Batteast’s mantel and producing our Children’s Christmas Pageant with a special thanks to the children who practiced and participated. Christmas is a special time of the year.
When we celebrate the Holy Family, we should remember that Jesus wasn’t just born in a manger but that he grew up with Mary and Joseph as his guides. He started off as a helpless baby as we all do. He then grew through all stages of life from childhood to adulthood. Joseph died sometime before Jesus began his public ministry, but he was with him long enough to teach him a trade. Mary was with him through his public ministry and suffered with him on the cross, seeing her only child die a horrible death. She also shared in his resurrection and ascension. She was present at Pentecost. The Holy Family was holy. We can make all our families holy as well. We know there were problems for the Holy Family. They had to flee into Egypt to save Jesus’ life. They lost him in the temple when he was only 12. They lived under Roman rule. Joseph passed away. They did have difficulties, just as all families do. But they overcame them with love. We can do the same.
On January 1 we celebrate New Year’s and we make resolutions for the new year. Let’s resolve to be better people in 2019. January 1 is also a Holy Day of Obligation, Mary the Mother of God. This solemnity tells us more about Jesus than it does of Mary. It simply tells us that Jesus is God and that Mary is his mother. Jesus is the second person of the Holy Trinity. He is the Son of God and the Son of Mary. We will have Mass at 9 AM on the 1st.
In our first reading today from the Book of Sirach, we have a very practical instruction on how to be a family. It usually starts with the parents taking care of the children and usually ends with the children taking care of the parents. The reading mentions honor and authority, reverence and prayer. Father Pat Peyton, CSC, the rosary priest made famous the phrase, “The family that prays together, stays together.” In our time families come in all shapes and sizes, but it is love and prayer that keeps families together.
St. Paul gives us more practical advice in the second reading: “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.”
Our Gospel today tells us of a difficulty that the Holy Family had, when Jesus was lost in the temple for a few days. Imagine the reactions of Mary and Joseph, when they realized he was missing and the joy when they found him. “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.”
Let us continue to pray for peace in the world. Let us also pray for vocations to the church. Let us pray for the sick of the parish. Let us pray that all will come to respect life. Let us pray for one another and for the canonization of Father Tolton. Let us also pray for those who are victims of sexual abuse and mass shootings.
A Father Tolton Prayer:Father in Heaven, Father Tolton’s suffering service sheds light upon our sorrows; we see them through the prism of your Son’s passion and death. If it be your Will, O God, glorify your servant Father Tolton, by granting the favor I now request through his intercession (mention your request) so that all may know the goodness of this priest whose memory looms large in the Church he loved. Complete what you have begun in us that we might work for the fulfillment of your kingdom. Not to us the glory, but glory to you O God, through Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord; Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you are our God, living and reigning forever and ever. Amen.