December 28, 2003
Our Holy Family
What
A Difference A Year Makes
Remember last Christmas? We got snowed on and snowed in -- in a BIG
way. This year was less “romantic” due to lack of snow, but
much safer to travel about. It’s not that we didn’t have any
snow yet -- two early “surprises” hit us a few weeks ago and
we don’t know what the winter has in store.
But through fair or stormy weather we have one another as a church family.
Let’s continue to look out for those who are affected by the cold
weather, bringing them the warmth of our care.
Thanks
Grazie Gracias Mesi
Our Christmas celebrations were full of joy and wonder because of so
many parishioners who joined together to decorate, to make music, to
provide for the needy, to proclaim the coming of Jesus in Word and deed.
Thanks to all!!
At College?
At St. Brigid’s we like to stay in touch through
e-mail “letters from home.”
Once a person has an e-mail address at school (or if he/she uses a personal
address), please let us know what it is so we can include them when
we write.
Here's a handy college link so you
can send this info online.
e-mail Father Ralph:
Past Columns:
Dec 21: Home For Christmas
Dec14: Meddling Grace
Dec7: Moving Mountains
Nov30: Advent Hope
Nov23: Giving Thanks
Nov 2: A New Look
Oct
26: Blessed Mother Teresa
Oct
19: The Future of Our Youth
Oct
12: In Hot Water
Oct
5: Fruits of the Millennium
Sept
28: Jesus Comes To St. Brigid's
Sept
21: The children will lead us
Sept
14: Triumph of the Cross
Sept
7: Nine-eleven: Two Years Later
August
31: Where the Summer went
August
24: Lessons from the Blackout
August
17: Here and There
August 10: Surrender
August 3: Reaping
Rewards
July 27:
What's your mission?
July 20:
From a Deserted Place
July 13: Nothing
for the Journey
July 6: God
at Home
June 29: Going
in Stages
June 22: Sommer
in the Summer
June 15: Our
Newest Priest Ordained
June 8: The
Feast of Pentecost
June 1: Beyond
First Communion
May 24: Felicidades
Manuel
May 18: Twenty
Years Later
May 11: Bows
for Peace
May 4: Upcoming
Ordinations
April 27: One
Heart One Mind
April 20: Amazingly
Graced Days
April 13: Ashes
to Palms
April
6: God Embedded
March
30: Pastoral Visits
March
23: Turning Tables
March
16: Transfiguring Imagination
March
9: Beasts and Angels
March
2: Lent and Imagination
Feb
23: Sorrow Far and Wide
Feb 16: Saints
Feb 9: Columbia
Lessons
Feb2: Giving
At A Difficult Time
Jan 26:
Penny Power & Catholic Schools
Jan19:
Yet Another Year
Jan 12:
Stealing Jesus
Jan5: The Wise Still Come
From Afar
Columns from 2002
When Jesus was twelve years old he got himself
in trouble. Now we usually don’t think of Jesus in terms of “being
in trouble” but in today’s gospel we have it plain and simple
-- his parents were upset with him and distressed that he was missing.
Their fear of what could have happened to him can be heard in Mary’s
words, "Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have
been looking for you with great anxiety." Those of you who have 12-year
old children know that they are never at a loss for a quick comeback and
Jesus was no different: "Why were you looking for me? Did you not
know that I must be in my Father's house?"
And to make the story as real as what happens
in our own homes, the scriptures next tells us: “But they did not
understand what he said to them.”
The family dynamics of the Holy Family are
familiar to us because the worries and fears and conflicts they had, are
the same ones we have. Of course there is a lot of care revealed in this
story, but there is also misunderstanding. When our families struggle
for understanding, when fears and worries and conflicts arise, we ought
to see these things are opportunities for holiness -- not judge ourselves
as having lost our faith or love.
The scriptures do not tell us what Joseph
and Mary did to Jesus after his quick answer. But next we hear: “He
went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them.”
One can only imagine what the dynamics of the the three-day-walk back
to Nazareth were like. In any case there seems to have been a breakthrough
in the relationship.
This is what we hope for for our holy families
too. That through conversation and time spent with each other, trust will
grow and we will learn to listen to each other well.
You are Person
