December 29, 2002
Our Holy Family
Funerals
When
I wrote last week’s column, I noted that there were seven funerals
the week before Christmas. By the end of the week there were nine --
and then two more (on Monday and Christmas Eve). Let’s continue
to pray for all those who lost loved ones.
Christmas Continues
While
the stores are being stripped of leftover Christmas merchandise and
Valentines Day displays are already going up, let’s not forget
that we are in the midst of the Christmas season. Keep the lights burning
brightly, play Christmas carols, enjoy the company of neighbors, family
and friends. The Savior is born -- don’t be too quick to stick
him in bubble wrap and put him in the attic for another year!
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Past Columns:
Dec 22: I'll
be Home for Christmas
Dec 15: Viva!
Dec 8: Advent Spirituality
Dec 1:Praying
at Mass
Nov 24: Doing
Thanks
Nov17: Faith
Has Its Awards
Nov 10: Parking
Lot Update
Nov3: Daughters
of Mary
Oct27: Father
Richard
Oct 20: Changing
Seasons
Oct 13:Technology
Update
Oct 6: Youth Ministers
Sept 29: Who's
Here?
Sept 22: God
the Unfair
Sept 15: The
Joy of Judy
Sept 8: Facing the
Terrible Day
Sep 1: Sharing the
Faith
Aug 25:Empty Shelves
Aug 18: Comemmorating
Sept. 11th
Aug 11: Taking Time
To See
August 4: Moving
Music
July 28:Meet
the Missionaries
July 21:
Press One Now
July 14: Having
Our Say
July 6: One
Nation Under God
June 30: Anointing
the Sick
June 23: Giving Thanks
to God
June 16: Father's
Day
June 9: Fall Mass
Schedule
June 2: Summer Plans
May 26: Spreading
the Faith
May 19: Passing Grace
May 12: Changing
Times
May 5: Reason for Hope
April 28: Changing
Ministry
April 21: The Poor Are Hurt
Again
April 14: Celebrating
50 Days
April 7: Where have
they put him?
March 31: Alleluia!
Alleluia!
March 24: Hardly
Hosanna
March 17: Roll The
Stone Back
March 10: Here's
Mud In Your Eye
March 3: Our Local
Drought
Feb 24: Welcoming
Bishop Murphy
Feb 17: We Will Rise
Again
Feb 10: Very
Good Now
Feb 3: The Multi
Cultural Church
Jan 27: Appealing
Words
Jan 20:Our
Wonderful School
Jan 13: Changing
Times
Jan 6: Farewell Father
Augustine
What makes a family “holy”? Certainly
not its size. Jesus, Mary and Joseph were only three but we know that
holy families come in all sizes. What makes a family “holy”?
Certainly not where it lives. Jesus, Mary and Joseph began the first years
off their lives together living in a foreign land (Egypt) as refugees
from Herod’s murderous plots. Later they settled up north in Nazareth,
a poor underdeveloped town where the homes were mostly caves cut into
the side of Nazareth’s hill. (For this reason, many people looked
down on anyone who came from Nazareth.)
What makes a family “holy”? Certainly
not how much money it has. Jesus, Mary and Joseph were probably not among
the poorest of the poor, since Joseph -- and later Jesus -- was a carpenter.
But they were not wealthy. What makes a family “holy”? Certainly
not it’s composition. When they started out, Jesus, Mary and Joseph
were three -- but when Joseph dies, Mary is left as single mother, caring
for her teenaged son.
In searching for what makes a family “holy”it’s
clear to see that it isn’t the outward “trappings” that
make for holiness. Rather it’s a relationship of trust -- trust in
one another (clearly demonstrated in the lives of Jesus, Mary and Joseph),
and trust in God. A holy family is also a family in which God dwells.
Some people don’t consider that God actually dwells in their home.
But consider this -- since you went to church today, and received Jesus
in Word and Communion, God is dwelling in you -- and now you bring that
Jesus home.
In your holy family, people consider “What would Jesus do?”
when it comes to sharing, and helping, and listening and guiding. In your
holy family people notice that the gifts of God are alive in one another
and they strive to encourage and support those gifts.
These are the same attitudes we live out
here in the larger holy family of St. Brigid’s.
May the love of Jesus, Mary and Joseph during
this Christmas season continue to fill your family with holiness.
