Home is Where the Family Is
Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
“After three days they found him in the temple.” Luke 2:46
Polidoro da Lanciano (1515-1565), Holy Family with an Angel, c. 1540.
This Sunday we celebrate the feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The readings of this Sunday’s liturgy invite us precisely to appreciate the gift that God has given us in our own families. This Sunday is also the last Sunday of the year and I am sure you already have in mind your resolutions for the New Year, right? Well, just in case you have not thought of anything, yet I would like to invite you to really take into consideration the resolution of appreciating the gift of family. To really give thanks to God for what we have. Nobody is perfect and there is no such a thing as the “perfect family” or the “perfect marriage” Only GOD is perfect.
For this reason, the readings of this Sunday are an invitation to respect, to honor and revere our parents. They also invite us to bear with one another with kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. I think that would be the perfect New Year’s resolution. I really pray and hope that this New year we could all spend more time with our families, even if they may not be here with us. But if you do, go out with your kids, spend quality time with your spouse, have meals together, pray together and don’t waste the opportunity to let them know that you love them. On behalf of all of us here at Mary Immaculate we want to wish you a New Year full of blessings, peace and love. Happy New Year!
Readings for the Week
Sunday: The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
Monday: Seventh Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord; St. Sylvester I: New Year’s Eve
Tuesday: The Octave of the Nativity of the Lord; Mary, the Holy Mother of God; World Day of Prayer for Peace; New Year’s Day
Wednesday: Ss. Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen
Thursday: The Most Holy Name of Jesus
Friday: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton; First Friday
Saturday: St. John Neumann; First Saturday