Family is Forever

   

Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

29 December 2024

 

First Reading: Sir 3:2-6,12-14

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5

Second Reading: Col 3:12-21

Gospel: Lk 2:4

 

Reflection

By: Grace B. Madriñan

 

Today is the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. I believe the readings for today are one of the most beautiful sets for families with full instruction and guidance on how to live according to the will of God.

"Wives, be subordinate to your husbands,

as is proper to the Lord.

Husbands, love your wives,

and avoid any bitterness toward them.

Children, obey your parents in everything,

for this is pleasing to the Lord.

Fathers, do not provoke your children,

so they may not become discouraged (Colossians 3:18-21)."

But even these teachings get misinterpreted. Wives are forced to follow their husbands leaving the women without the voice in decision making. Husbands define love differently. Children sometimes obey their parents even when it is wronf or against their will. And fathers provoke their children and call it discipline.

But there is yet another instruction and it says, "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 (Colossians 3:12-13). "

God probably knew that families are not perfect so we need to be guided with humility and forgiveness.

It is also fitting that we are celebrating the feast of the Holy Family this Christmas as it is the season for families to be together. Looking back, the moments that I took for granted when I was younger are the best memories after all. Because today, no matter how festive or extravagant our celebrations get, there will always be empty chairs. My brother and father can no longer be with us.

This is why it is always best to celebrate each moment and be grateful for our family's presence. Let us be more forgiving and loving because this is what God wills for us.

Prayer

Father God thank You for giving us the Holy Family to emulate, abundant wirh humility, compassion and love. May we be grateful and more loving to our own families as we follow Your will for us. These we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Ask the Teacher

    

Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ

11 June 2023

 

First Reading: Dt 8:2-3, 14b-16a

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20

Second Reading: 1 Cor 10;16-17

Gospel: Jn 6:51-58

 

Reflection

By: Grace B. Madrinan

 

"I a the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever." - John 6:51

I have to admit that I will be as shocked as the Jews in today's Gospel reading. It is really hard to understand this teaching. At that time, they still do not have the Eucharist to relate to the body and blood of Christ. I believe this teaching is what divided Jesus' followers at the time. Some followers left while the apostles stayed with Jesus.

What made the difference is that the other Jews quarreled among themselves, while the apostles asked Jesus to clarify what He meant in the teachings. The other Jews relied on their own understanding and when they did not understand, they gave up and left. Meanwhile, the apostles approached Jesus and sought for more guidance and understanding.

I believe it is human nature to go about asking other people instead of asking the source of information. I recalled one instance during our college days when we, instead of asking our professor, we went about asking among each other what the assignment was and how to go about it. And when I asked, "Why don't we ask our teacher?" They will go about saying, "You should be the one to ask. You're the closest to the teacher!"

I think that is the answer, "we are not that close to the Teacher!" We tend to ask among ourselves, even dispute about the correct interpretation of the teaching, when we should be asking the Source of the teaching. Why? Because we are not that close to Jesus. We have not been with Him enough to know His ways. We have not spent enough time to understand what He meant. We have not established that kind of relationship to ask Him directly, "What are You teaching us, Lord?"

The apostles stayed and asked the Lord because they knew Him well enough to know He will not lead them astray. And because they believed in Him, their hearts were opened and gained more understanding.

Prayer

Father God, a lot of things are beyond our understanding. When we are in doubt, may we seek answers from You instead and lean not on the dictates of the world. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Understanding Our Friend

   

The Resurrection of the Lord

09 April 2023

 

First Reading: Acts 10:34a, 37-43

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23

Second Reading: Col 3:1-4 or 1 Cor 5:6b-8

Gospel: Jn 20:1-9

 

Reflection

By: Pietro S. Albano

 

For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead. (Jn 20:9).

Sometimes, it’s much easier to love a friend than to understand them. Mary Magdalene, Peter, and John all love their friend Jesus. Mary’s love stands out; she was there at the Cross on Good Friday. Three days later, she came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark (Jn 20:1). However, their reaction when Jesus was nowhere to be found, showed their lack of understanding of Scripture. And if we think of the Scripture as pointing out to and finding its fulfilment in Jesus, then His friends lacked an understanding of Jesus Himself.

St. Bede once said, “Our Saviour revealed the glory of His resurrection to His disciples gradually and over time, also because it was such a great miracle that the weak hearts of mortals could not comprehend it all at once.” If we continue reading chapter 20 of this Gospel, Jesus revealed Himself to Mary Magdalene and commissioned her: Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God. (Jn 20:17). Having gained an understanding of this great mystery, Mary went to the apostles and relayed to them what Christ told her. Mary became apostola apostolorum (apostle to the apostles).

We too can be like the disciples who, at first, were unable to understand the Resurrection. Let’s allow the Risen Jesus to pour on us the Holy Spirit, so that like Peter, in today’s first reading, we can also boldly proclaim to the world: We are witnesses of all that Jesus did. (cf. Acts 10:39).

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Word today. Thank You for rising from the dead as You have promised. Send forth Your Spirit among us that we may gain a better understanding of and become courageous witnesses of Your Resurrection. Amen.

Our Own Understanding vs. God's Wisdom

Twenty-eighth Sunday in

Ordinary Time

10 October 2021 

 

First Reading: WIS 7:7-11

Responsorial Psalm: PS 90:12-13, 14-15, 16-17

Second Reading: HEB 4:12-13

Gospel: MK 10:17:30 or 10:17-27

 

Reflection

By: Bernard Borja

 

How often do we really discern, and beg for the grace of wisdom from God, in our decisions in life? And how seldom do we listen, and acknowledge the movements of the Spirit, for us to respond to God's call?

It is very common nowadays for people to say that their decisions in life are based on "God's Will". We can even see people who use bible verses for them to justify and convince other people that they are obeying God's commandments. While it is good that we follow and obey God, do we also check if our intention to follow is only for ourselves? Do we carefully listen when we pray, "Give US this day OUR daily bread and forgive US OUR trespasses..." and that God wants us to live for others?

Jesus taught us that following and observing God's commandments must not only be for our own benefit. We cannot say we fully observe the commandment "you shall not kill" if we agree on laws on which taking a life is justified as necessary. One cannot say that he or she does not steal, if he or she helps a person who steals to justify that the person did it for the common good. Same thing with sharing information on the internet that are pure lies (like what the so-called trolls do), we are not really obeying the commandment that we shall not bear false witness if we do this. When we do not go through a process of discernment of asking for God's wisdom in our decisions, our intentions become our own goals alone and only for our benefit. It also becomes worse when we already have a sense of what God wants but we still choose to pursue our own understanding. In the Gospel today, the man who asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life, still chose to live for himself even when Jesus already told him what he needs to do.

Oftentimes, we ask God for wisdom especially in our decisions. But when we hear God's voice, we harden our hearts because we still forget to trust Him. Jesus knew that the man lacks trust in God. He offered the man an opportunity to deeply understand that God's commandments are not to be observed selfishly, but obeying means we also keep in mind other people's benefits. Jesus assured us that there is no one who has given up anything for His sake who will not receive a hundred times more of heaven's treasures. We only need to trust in His words and to listen carefully in our prayers. As the letter to the Hebrews says, the Word of God is able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart. God continues to listen to our prayers and knows deeply the desires of our hearts. This is why we need to trust and acknowledge that we need God's wisdom in our decisions in life, and for us to say that we are really observing and obeying God's commandments.

Prayer

 

Send us Your Spirit, dear Lord for us to know the path that we need to take, to follow Jesus closely. We beg for the grace of Your wisdom, for us to be more trusting to You as we respond to Your calling. Grant us a pure heart, so that we may learn to live for others as we observe and obey Your commandments not for ourselves, but for the good of all. In Jesus' Name we pray, Amen.

 

Understanding

Pentecost

04 June 2017

First reading	Acts 2:1-11

When Pentecost day came round, they had all met in one room, when suddenly they heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven, the noise of which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak foreign languages as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech.
  Now there were devout men living in Jerusalem from every nation under heaven, and at this sound they all assembled, each one bewildered to hear these men speaking his own language. They were amazed and astonished. ‘Surely’ they said ‘all these men speaking are Galileans? How does it happen that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; people from Mesopotamia, Judaea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya round Cyrene; as well as visitors from Rome – Jews and proselytes alike – Cretans and Arabs; we hear them preaching in our own language about the marvels of God.’

---

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 103(104):1,24,29-31,34

---

Second reading	1 Corinthians 12:3-7,12-13

No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord’ unless he is under the influence of the Holy Spirit.
  There is a variety of gifts but always the same Spirit; there are all sorts of service to be done, but always to the same Lord; working in all sorts of different ways in different people, it is the same God who is working in all of them. The particular way in which the Spirit is given to each person is for a good purpose.
  Just as a human body, though it is made up of many parts, is a single unit because all these parts, though many, make one body, so it is with Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptised, Jews as well as Greeks, slaves as well as citizens, and one Spirit was given to us all to drink.

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia!
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in them the fire of your love.
Alleluia!

---

Gospel	John 20:19-23

In the evening of the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, ‘Peace be with you’, and showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord, and he said to them again, ‘Peace be with you.
‘As the Father sent me,
so am I sending you.’
After saying this he breathed on them and said:
‘Receive the Holy Spirit.
For those whose sins you forgive,
they are forgiven;
for those whose sins you retain,
they are retained.’

Reflection

by Benj Santiago

“ Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.”

We commemorate today the feast of Pentecost, the coming of the promised Advocate of the Father - the Holy Spirit. Preceded by strong winds and in the form of tongues of fire, it descended upon the apostles and they began to preach to the devout Jews from different nations who were gathered in Jerusalem. People who speak different tongues were surprised to understand the message conveyed by Peter and the rest of Jesus' followers.

Last Sunday was the Solemnity of the Ascension of Christ . Christ ascended into heaven, but He made sure that we believers will not be left behind. He fulfilled His promise that all who have gathered in His Name will be baptized by the Holy Spirit. And instantly they were able to communicate and understood each other in spite of their different languages. And when people understand each other, they have unity. And when there is unity, there is love and peace.

In our families, in our communities, in our work places, and in our country as a whole, there is a great need to pray for understanding. We need to have the Pentecost experience to resolve conflicts brought about by varying and conflicting ideas. We need to pray that the Holy Spirit descend upon all of us so that we can understand each other and achieve peace.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for sending to us the Holy Spirit to guide and protect us. We pray that we become bearers of the Holy Spirit to make us instruments of peace, unity and love. Lord, grant that the power of the Holy Spirit would enable us to renew the face of the earth! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen!

Why Obedient?

Sto. Nino January 17, 2016
First reading Isaiah 9:1-6

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone. You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing, as they rejoice before you as at the harvest, as people make merry when dividing spoils. For the yoke that burdened them, the pole on their shoulder, and the rod of their taskmaster you have smashed, as on the day of Midian. For every boot that tramped in battle, every cloak rolled in blood, will be burned as fuel for flames. For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God- Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace. His dominion is vast and forever peaceful. He will rule as David’s successor, basing his power on right and justice, from now until the end of time. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this!

Psalm                                                                            Psalm 98: 1-3,3-4,5-6                        
Second reading                                                          Ephesians 1: 3-6; 15-18 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and with- out blemish before him. In love he destined us for adoption to
himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved. Therefore, I, too, hearing of your faith in the Lord Jesus and of your love for all the holy ones, do not cease giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a Spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him. May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones.

Gospel                                                                        Luke 2:41-52

Every year the parents of Jesus used to go to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up for the feast as usual. When they were on their way home after the feast, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem without his parents knowing it. They assumed he was with the caravan, and it was only after a day’s journey that they went to look for him among their relations and acquaintances. When they failed to find him they went back to Jerusalem looking for him everywhere.
  Three days later, they found him in the Temple, sitting among the doctors, listening to them, and asking them questions; and all those who heard him were astounded at his intelligence and his replies. They were overcome when they saw him, and his mother said to him, ‘My child, why have, you done this to us? See how worried your father and I have been, looking for you.’ ‘Why were you looking for me?’ he replied ‘Did you not know that I must be busy with my Father’s affairs?’ But they did not understand what he meant.

He then went down with them and came to Nazareth and lived under their authority. His mother stored up all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom, in stature, and in favour with God and men.

Reflection

By Anabelle Payod-Balla

Jesus was already at His Father's house and yet He still went with Joseph and Mary to live with them. He is the Son of God and yet He submitted Himself and was obedient to them. Why?

When I was a child, there were many times when I disobeyed my parents. I thought I know better and I did what makes me happy though I have an idea what might be the possible consequences. And yes, I suffered some of those consequences.

Now that I am a parent, I have been exploring different ways to get my children to obey me. It is not an easy job at all despite the good intentions. Especially if you are asking them to do something that will prevent them from doing what they like. Sometimes it is easier to just let them do what they want and let them suffer the consequences so they learn. But only for those circumstances where the lessons are greater than the risks.

What I find helpful in getting my kids to obey me is when I clearly state my intentions, discuss what's in it for them and what happens if they don't do the things they need to do. And then allow them to make the choice. It seems that giving them the knowledge and allowing them to understand the situations can help in having their agreement and their obedience.

Jesus, our Santo Niño, is a role model of humble obedience just like His parents, Joseph and Mary.  He knows why they look after Him and understands what He needs to do. He obeyed and submitted to the Father's will including the kind of death that He needs to suffer, for the salvation of all.

Viva Santo Niño!!!

Prayer

Father, thank You for the gift of understanding and obedience. Give us the grace to discern Your will for us and grant us the courage to submit to it. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

When Unity and Understanding Were Born

Pentecost

May 24, 2015

The Spirit of the Lord has filled the whole world and that which contains all things understands what is said, alleluia.

First reading                                      Acts 2:1-11

When Pentecost day came round, they had all met in one room, when suddenly they heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven, the noise of which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak foreign languages as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech.

  Now there were devout men living in Jerusalem from every nation under heaven, and at this sound they all assembled, each one bewildered to hear these men speaking his own language. They were amazed and astonished. ‘Surely’ they said ‘all these men speaking are Galileans? How does it happen that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; people from Mesopotamia, Judaea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya round Cyrene; as well as visitors from Rome – Jews and proselytes alike – Cretans and Arabs; we hear them preaching in our own language about the marvels of God.’

Psalm                                               Psalm 103:1,24,29-31,34

Second reading                               1 Corinthians 12:3-7,12-13

No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord’ unless he is under the influence of the Holy Spirit.

  There is a variety of gifts but always the same Spirit; there are all sorts of service to be done, but always to the same Lord; working in all sorts of different ways in different people, it is the same God who is working in all of them. The particular way in which the Spirit is given to each person is for a good purpose.

  Just as a human body, though it is made up of many parts, is a single unit because all these parts, though many, make one body, so it is with Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptised, Jews as well as Greeks, slaves as well as citizens, and one Spirit was given to us all to drink.

Gospel                                         John 20:19-23

In the evening of the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, ‘Peace be with you’, and showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord, and he said to them again, ‘Peace be with you.

‘As the Father sent me,

so am I sending you.’

After saying this he breathed on them and said:

‘Receive the Holy Spirit.

For those whose sins you forgive,

they are forgiven;

for those whose sins you retain,

they are retained.’

Reflection
By Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

Pentecost is the feast of union, comprehension, and human communion. We can all see that in our world, although we are increasingly close to one another with the development of the means of communication, and geographical distances seem to be disappearing, understanding and communion between people is both superficial and problematic.

Imbalances endure that frequently lead to conflict; dialogue between the generations is heavy going and at times antagonism prevails; we witness daily events in which it seems people are becoming more aggressive and more belligerent; understanding each other seems too demanding so they prefer to remain closed in on themselves, in their own interests. Can we truly find and live in this situation the unity we need?...

Can unity and harmony really exist? How? We find the answer in Sacred Scripture: unity can only exist as a gift of God's Spirit who will give us a new heart and a new language, a new ability to communicate. And this is what happened at Pentecost. On that morning, fifty days after Easter, a might wind blew through Jerusalem and the flame of the Holy Spirit came down upon the disciples gathered together. It settled on each one of them and kindled within them the divine fire, a fire of love capable of transforming them. Their fear evaporated, they felt their hearts filled with new strength, their tongues were loosened and they began to speak freely in such a way that everyone could understand the announcement that Jesus Christ has died and was risen. At Pentecost, where there had been division and alienation, unity and understanding were born...

Jesus explains to us what the Church is and how she should live in order to be herself, to be the place of unity and communion in Truth; he tells us that behaving as Christians means no longer being shut into our own "I" but rather being open to all things: it means inwardly welcoming the whole Church within ourselves or, even better, inwardly letting her receive us. Therefore when I speak, think, and act as a Christian I do not do so by closing myself into myself, but I always do so in all things and starting with all things: thus the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of unity and of truth, may continue to resonate in our human hearts  and minds and spur people to meet and to welcome each other.

Precisely because the Spirit acts in this way, he ushers us into the whole truth, which is Jesus, and guides us to look at it more deeply and to understand it. We do not grow in knowledge by locking ourselves into our own ego, but only in an aptitude of profound inner humility do we become capable of listening and sharing in the "we" of the Church.

(Magnificat, May 2015)


Prayer

Holy Spirit, Lord of Light,

From the clear celestial height

Thy pure beaming radiance give.

Come, thou Father of the poor,

Come with treasures which endure

Come, thou light of all that live!

Thou, of all consolers best,

Thou, the soul’s delightful guest,

Dost refreshing peace bestow

Thou in toil art comfort sweet

Pleasant coolness in the heat

Solace in the midst of woe.

Light immortal, light divine,

Visit thou these hearts of thine,

And our inmost being fill:

If thou take thy grace away,

Nothing pure in man will stay

All his good is turned to ill.

Heal our wounds, our strength renew

On our dryness pour thy dew

Wash the stains of guilt away:

Bend the stubborn heart and will

Melt the frozen, warm the chill

Guide the steps that go astray.

Thou, on us who evermore

Thee confess and thee adore,

With thy sevenfold gifts descend:

Give us comfort when we die

Give us life with thee on high

Give us joys that never end.

Amen. Alleluia.

Ideal Family

First Reading: Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14

For the LORD sets a father in honor over his children; a mother's authority he confirms over her sons. He who honors his father atones for sins; stores up riches who reveres his mother. He who honors his father is gladdened by children, and when he prays he is heard. He who reveres his father will live a long life; he obeys the LORD who brings comfort to his mother. My son, take care of your father when he is old; grieve him not as long as he lives. Even if his mind fail, be considerate with him; revile him not in the fullness of your strength. For kindness to a father will not be forgotten, it will serve as a sin offering--it will take lasting root.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 128:1-2, 3, 4-5

Second Reading: Colossians 3:12-21

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Wives, be subordinate to your husbands, as is proper in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and avoid any bitterness toward them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they may not become discouraged.

Gospel: Luke 2:41-52

Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers.

When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety." And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?"  But they did not understand what he said to them. 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.

Reflection

By Nats Vibiesca

One of the obvious lessons in the Gospel is being obedient to God as Jesus was obedient to His parents. Being obedient, means one to be submissive to the authority. Obedience can be translated also in being ready and willing to serve. But for a hardheaded like me, I usually require clear reasons before obeying. Sometimes God will not give sufficient reasons for me to understand but I just have to trust and submit to His Holy Will.

The members of the Holy Family understand well each other. By understanding each other, they can tell anything without criticizing, without judging or condemning. They can express everything inside them because they feel understood by each member of the family. This is how we love to see our own family—not anxious in hiding things. We want to feel that with a good listener—a member of the family—everything is in good hands because this listener understands and thus, enables one to understand oneself better. An understanding without judging or condemning has a healing and liberating effect.

This is what we want for our family—that we can talk about what has been distressing us for so long, something we held back because we were ashamed of it. We listen and then it comes out of hiding, into the light, so it can be changed.

With full trust and understanding, we begin to serve each other, thus being obedient. Having the courage to serve, to stand up for others, goes with the readiness to set yourself aside, to become free of yourself in order to risk yourself for others. This is the kind of humility that the Holy Family is offering us to imitate in our journey to this life.

Prayer

Lord, make our family like Jesus, Mary and Joseph as we celebrate their feast. May this occasion teach us the virtues of obedience, understanding, and humility. Keep our family Holy and never allow us to be distracted by so many problems but trusting in Your love and mercy, we may serve You with all our heart and strength. Amen.