Note: a very long "windows update" prevented me from posting a slice of bread on the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph on Sunday, but here is a bonus slice for today.
Each year on Holy Family Sunday, we hold up the family of Joseph, Mary and Jesus as the ideal and challenge ourselves to make our families as much like it as possible. Of course, we live in much different times, and our families today, though similar, are not exactly the same. Yet the common elements remain basic: faith, love, trust, respect, mutual support, discipline, and lots of hard work. We might examine our families to see what kind of faith-formation and example we are giving to our children...so many families these days are "unchurched"; some families neglect to have children baptized, and even if so, neglect the other sacraments since attendance at Mass is only occasional, if at all. More are more funerals are conducted in funeral homes, or simply at graveside. When there is a Mass, the funeral director has to indicate when to stand, sit and kneel.
Then we ask what kind of training is given to social consciousness, justice, attention to the poor through service or aid in the form of food, clothing or money. What kind of morals, what emphasis on appearances or material goods are we teaching our offspring? The family provides the most powerful influence for good or for bad. How would Jesus, Mary and Joseph rate my family?
Bro. Rene
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