Msgr. Ed Meulemans was my pastor when I arrived at the Cathedral as a newly ordained priest in 1997. Over the years he has been a great friend and mentor, teaching me many lessons about discipleship and priesthood. May he rest in peace!
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The Holy Family faced the blessings and burdens of life with Christ in their lives. Jesus is present in our hearts, our homes…and our families. May we do all that we can to build up the relationships we have within our families, in preparation for when God unites us with our family in Heaven.
Mass Readings – Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
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As Simeon sees the Christ Child he recognizes the Messiah and gives praise to God. As the Kingdom of Heaven continues to unfold here on earth, we have daily opportunities to seek out the face of Jesus in our lives and respond with joy and gratitude.
Mass Readings – 5th Day in the Octave of Christmas
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The horrific massacre of the baby boys in Bethlehem echoes the heart wrenching evil witnessed throughout human history. Yet in the face of senseless violence and tragic evil, we hold fast to the hope that God’s justice and mercy will prevail through the power of the savior, Jesus Christ.
Mass Readings – The Holy Innocents, martyrs
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Just as St. John announced the Word of God through his Gospel and Letters, we have a daily opportunity to testify to the Lord whenever we open our hearts to Christ and proclaim the Good News of Jesus.
Mass Readings – St. John, Apostle and Evangelist
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St. Stephen’s death serves as a sharp contrast from the glory Christ’s birth. Yet this contrast helps us engage in the spiritual battle that is part of our earthly life as we face our struggles with the grace of Jesus.
Mass Readings – Feast of St. Stephen, the first martyr
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Study: Recall a time when you were particular grateful for the gift of your family. What made the difference?
Pray: Reflect on the needs of your family. Thank the Lord for your blessings and offer your petitions for their needs.
Serve: How can you help someone in your family right now?
Mass Readings – The Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Big or small, far-flung or close to home…we all come from a family. Sometimes our families are in better/worse places, depending on emotions, finances, relationships, illness, death, and a multitude of challenges and blessings that life can throw our way.
And while no family is perfect, every family provides opportunities for us to grow. Whether it is getting along, practicing forgiveness, being patient, working together, or dealing with the idiosyncrasies that are part of every human group…there is no place like family for teaching us lessons that are part of our journey to become the best version of ourselves.
The Holy Family faced plenty of blessings and burdens. Here are a few of the blessings:
But, then, there are some real burdens:
Clearly, this family is unlike any other; yet together they faced situations that are similar to many even today. They knew what it was like to be grateful for what they had, and they knew what it was like to face suffering and pain.
But there’s two points I want us to hold close:
What’s true for the Holy Family is true for our families! We have opportunities to work together, cooperating and uniting to strengthen the bonds within our families – and when we face challenges we call upon the Lord to give us the grace and strength we need to put faith into family, hope into our homes, and love into our lives.
May this season give us plenty of opportunities to work together with God’s grace in our families – the place where we have been located by the Lord to practice our “homework for holiness” as we journey through this life.
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Note: This post was first published on December 25, 2014.
The Messiah is born! King of kings and Lord of lords, the ruler of the universe comes to us as a defenseless and vulnerable infant. Why? To get past all our defenses and touch our hearts with a gentleness that shakes the foundations of the world. Merry Christmas!
Mass Reading Options
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Honthorst, Adoration of the Child, 1619-1620, Uffizi, Florence.
Elizabeth recognized the presence of the Messiah, and she rejoiced that God had drawn near. As Christmas approaches, we rejoice in the many ways that God pours grace into our hearts through the power and mercy of Jesus.
Mass Readings – 4th Sunday of Advent
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It’s called the Magnificat – a song of praise that Mary offers – and it has been a prayer of powerful reflection for the Church for 2000 years. Recognizing that God is in charge, initiating, leading, empowering and conquering evil, we are united in grace and draw near to the Lord.
Mass Readings – Saturday of the 3rd Week of the Year (Dec. 22nd)
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Catholic Inspiration – Podcast Archives of Homilies & Talks
Three Great Things 