Study: What are some of the blessings you find in your family? How has your family helped you to grow?
Pray: Who in your family could use a prayer right now? Take time to pray.
Serve: Is anyone in the family struggling? How can you help?
Family. That group of people we did not pick (God did) who are with us throughout the course of our lives. Some people come from big families, others are tiny. Every family has history, blessings, struggles, and unique qualities. Parts of family life are messy – parts are bliss.
The same is true for the Holy Family. A close reading of the scriptures shows the following:
- Homeless, yet visited by Angels, Shepherds, and Wise Men
- Persecuted, yet guided by the Angel Gabriel
- Frantic with a lost child (3 Days!), yet amazed by his discovery in the Temple
- Touched by sorrow and death, yet blessed with Love, Joy, and Peace
And God was with them. Good times and bad, they carried on with the strength of the Heavenly Father who bestowed on them their Son.
May we do the same. In the ups and downs of our families we renew ourselves in the Lord (who really does understand family life) and trust that Christ will guide us in love.
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Holy Family, Matthias Stom. Circa 1640; oil on canvas; 945mm x 1245mm; Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya; Barcelona, Spain.
