Opening Prayer Series: Feast of the Holy Family Year A

OPENING PRAYER SERIES:

THE MASS: OPENING PRAYER SERIES. ICON.

Feast of the Holy Family Year A

OPENING PRAYER
 

The Opening Prayer for the Feast of the Holy Family reads as follows:

Let us pray,

(for peace in our families)

Father,

help us to live as the holy family,

united in respect and love

Bring us to the joy and peace of Your eternal home.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS 

In making this prayer tangible the following reflection questions emerged

1.            What are the issues in my families which prevent or hinder God's peace?

2.            What steps will I take during this Christmastide to create an environment of change?

3.            What would living in respect and love in my family entail for me?

4.            How will I remember those family members who experience God's joy and peace in His eternal home this Christmastide?

5.            What would the joy and peace of God's eternal home be like?

GOSPEL REFLECTION

In Today's Gospel of Mathew, we encounter the flight into Egypt. Joseph is not a procrastinator.  He does what the angel tells him without delay ' He got up and taking the child and his mother with him left that night for Egypt.' One senses the urgency and the worry and the fear of knowing that Herod wanted Jesus killed- not the type of start to being the foster father of Jesus that Joseph may have hoped for.  Yet, Joseph as we know was a man of faith and believed in God's providence towards him and Mary. His faith and obedience to God sustained him in this difficult journey.

So what about us?  Are we just as attentive to what God is telling us to do? Are we as pro-active and responsive as Joseph?  As we read this gospel, we might like to consider the families across the world who live in fear of death, and/or flee their country to seek safety. We pray that God's providence will sustain them and when we are in a difficult situation, we will be obedient to what God asks of us.

Should you wish to reflect upon the alternative Opening Prayer, you may wish to revisit my post of December 27 09- Feast of the Holy Family.