COLLECT SERIES
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COLLECT SERIES ICON. |
FEAST OF HOLY FAMILY YEAR A
COLLECT
O
God, who were pleased to give us the shining example of the Holy Family,
Graciously
grant that we may imitate them in practicing the virtues of family life and in
the bonds of charity,
And
so, in the joy of your house, delight one day in eternal rewards.
Through
our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who
lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one
God, for ever and ever.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
In
making this prayer tangible for during the week, the following reflection
questions emerged:
1. What is
the shining example of the Holy Family?
2. Why did
God us the example of the Holy Family?
3. What
answer do I give to someone who mocks the Holy Family and/or who says they are
irrelevant today?
4. What
are the virtues of family life?
5. How
will I practise the virtues of family life this coming week?
6. What
spiritual goals will I implement in this
coming year?
GOSPEL REFLECTION
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THE HOLY FAMILY at the Manger. |
Many
scholars and priests choose to emphasise refugees, displaced families and the
plight of their wellbeing on this Feast
of Holy Family. However important this
is, Matthew in today’s Gospel and throughout his Gospel wants to ensure we get
the true message: Jesus, son of David, born in Bethlehem is Son of God. This truth bears a promise which is a promise
of a new world for all. He emphasises
this truth even further with the last line of the Gospel
“ He
will be called a Nazarene’’.
Why is
this sentence significant? It connects
Jesus the baby with Jesus the adult who suffered and died and rose again for us
to bring us a new world to all. In the
Passion, the soldiers identify Christ as Jesus the Nazarene.
As we
hear today’s Gospel, let the truth of who Jesus is take root in our hearts and
do our part to make the promise of a new world for all a reality. We can make
His kingdom come.
The
other important aspect of today’s feast is of course family. Family and marriage is increasingly under
attack from media and society. Yet in
our own domestic or extended family or spiritual family, we can strengthen the
bonds which hold us. This can be done in
prayer, in how we treat each other, how
we resolve conflict and forgive each other sincerely and particularly in the
practical matters of family or parish life- contributing in ways that make a
difference done with love. It may be as
simple as doing some dishes, keeping our rooms tidy or doing some shopping for
someone who has come out of hospital. We need to invest time in each other.
That
is what the holy family did- invested time in each other. Joseph, foster father
of Jesus taught him the skills of carpentry whilst Mary nurtured Jesus as her
child even though she knew He was the Saviour.
She took on motherhood with all its joys and challenges especially when
she did not understand her Son’s destiny and behaviours. Jesus played His part too. He was human as
well as divine and He respected both Joseph and Mary as His earthly parents. He
was obedient to them and respected their authority as parents.
On
this feast of the Holy Family, why not offer a prayer of blessing for your own
family and put your family under the protection of the Holy Family. You could write your own family prayer and
say it with them each week. You may add the practicalities of that week so that
it is prayer and action done out of love for God and each other.
In
that way, you will be contributing to the promise of Jesus to make a new world
for all.
